In English grammar, attention should be paid to Special attention categories of indefinite pronouns, which include pronouns such as some, any, little, few, every, much, etc.

These pronouns are studied in individual topics usually in pairs:

Some/any;

Either/neither;

Much/many, etc.

This article will cover in detail the pronouns some and any, which are used in different meanings. To present the information in a convenient, structured form, all of it is entered into a table.

Usage table for Some and Any

1. Some and any are used to mean before nouns in plural.		They sent me some boxes of salt - They sent me several boxes of salt.
		Have you got any books for our library? – Do you have (any) books for our library? John didn't show me any dresses - John didn't show me (any) dresses.
2. Some and any are used to mean some, several, someinstead of plural nouns.	Some (in affirmative sentences)	Clients of our company wanted to look at the new products and we showed them some – Clients of our company wanted to look at new products, and we showed them a few.
	Any (in interrogative and negative sentences)	Tom asked me for some tickets but I hadn't any - Tom asked me for tickets, but I didn’t have them.
3. Some and any are used to mean beforeuncountable nouns. However, they are often not translated into Russian.	Some (in affirmative sentences)	Add some oil, please – Add some oil, please.
	Any (in interrogative and negative sentences)	We don"t have any work in May - We have no work in May.
4. Some and any are used to mean some amount, a little, someinstead of uncountable nouns.	Some (in affirmative sentences)	We need some salt. Please pass me some - We need salt. Pass me the salt, please.
	Any (in interrogative and negative sentences)	I have lost my money on my way home. Have you got any? – I lost my money on the way home. You have money?
5. In special matters some is used, not any.	Where can we sell some TV-sets? – Where can we sell several TVs? Why didn't you show her some photos of that day? - Why didn’t you show her the photos of that day?
6. Some is used to mean some before plural nouns.	Some animals die in cold weather – B cold weather some animals die.
7. Some is used to mean part before uncountable nouns.	Some of the fuel was found in the forest – Some of the fuel was found in the forest.
8. Any is used in any sentences to mean everyone, any with uncountable nouns or countable nouns in the singular.	She may find me at university at any time tomorrow - Tomorrow she will be able to find me at the university at any time. You can deposit money in any bank of our country - You can deposit money in any bank in our country.

Watch this video clip at English language, which I developed specifically for people learning English to learn when to use in English words"some" and "any". These are very common words in English, but both words mean "a certain amount, a little." Let's figure out when to use what. First, I suggest you read the condensed rules for using the words “some” and “any”, and then watch a video dialogue in English in which a married couple discusses what products they have at home and which ones they need to buy, using phrases with “some” " and "any". As always, under the video itself you will find full text dialogue in English so that you can easily follow the progress of the “actors” communication.

When to use "some" and when to use "any" in English

When we speak English, we often need to define the approximate amount of a substance or objects. This is what the words “some” and “any” are used for in English. Their use will depend on what types of sentences they are used in - positive or negative and interrogative. In addition, their meaning will change depending on whether we use “some” or “any” with countable or uncountable nouns. Well, let's talk about everything in order. Let's start with countable and uncountable nouns and then move on to sentence types.

Countable and uncountable nouns

All nouns are divided into two massive subgroups - countable (those that we can count) and uncountable (those that we cannot count). For example: two chairs, three cabinets, ten apples are countable nouns because we can count them or put a numeral right in front of them, but water, coffee ) or snow (snow) are examples of uncountable nouns, because we cannot say: one coffee, three snows or ten waters. To measure them, we use not only numerals, but also various measures, such as liters, mugs, glasses and meters. For example: two meters of snow, three cups of coffee or five glasses of water.

Constructing sentences with “some” and “any” in English

The general rule for using "some" and "any" is:
1) We use “some” in positive sentences;
2) We use “any” in negative and interrogative sentences;
3) We can use “” in positive sentences to mean “some, any, no matter what”.
"Some" and "any" before countable nouns in sentences
In positive sentences before countable nouns, the word "some" means "several" and the word "any" means "any, no matter which". In negative English sentences"any" would mean complete absence something, someone, and in interrogatives it means “in general.” For example:
I have some apples. - I have several apples.
Give me any book. - Give me any book.
Do you have any cups in your kitchen? – Do you (at all) have cups in the kitchen?
She doesn't have any textbooks. – She doesn’t have a single book.

"Some" and "any" before uncountable nouns in sentences
Before uncountables, the word “some” means “a little, some quantity” in positive sentences, and the word “any” - “any, some”. Sometimes the word “some” or “any” may not be translated into Russian, but, as a rule, it is used before uncountable nouns to show that, for example, someone drinks not all the tea in the world, but some of it. In negative sentences, “any” means “none, none, none” or “not at all”, i.e. the absence of something in questions – “in general”, i.e. For example:
She drinks some tea in the morning. – She drinks tea (a little tea) in the morning.
Will he bring any wine? – Will he bring (at all) wine?
I won't have any beer, thank you. – I won’t have (any or any) beer, thank you.
Give me any salad you have on your menu. – Give me any salad that you have on the menu. (I don't care what kind of salad you give me)

Dialogue in English: “some” and “any”

Text of the dialogue in English: The husband and wife are discussing which products they have in the house and which ones need to be purchased, and when communicating they use the words “some” and “any”.
- Honey, we don't have any sugar.
- We have some sugar darling. It's in the cupboard.
- Ah, OK. Do we have any eggs? I would like to make some omellette.
- There are some eggs in the fridge, I think.
- Is there any milk in the fridge?
- No, there isn't any milk at all. We need to buy some milk.
- OK. What about flour? Do we have any flour?
- Yes, we do. We have some flour in the cupboard. But we don't have any salt. And there isn't any oil too.
- OK, I'll go shopping and buy some oil, some salt, and some milk. I won't buy any eggs, any flour and any sugar.
- Thank you darling. You are always so helpful. That's why I love you!

On the website of my English language school you will find many free materials for learning English:

The pronouns any and some are very easy to remember, since they are used in completely different cases. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Cases of using the pronoun some

Every time we are faced with the task of putting the desired pronoun in a sentence, we need to look at the form of the sentence. If the sentence is declarative, then you need to use the pronoun some.

For example:

• We should buy some eggs.
• Give me some pens.
• He brought me some books.

In each of these cases, this pronoun means that we're talking about about any number of objects (and the noun can be countable or uncountable).

We must not forget that we do not always use this pronoun. Compare: I love books. We cannot put it here, since it would mean part. And the sentence talks about a love of books in general, and not in particular.

Cases of using the pronoun any

The pronoun any is used in two main cases: in an interrogative sentence and in a negative sentence.

Examples of interrogative sentences:

• Do you have any pens?
• Do you have any interesting books?
• Is there any milk in the refrigerator?

There are two possible options for negative sentences: formed using the particle not and auxiliary verb, as well as formed using the pronoun no. Since English cannot have more than one negation in a sentence, only one of these options is possible.

It is in the first option that the pronoun any is used. Examples:

• I don't have any pens. But: I have no pens.
• He doesn't have any interesting books. But: He has no interesting books.
• There isn't any milk in the fridge. But: There is no milk in the fridge.

Indefinite pronouns in English

Today we invite you to learn any/some - the rules for using these indefinite pronouns. Also at the end of this article we will look at combinations of some and any with other words.

Before we begin, let's remember that some and any have the following meanings: any, any, some, several, a little (in requests).

Rules for using some, any

1. Both words are used before a noun. The article is not used before these words.

2 . Some is used in affirmative sentences:

For example:

I saw this trick in some movie. – I saw this trick in some movie.

She needs some pieces of paper. – She needs several sheets of paper.

I'd like some juice, thank you. – I’ll have some juice, thank you.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that we usually translate some as “several”, “a little” with plural nouns, and “some” with singular nouns.

Some apples - several apples;

Some girl - some girl.

With uncountable nouns it can be translated in different ways:

Let's listen to some music. - Let's listen to some music.

I need some sugar for my tea. – I need some sugar for tea.

3. It's more likely interesting meaning the words some, not the rule. In American English, some can be used for emotional emphasis and is translated as “excellent”, “just right”, etc.

For example:

That was some movie! - That was a movie!

That's some cold. - Well, it’s cold.

It's some ice-cream! - Ice cream is what you need!

4. Some can also be used in questions, but only when we offer something to someone or make a request to do something.

For example:

I'm at the supermarket. Would you like some cake? - I'm at the supermarket. Would you like some kind of cake?

Could you give me some water please? – Can you give me some water, please?

Could you give me some privacy? -Can you leave me alone?

5. Any is used in interrogative sentences. When we ask if a person has something.
Do you have any evidence that she did it? – Do you have any evidence that she did this?

Have you found any mistakes? – Did you find any errors?

Do you have any new ideas? – Do you have any new ideas?

6. Any is used in negative sentences.

I haven’t found any mistakes. - I didn't find any errors.

There isn't any milk in the refrigerator. — There is no milk in the refrigerator.

7. In affirmative sentences, any is translated as “any”, “any”

Any fruit is useful. - Any fruit is healthy.

Any boy would be flattered by your interest. “Any guy would be flattered by your attention.”

Some, any combined with other words

Some

With the word some we can create words like this:

Someone/ somebody – someone, someone, someone

Someone called you. - Someone called you.

Is that somebody you studied with? – Is this someone you studied with?

Something - something, something

Did you hear something? -Did you hear something?

Tell me something I don’t know. – Tell me something I don’t know.

Somewhere - somewhere, somewhere

Have you seen my notebook somewhere? -Have you seen my notebook somewhere?

Any

Anybody - anyone, any (person), no one (in negatives), someone (in questions)

Why haven’t you locked the door? Anybody can get in! - Why didn’t you lock the door? Anyone can come in.

Is anybody home? -Is anyone home?

He never told anyone this story. “He never told this story to anyone.”

Anything - anything, something (in questions)

Do you need anything? - Do you need something?

You can tell me anything you want. I can keep secrets. – You can tell me whatever you want. I can keep secrets.

Anything like - we decided to add this phrase because it is very useful. Translated as “somewhat similar” / “somewhat similar”

Do you really think my new painting is anything like his? “Do you really think that my new painting is anything like his?”

Anywhere - anywhere, anywhere

I’m ready to be anywhere, just to be far away from you. “I’m ready to be anywhere, as long as I’m far from you.”

Anywhere you go, remember who you are. – Wherever you go, remember who you are.

Any, some – the rules for using these pronouns are very easy to remember. The main thing to learn is that in questions and negatives we use any. We make an exception only when we offer something or ask them to do something for us. Come up with your own example for each rule, then you definitely won’t get confused in using some and any.

Very often we cannot say exact amount something or name specific person. We say: some, several, a little. In English, in such cases, the words some and any come to our aid.

In this article we will look at:

What are indefinite pronouns?

Some and any are indefinite pronouns. Let's go in order.

Pronoun- a word used instead of the name of an object (or its characteristics) and indicating it. For example, instead of “girl,” we can say “she.”

Indefinite pronoun we use, when we don't know or we cannot determine:

• Which person/thing exactly?/People

For example:

Called some kind girl (we don't know who it was).

Must be some kind of explanation (we don’t know what).

• The exact amount of something

For example:

Lies on the table some books (we did not count them and cannot say the exact number).

I need A little salt (we cannot count and say the exact amount)

Now let's look at situations in which we use some and any.

Using some in English

The word some is translated as "some, some, several, some."

We use some when There is something, but we do not know its quantity or do not have accurate information about it.

Therefore, some is usually used in affirmative sentences.

Let's take a closer look at the cases of its use:

1. When we are talking about a person or thing about which we do not have an exact idea (some, some, some).
For example: A man came (can’t say who it was)

2. When we do not know the exact number of people and things or cannot count them.
For example: I have several pens (I don't know how many exactly)

In this case, we say “several” or “a little” (for items that we cannot count).

I need some apples for this recipe.
I need some apples for this recipe.

I want some water.
I want some water.

3. When it comesabout some quantity (unknown to us) from the total numbers, that is, we are talking "some".
For example: Some people don't eat meat (we don't know the exact number).

Some people like to travel alone.
Some people love to travel alone.

Some people like sports.
Some people love sports.

Using some in interrogative sentences

However, some is not always used in affirmative sentences. Sometimes we can also use it and in interrogative sentences. As written above, some is used when we know that someone owns something (a person has it). Therefore, the use of some in questions is allowed in the following cases:

Would you like some juice?
Would you like some juice?

Do you want some chocolate?
Do you want some chocolate?

2. If we ask/ask for something and assume that the answer will be “yes”.

That is, we know that a person has what we need, and we assume that he will agree to give it to us.

For example, you call customer service and say, “Can you give me some information?”

In this situation, you know that the person you are contacting has this information.

Can you give me some apples?
Can you give me some apples? (we know that humans have them)

May I take some chairs?
Can I take some chairs? (you see them in front of you)

Now let's look at when we use the pronoun any.

Using any in English

The word any is translated as “any, any.”

Any we use when we don’t know or are not sure whether some thing (or some situation has occurred) exists or not.

For example:

Can you give me some pen? (we don’t know if the person we are addressing even has pens)

Do you have any explosive items in your bag? (we don't know, but we assume it)

Therefore, most often we use any in negative and interrogative sentences.

1. When we ask about an item or quantity unknown to us.

We translate Any as “any, any, any, any.” At the same time, we do not know or are not sure whether the person has what we ask; will he agree to give it?
For example: Does she have any magazines to read?

Do you have any information about it?
Do you have any information about this?

Can you lend me any money?
Can you borrow me (some) money?

2. When we say that there is nothing at all in any quantity
For example: I don't have (any) money.

I don't have any fruits.
I don't have (any) fruit.

She doesn't have any idea.
She doesn't have (any) ideas.

Using any in affirmative sentences

However, any can also be used in affirmative sentences in the following cases:

1. In the meaning of “any” (any, everyone)
For example: Any customer will receive a gift upon purchase.

Any child who breaks the rules will be punished.
Any child who breaks the rules will be punished.

I can see you any time on Monday.
I can see you on Monday any time.

Difference between some and any

Some translated as “some, some, several, some.” That is, we use some when we know exactly what things (situation, person) exist, but we don’t know the exact quantity or don’t have an exact idea about it. Therefore, some is most often used in affirmative sentences.

Look at the examples:

However, we can use some in interrogative sentences if we know/see what a person has what we ask.

May I take some books?
Can I borrow some books? (We know that the person has books and ask permission to take them)

Can you give me some pens?
Can you give me some pens? (We see that the person has pens on his desk and that’s why we ask this way)

Anytranslated as “any, any”, and we use it when we don’t know or are not sure that there is some thing (situation, person) or not.
That's why we most often We use any in negative and interrogative sentences.

Look at the examples:

Are there any books on the table?
Are there any books on the table? (We don't see these books and don't know if they are there at all)

There aren't any books on the table.
There are no books on the table. (Not at all)

Do you have any pens?
Do you have any pens? (We don't know if they exist, we don't see it)

I don't have any pens.
I don't have any books. (Not at all)

Let's look at another common example:

I have some money.
I have some money. (We have them, we own them)

Can you give me some money?
Can you give me some money? (We know that a person has money and he can give it)

Can you give me any money?
Can you give me any money? (We don't know if the person has money)

I don't have any money.
I don't have any money. (We don’t have this at all, we don’t own it)

Table of the use of some and any in English

Offers	Some	Any
Affirmative	1. We don’t have an exact idea about something/someone (some, some, some) She has some idea. She has some idea. 2. We don’t know the quantity (a few, a little) I need some sugar. I need some sugar. 3. Some of the total number(some) Some people like it. Some people like it.	1. All without exception, any (any, any) Any person likes it. Any person will love this.
Interrogative	1. We ask for an indefinite amount when we know that the person has it and most likely the answer will be “yes” (a little, several) Can I take some milk? Can I have some milk? 2. We offer something (a little, several) Would you like some milk? Do you want (some) milk?	1. We ask for an indefinite amount when we don’t know that the person has it (any amount) Do you have any milk? Do you have (any) milk? 2. We ask when we don’t have an exact idea about something (any) Do you have any question? Do you have any question?
Negative		1. In general there is nothing in any quantity I don't have any milk. I don't have milk.

So, we have examined two indefinite pronouns. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them in the comments. Now let's move on to practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English, inserting the correct pronoun.

1. My sister has ___ interesting books.
2. You can come at ___ time.
3. Do you have ___ oranges?
4. Can you give me ___ water?
5. ___ people are afraid of the dark.
6. She doesn't have ___ money.
7. Do you need ___ information?
8. ___ person will be able to understand this.

Write your answers in the comments to the article, and I will check them.