Using Some and Any can be confusing, especially for beginner English learners. Although both can appear with countable and uncountable nouns and mean “some quantity,” their usage differs. Explore the differences between Some and Any below!
1. How to Use Some
Some is commonly used in affirmative sentences to mean “a few” or “a little,” when the exact quantity is unknown or unimportant.
It can appear with countable and uncountable nouns and is also used in polite offers or requests. Here are six common uses:
Affirmative sentences
I can buy some books.
There are some apples in the fridge.
I need some water right now.
She listened to some music last night.
Polite offers and requests
May I have some shirts, please?
Could you please buy me some oranges?
Would you like some milk with your black coffee?
Questions expecting a “Yes” answer
Did you buy some vegetables?
Do you have some romantic books at home?
Can you give me some money?
Some + amount = approximately
I bought some 3 kilograms of meat.
There are some 30 people in my class.
Some girls are wearing makeup for the party.
Emphasis or exasperation when placed at the start
Some idiot locked the door!
Common compounds:
sometimes, something, someone, somewhere
I sometimes go out with friends.
You can do something if you need.
I received this gift from someone.
I will travel somewhere next year.
2. How to Use Any
Any is also used with countable or uncountable nouns but is typically found in negative sentences, questions, or affirmative sentences implying unlimited choices (“any”).
Negative sentences
There are not any people in my class.
I don’t have any pens.
There isn’t any food left at home.
He doesn’t drink any juice.
Questions asking if something remains
Are there any people at school at 6 p.m.?
Are there any red dresses in the store?
Do you have any money?
Affirmative sentences meaning “none” or indicating unlimited choice
My sister never did any homework.
If you want to make any cakes, I will help.
My mother hardly does any morning exercise.
I don’t know whether he has any money.
With words like avoid, prevent, forbid meaning “no … at all”
Avoid any mistakes in the exam.
The law forbids any illegal crossing.
My friend advised me not to love him to prevent any heartbreak.
Common compounds:
anyway, anything, anyone, anywhere, anytime
I will finish my homework anyway.
Tell me if you want anything here.
He reads anytime.
I will not travel anywhere without friends.
If she is single at 30, she will marry anyone her mother wants.
3. Some vs Any: Key Differences
Similarity | Difference: Some | Difference: Any |
|---|---|---|
Both can be used with countable or uncountable nouns to mean “some quantity.” | Used in affirmative sentences and polite offers to mean "a few." | Used in negative sentences and questions to indicate “none” or unlimited choice. |
You left some books on the table. | Some children are swimming in the lake. | There is not any fruit in the fridge. |
Would you like some juice? | Do you have any money? |
Tip: If a sentence contains a defined noun, you can use just some or any without repeating the noun:
If he wants meat for the meal, he can buy some.
I need to relax with some good songs, but I can’t find any.
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing up Some and Any
Would you like some vegetables? (some = a few)
You can choose anything. (any = unlimited choices)
Confusing “any ideas” vs. “any idea”
Ask for suggestions: Do you have any ideas?
Seek a specific answer: Do you have any idea why...?
Using Any incorrectly in response
Don’t reply “No, any.”
Correct: No, I have no rings.
Don’t say: Anyone lends me money.
Say: No one lends me money.
Misusing Some/Any versus A/An
Mary is eating an apple. (one apple)
Mary is eating some apples. (a few apples)
Subject–verb agreement
Someone says...
Any food is enough.
Some schools are international schools.
5. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in some or any
We didn't buy____ flowers.
Tonight I'm going out with____ friends of mine.
Have you seen____good movies recently?
I’d like____ information about what there is to see in this town.
I didn’t have ____ money. I had to borrow ____
You can use your card to withdraw money at____ cash machine.
Those apples look nice. Shall we get ____?
“Can I have ____ more coffee, please?” “Sure. Help yourself.”
If there are ____words you don’t understand, look them up in a dictionary.
We wanted to buy____ grapes, but they didn’t have ____ in the shop
Exercise 2: Fill in ___body/_thing/_where
There's ____at the door. Can you go and see who it is?
Dose____mind if I open the window?
I can't drive and I don't know ____about cars.
You must be hungry. Why don't I get you____to eat?
Emma is very tolerant. She never complains about____
There was hardly____ on the beach. It was almost deserted.
Let's go away. Let's go____ warm and sunny.
I'm going out now. If ____asks where I am, tell them you don't know.
This is a no-parking area____who park their car here will have to pay a fine.
Quick, let's go! There's____coming and I don't want____ to see us.
Jonathan stood up and left the room without saying____.
“Can I ask you____?” “Sure. What do you want to ask?"
Sarah was upset about____ and refused to talk to____.
I need____ to translate. Is there____ here who speaks English?
Sue is very secretive. She never tells ____ ____ (2 words)
She was too surprised to say___
Answers Lesson 1:
1. any
Negative sentences use Any
2. some
Translation: Tonight, I'm going out with some of my friends.
Some is used in affirmative sentences meaning "a few".
3. any
This is a question so use any
4. some
Translation: I want to know some information about what can be seen in this town.
5. any…some
The first sentence is a negative sentence so use any.
The second sentence is an affirmative sentence so use some.
6. any
Translation: You can use your card to withdraw money at any ATM.
If you use some, the meaning of the sentence is: You can use your card to withdraw money at some ATMs -> not suitable in the context.
7. some
The question expects the answer to be "Yes" so use some.
8. some
The question wants a “Yes” answer, so use some.
9. any
Translation: If there is any word you do not understand, look it up in the dictionary.
10. some…any
The first part is an affirmative sentence, so use some, and the second part is a negative sentence, so use any.
Lesson 2:
somebody/ someone
Use some because in the context there is already someone there.
If you use Any, the first part will be translated as “There is no one at the door”, so there will be no second part.
2. anybody/ anyone
Translation: Does anyone mind if I open the window?
This is a question, so use any
3. anything
Use any in a negative sentence.
4. something
Translation: You must be very hungry. Why don’t I get you something to eat?
5. anything or anybody/anyone
Translation: She never complains about anything/anyone.
6. anybody/ anyone
This is a negative affirmative sentence because it has “hardly”, so use any
7. somewhere
Meaning: Let's go to any warm and sunny place.
8. anybody/ anyone
Meaning: I'm going out right now. If anyone asks where I am, tell them you don't know.
9. anybody/ anyone
Meaning: This is a no-parking area, anyone who parks here will have to pay a fine.
10. somebody/ someone….anybody/ anyone
Meaning: Someone is coming and I don't want anyone to see us.
11. anything
This is a negative affirmative sentence because it has the word “without”, so use any
12. something
This is a question that wants the answer “Yes”, so use Some. If we don't know the meaning, we can rely on the following clause with “what” to choose something.
13. something….anybody/anyone
Meaning: Sarah is upset about someone and refuses to talk to anyone
14. somebody/ someone….anybody/ anyone
Meaning: I need something to translate. Does anyone here speak English?
The first part is a positive sentence so we use some, and the second part is a question so we se any.
15. anybody/ anyone_anything
Meaning: She will never tell anyone anything.
16. anything
Meaning: She was too surprised to say anything.
The context in this sentence is that she can say anything she wants so there is no limit to the number. So we use Any.
This guide offers clear usage rules for Some and Any, shows common errors, and includes examples to reinforce learning. With careful practice, you'll avoid typical mistakes and become confident using these key quantifiers.