You use some and any when you do not give an exact number or amount. Some often says that things are there; any helps you ask whether they are there, say that none are there, or leave the choice open.
A countable noun names things you can count: one candle, two candles. An uncountable noun, such as wax, names something you do not count in that way. In the basic quantity pattern, some and any go before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
| Sentence type | Example |
|---|---|
| Positive: things are there | There are some candles in the drawer. |
| Negative: none are there | There aren't any candles in the drawer. |
| An open question | Are there any candles in the drawer? |
These are starting patterns, not a ban on some in questions or any in positive sentences. Those uses have their own meanings below. For one countable thing, a or an can be the basic choice: a candle. The stronger meanings of some and any can also go with a singular noun.
Use any in an open question when you do not know the answer. Some can suggest that you expect yes or have a particular thing in mind.
Some is a good starting choice when you offer something or ask for something. It does not guarantee that the other person will say yes.
Do not mark any as wrong just because a question is an offer. British Council's explanation allows both some and any in offers. The choice can depend on whether you have a particular amount in mind or are leaving the amount open.
Negative questions can also use both. Cambridge contrasts something with anything here: the first can suggest that you think there was something; the second can show surprise at finding nothing.
Not any means none in the basic quantity pattern. Any alone does not mean no. You can also use any after words with a negative or limiting meaning, such as never, hardly and without. Hardly any means almost none.
Any can follow if or whether when the existence of something is open. The clause does not need a negative verb.
Some is possible with a negative verb when you are talking about particular members or kinds, rather than saying none. Do not cross it out without checking the meaning.
For a straightforward statement that nothing is there, not any is the safe pattern. A special denial of someone else's words can have different wording. That is not a reason to teach every negative sentence with some as an error.
Any can mean that you do not limit the choice. With this meaning it can go with a singular countable noun, a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun. It can appear in a positive sentence.
The meaning is different from saying that a particular number or amount exists. I've bought some postcards reports a purchase. Choose any postcard gives a free choice.
Any and every are not the same in all sentences. You can visit any afternoon leaves the choice open. You can visit every afternoon means all the afternoons. See Every, each, whole and all: every day, each of them, the whole day for every.
Put of after some or any before the, these, my and similar words, or before a pronoun. These patterns select from a named group or amount.
| Before a noun | Before a named group or amount |
|---|---|
| Some windows are open. | Some of the windows are open. |
| Do you need any fabric? | Do you need any of this fabric? |
| We printed some photos. | We printed some of your photos. |
After of, use an object pronoun: some of us, any of them. Do not use some of we or any of they.
With some, a plural group takes a plural verb and an uncountable amount takes a singular verb: some of the windows are open; some of the fabric is wet. For the choice of singular or plural verbs with any of, see Subject-verb agreement: finding the subject and choosing the verb.
If the noun is clear, you can use some or any without repeating it. These words are then pronouns: they stand in place of a noun.
Some can be a subject too: Some arrived late, if you have already named the people or things. Do not use any alone as the subject to mean nobody. Nobody arrived means that no person arrived; Anyone can arrive early gives people a choice. See No, none and none of: nobody, no one, nothing and nowhere for no, none and nobody.
When you stress some, it can contrast with all or others. It need not mean a few or enough. Some chairs are broken can distinguish those chairs from the ones that are not broken.
Some can also mean a particular person or thing that you do not identify. With this meaning, it can go before a singular countable noun. This is different from the basic plural or uncountable quantity pattern.
Some before a number can mean about that number: some forty guests. Cambridge also notes that it can draw attention to a high amount. Some time and some years can refer to a long period, not necessarily a short one.
In informal speech, stressed some can express admiration or an ironic criticism: That was some performance can praise it; Some expert he is can criticise his knowledge. These are marked uses, not the model for a neutral quantity statement.
When you talk about a whole kind in general, you may need no some: Bicycles need maintenance refers to bicycles generally. Some bicycles need repairs points to a limited group. See A, an or the?: introducing and identifying for articles and general reference.
The some- and any- words below follow related meaning patterns. The person and thing words are indefinite pronouns: they do not tell you exactly who or what. Somewhere and anywhere refer to places; Cambridge Dictionary labels these place words adverbs.
| Meaning | Some- and any- forms |
|---|---|
| A person | someone / somebody; anyone / anybody |
| A thing | something; anything |
| A place | somewhere; anywhere |
Someone and somebody mean the same thing. Anyone and anybody also mean the same thing. Cambridge describes somebody and anybody as a little less formal than the corresponding -one forms.
Any- forms can leave the choice open in a positive sentence too. Anyone means it does not matter who; anything means it does not matter what; anywhere means it does not matter where.
Write someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, something, anything, somewhere and anywhere as single words. Any one is two words when you mean one member of a group: any one of these designs. Anyone refers to a person and is not followed directly by of in that pattern.
Use a singular verb with a person or thing pronoun in these patterns: someone is, anybody has, something looks. A word such as someone does not take a plural verb simply because you do not know who it is.
You can use they, them and their to refer back to someone or anyone without naming a gender. The first verb stays singular; the later verb goes with they.
Put an adjective after the compound, not before it. You can also add to plus a verb to say what you need to do.
Else means other or different and comes after the compound: somebody else, something else, somewhere else. For a possessive, add 's after else: somebody else's. Without else, somebody's is possible too.
More elaborate phrases with relative clauses and stronger words such as absolutely anything come later. See Defining relative clauses: who, which, that and Adverbs by meaning: time, place, manner, degree and comment
✗Some my notes are missing.
✓Some of my notes are missing.
Use some of before my and the named group.
✗Somebody have moved my coat.
✓Somebody has moved my coat.
Somebody takes a singular verb in this pattern.
✗I want else something.
✓I want something else.
Else goes after something.
Use Countable and uncountable nouns: a bag, some luggage for noun types and Much, many and a lot of: few, a few, little and a little for large and small quantities. No, none and none of: nobody, no one, nothing and nowhere covers no, none, nobody and related words. Every, each, whole and all: every day, each of them, the whole day covers whole groups.
Eight questions. Choose one answer for each.