В английском языке some, any и no относятся к категории неопределенных местоимений. Ниже будут рассмотрены правила употребления some, any и no, а также их производных.
Правила употребления some
1. Использование some с неисчисляемыми существительными в значении «немного»:
There is some tea in the cup. – В чашке есть немного чая.
К неисчисляемым существительным английского языка, как правило, относятся такие категории существительных, как вещественные, абстрактные, то есть то, что нельзя посчитать.
2. Также some употребляется с исчисляемыми существительными, стоящими во множественном числе в значении «несколько», «некоторые»:
Some pupils brought interesting books. – Несколько учеников/ некоторые ученики принесли интересные книги.
3.Еще один случай употребления неопределенного местоимения some – с исчисляемыми существительными в единственном числе, при этом значение будет «какой-то»:
Some guy called and wanted to talk with you. – Звонил какой-то парень и хотел поговорить с тобой.
Как правило, some и его производные употребляются в утвердительных предложениях, но также есть случаи, когда местоимение some используется в вопросительных предложениях.
1. Когда мы хотим попросить о чем-то или наоборот, предложить что-то:
Would you like some soup? – Не хотели бы Вы немного супа?
Can I have some cold milk, please? – Можно мне холодного молока, пожалуйста?
2. Когда мы задаем вопрос, ответ на который предполагается быть утвердительным:
What a smell! Are you cooking something tasty? – Какой запах! Ты готовишь что-то вкусненькое?
Есть еще одно правило употребления some в английском языке. Местоимение some можно использовать с предлогом of в значении «некоторые из». В данном случае перед существительным необходимо поставить либо определенный артикль, либо указательное или притяжательное местоимение.
Some of my friends are going to Moscow this week. – Некоторые из моих друзей собираются в Москву на этой неделе.
Some of the houses were destroyed during the fire. – Некоторые из домов были разрушены во время пожара.
Правило употребления местоимения any
Местоимение any и все его производные обычно употребляются в отрицательных и вопросительных предложениях:
I don’t have any problems at school. –У меня нет проблем в школе.
Do you have any news? – Есть какие-нибудь новости?
Также есть правила для случаев, когда any употребляется в утвердительных предложениях:
1. Когда имеется в виду «любой», «всякий», «что угодно», «где угодно», «как угодно»:
Anyone can do this. – Любой может это сделать.
2. В придаточных предложениях после «if»:
If you have any questions let me know. – Если у вас будут вопросы, дайте знать.
3. Если в предложении уже имеются нижеперечисленные наречия и предлог с отрицательным значением:
- Hardly
- Scarcely
- Never
- Without
- Seldom
- Rarely
I seldom go anywhere at night. – Я очень редко выхожу куда-либо ночью.
Without any doubt, he is a good person. – Без сомнения, он хороший человек.
He never stays alone at home. – Он никогда не остается дома один.
Если местоимение any употребляется с предлогом of, то на русский язык конструкция будет переводиться как «любой»:
You can take any of these books they are all very interesting. – Можешь взять любую из этих книг, они все очень интересные.
Но стоит запомнить правило с any, что производные от местоимения, такие как anyone, anybody, anywhere, не могут использоваться с предлогом of.
После производных местоимений можно использовать наречие else в значении «еще», «кроме».
Are you going to tell me anything else? – Ты хочешь мне сказать что-то еще?
Does anybody need extra paper? – Кому-нибудь еще нужна бумага?
Правило употребления some, any и артиклей a/an
Есть случаи, когда можно задуматься над выбором между some, неопределенным артиклем «а» и нулевым артиклем. Этот случай касается неисчисляемых существительных.
- Could you give me some water, please?
- Could you give me a water, please?
- Could you give me water, please?
Все три предложения переводятся как «Не могли бы вы дать мне воды, пожалуйста?». Разница состоит в том, что в первом предложении мы как бы просим небольшое количество жидкости, во втором, употребляя артикль «а», мы имеем в виду, что нам нужен один стакан или чашка воды, грубо говоря, одна «порция», а в третьем варианте мы имеем в виду, что нам важна вода, а не что-то другое, неважно в каком количестве.
Правило употребления местоимения no
Местоимение no употребляется как перед исчисляемыми существительными, так и перед неисчисляемыми. Само предложение, в котором есть местоимение no приобретает отрицательное значение. Стоит отметить, что глагол в предложении с no будет всегда в положительной форме, поскольку двойного отрицания в английском языке нет.
I have no tasks to do now. – Сейчас мне нечего делать.
We have no juice at home. Please, go to the shop. – У нас дома нет сока. Пожалуйста, сходи в магазин.
Правила образования производных местоимений и наречий от some, any, no
I have something to tell you. – Я хочу тебе кое-что сказать.
Did he see anything terrible there? – Он увидел там что-то ужасное?
I know nothing about him. – Я не знаю о нем ничего.
Somebody/ someone has stolen my purse! – Кто-то украл мой кошелек!
Has anybody/ anyone heard something about Jack? – Кто-нибудь слышал что-нибудь о Джеке?
The keys should be somewhere on the table. – Ключи должны быть где-то на столе?
We can go anywhere this summer. – Мы можем поехать летом куда угодно.
He is nowhere to be found. – Его нигде нет.
Производные местоимения, образованные от some, any, no, используются в предложении без существительных, и могут выполнять в предложении роль подлежащего или дополнения. При этом такие подлежащие согласуются со сказуемым в третьем лице единственного числа:
Nobody knows where to go. — Никто не знает, куда идти.
Something is bothering you. — Что-то тебя беспокоит.
Somebody has been sleeping in my bed. — Кто-то спал в моей кровати.
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Quick intro
Some, any, much, many, few and little are all words that come before nouns to help explain them. Some and any are both “determiners” – they tell us whether the noun phrase is general or specific. Some and any are both “general determiners”, which means they refer to an indefinite or unknown quantity of something.
Much, many, few and little are all “quantifiers”. Quantifiers are used to give information about quantity (the number of something). Both much and many suggest a large quantity of something, whilst little and few mean: not as much, or not as many. However, if you use a little or a few this means: a small amount!
But how do we know when to use each word? Broadly speaking, the rules for using these terms are based on whether the noun we are referring to is countable, uncountable, plural vs. singular OR whether they appear in positive or negative sentences or questions. Be careful because each set of words has its own particular rules and exceptions! Let’s take a closer look…
The words some and any are used when the exact number or amount of something is not known, or when it’s not important. Some and any are both used to refer to an indefinite quantity or number.
For example:
There are some birds in our garden.
(We don’t know exactly how many birds are in the garden or it doesn’t matter how many birds there are exactly)
As opposed to:
There are three birds in our garden.
(The number of birds is important and exact)
Some and any are known as “general determiners”. They are used to modify nouns, specifically to tell us that the noun phrase is general (rather than specific). They can be used with:
- Countable or uncountable nouns:
We don’t have any time to get popcorn before the film starts.(Time is uncountable)
We still have some apples on the tree. (Apples are countable) - Singular or plural nouns:
We don’t have any chicken left for dinner. (Chicken is singular)
It’s such nice weather! Let’s invite some friends round for a BBQ. (Friends is plural)
When do I use someand when do I use any?
Although some and any are both used to describe an indefinite number, they are used in different ways. So how do we use them correctly?
In general, some is used in positive sentences (that don’t contain the word ‘not’):
I would love to try some of that food! It looks delicious!
I have bought some strawberries and cream to have for dessert.
Let’s invite some friends round and have a party tonight!
Some people think it’s better to eat healthily than to exercise a lot.
Looking at related words can help you to understand the difference in meaning between ‘some’ and ‘any’. Common words that include ‘some’ are: someone, something, somewhere and somebody. These are all used in positive sentences. In contrast, these popular words with ‘any’ are used in negative sentences and questions: anything, anywhere, anyone and anybody.
Any is used in negative sentences (that contain the word ‘not’):
We don’t have any space left in the car so we won’t be able to give you a lift.
I don’t need any help with my homework because I can do it on my own.
There isn’t any milk in the fridge so we’ll have to have black coffee.
I’m not hungry at the moment so I don’t want anything to eat.
And in questions:
Have you got any idea how long the film lasts?
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
It would be great to season these potatoes. Is there any salt and pepper?
Do you have any plans for the summer?
A common, informal way of asking a question in spoken English is to say: “any chance…”, rather than saying “Please could I…”. For example, “Any chance I could borrow a fiver?” means: “Could I borrow five pounds?”. Remember you would only use this with your friends, family or anyone else you know well! It is an informal expression.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to these rules. We can use some in questions when offering something or making requests:
Would you like some milk and sugar in your tea?
Can I get you something to drink while you wait?
Shall we invite some friends round?
I left my wallet at home; can I borrow some money for lunch?
We use any in positive sentences when we mean “it doesn’t matter which…”:
There’s no seating plan so you can sit anywhere you like.
You can play any song by that band. I love them all!
Choose any pair of shoes you want. They’re all the same price.
I don’t mind which pair of shoes you buy me. I’ll take any of them!
Some | Any | Examples |
Refer to an unknown number or quantity | Refer to an unknown number or quantity | There are some birds in your garden |
Used with uncountable and countable nouns | Used with uncountable and countable nouns | We don’t have any time to get popcorn before the film starts(time is uncountable) We still have some apples on the tree(apples are countable) |
Used with singular and plural nouns | Used with singular and plural nouns | We don’t have any chicken left for dinner(chicken is singular) It’s such nice weather; let’s invite some friends round for a BBQ (friends is plural) |
Used in positive sentences | I would love to try some of that food, it looks delicious! | |
Used in negative sentences | I don’t need any help with my homework; I can do it on my own. | |
Used in questions | Do you have any brothers or sisters? | |
Used in questions that are offering/making requests | Can I get you something to drink whilst you wait? | |
Used in positive sentences to mean “it doesn’t matter which” | There’s no seating plan, you can sit anywhere you like. |
Much vs. many
Much and many are known as “quantifiers”. They are used to talk about quantities, amounts or degrees (along with ‘a lot of’ and ‘lots of’) and suggest a large quantity of something.
When do I use much and when do I use many?
Many is used with plural, countable nouns (e.g. dogs, dollars, tables, children). Much is used with singular, uncountable nouns (e.g. happiness, music, water, time):
There aren’t many doctors in the hospital today. (doctors are countable)
Many Brits choose to retire in Spain. (Brits/British people are countable)
There isn’t much light in this room so let’s open the curtains. (light is uncountable)
Too much money was spent on the Royal Wedding. (money is uncountable)
Remember equipment, luggage and information are all uncountable nouns and therefore will always use much. For example, ‘How much equipment does your studio have?’, ‘You have too much luggage to board the plane!’, ‘There isn’t much information on your CV. Please make it more detailed…’.
We usually use much and many with questions and negative statements:
How many apples do you want?
How much time does it take to get to your house from here?
I don’t think many people agree with her views on marriage.
There wasn’t much noise coming from the house, even though there was a party going on.
We sometimes us much and many in positive statements when:
- They are used with so, asor too:
I think he has too many tattoos! I don’t like them.
Sarah has so much money at the moment; she must be earning a lot!
John makes as much money as Sarah.
- Too is often used before much and many to mean: ‘more than was needed’. For example, ‘I bought too much fruit at the market. We’ll never eat it all before it goes off!’ and ‘There are too many people in the waiting room.’.
- We use ‘so’ rather than ‘very’ before much and many in positive statements to emphasise a large quantity of something. So you would say: ‘We have so much work to do today!’ and not ‘We have very much work to do today!’.
- ‘As much as’ or ‘as many as’ are used to make a comparison and show that something is the same as or equal to something else. For example, ‘There are as many at this meeting as there were at the previous one.’.
- They can be used in more formal written texts:
There has been much debate about the government’s new policy on education.
There were many articles about the effects of the virus on the local population.
There have been many allegations against him from members of his team.
We believe there is still much work to be done in the area of public health.
Generally, it is more common to use lots of/a lot ofin positive statements. This is more informal:
The shop had a sale on so I spent lots of money!
We have a lot of time so there’s no need to rush.
Anna has lots of friends so she’s always busy.
I think a lot of music sounds the same these days.
If much or many are used before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or pronouns (him, them), they are followed by ‘of’:
How much of this book have you read?
Not many of the students come from privileged backgrounds?
I couldn’t ride a bike for much of my childhood.
How many of them are under the age of 30?
In spoken English, certain words are often omitted or left out. For example, we say ‘this much’or ‘that much’and use a hand gesture to indicate the amount or size as in: ‘I’ll have this much cake.’(use fingers to show the amount).
It is also common to miss out the noun when it is obvious what is being discussed. For example, – ‘Could I have some apples, please?’ – ‘Sure! How many would you like?’ (no need to repeat the word ‘apples’).
Much | Many | Examples |
Used with plural, countable nouns | There aren’t many doctors in the hospital today. (doctors are countable) Too many people drop litter in the street. (people are countable) |
|
Used with singular, uncountable nouns | There isn’t much light in this room so let’s open the curtains. (light is uncountable) Too much money was spent on the Royal Wedding. (money is uncountable) |
|
Most commonly used with questions and negative statements | Most commonly used with questions and negative statements | How many apples do you want? How much time does it take to get to your house form here? I don’t think many people agree with her views on marriage. There wasn’t much noise coming from the house, even though there was a party going on. |
Occasionally used with positive statements when: a) used with so, as or too b) more formal, written texts Lots of/a lot ofis more common |
Occasionally used with positive statements when: a) used with so, as or too b) more formal, written texts Lots of/a lot ofis more common |
He has too many tattoos. Sarah has so much money at the moment; she must be earning a lot! John earns as much money as Sarah. There have been many allegations against him from members of his team. We believe there is still much work to be done in the area of public health. |
If used before articles, demonstratives, possessives or pronouns, it is followed by ‘of’ | If used before articles, demonstratives, possessives or pronouns, it is followed by ‘of’ | How much of this book have you read? Not many of the students come from privileged backgrounds. I couldn’t ride a bike for much of my childhood. How many of them are under the age of 30? |
Few vs. little
Little and few are “quantifiers”. When theyare used on their own they have a negative meaning to suggest ‘not as much or not as many as might be expected’.
But be careful! When little and few are used with an article – a little or a few– both words mean ‘some’ and have a positive meaning.
When do I use fewand when do I use little?
Little is used with singular, uncountable nouns and few is used with plural, countable nouns to mean ‘not as much’ or ‘not as many’. For example:
The play made little sense to me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. (sense is uncountable) = the play didn’t make much sense.
She didn’t want to go, but she had little choice. (choice is uncountable) = she didn’t have much choice.
There are few people that I think would be qualified for the job. (people is countable) = there aren’t many people qualified for the job.
There are few tourists at this time of year so the beaches are nice and quiet. (tourists is countable) = there aren’t many tourists.
A little is used with singular, uncountable nouns and a few is used with plural, countable nouns to mean ‘some’:
We have a little time before the play starts so why don’t we get a drink?
We have a little space in our car if you want a lift.
There are a few good candidates that have applied so I’m sure we’ll find someone for the job.
We stayed in Spain a few days before going on to France.
‘A little’ (more formal) is similar to ‘a bit’ (less formal). Both expressions mean the same thing and are common in spoken English. For example, ‘We have a bit of time before the play starts.’, ‘Can I have a little more cake, please?’, ‘We have a bit of beer left over from the party.’. You can also combine the two and say ‘a little bit’, as in: ‘I’m a little bit confused about…’.
As well as having negative meanings, few and little on their own are also quite formal and are generally not used very much in everyday spoken English. It is more common to instead use a negative sentence with ‘many’ or ‘much’. For example:
The play made little sense to me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. = The play didn’t make much sense to me.
She didn’t want to go, but she had little choice. = She didn’t have much choice.
There are few people that I think would be qualified for the job. = There aren’t many people.
There are few tourists at this time of year so the beaches are nice and quiet. = There aren’t many tourists.
Compare these different meanings:
It’s snowing outside and I have few warm layers on so I’m really cold!
It’s snowing outside but I have a few warm layers on so I’m ok.
I have few friends in the city, so it can be quite lonely.
I have a few friends in the city, so I’m settling in well.
Few | A few | Little | A little | Examples |
Used with singular, uncountable nouns to mean ‘not as much’ | The play made little sense to me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. | |||
Used with plural, countable nouns to mean ‘not as many’ | There are few tourists at this time of year so the beaches are nice and quiet. | |||
Used with singular, uncountable nouns to mean ‘some’ | We have a little time before the play starts so why don’t we get a drink? | |||
Used with plural, countable nouns to mean ‘some’ | We stayed in Spain a few days before going on to France. |
Exercises: Some / any, much / many, few / little
A. Fill in the gaps with either some or any:
- There isn’t (_______) time to finish your lunch. We need to leave now!
- We have _______ham sandwiches in the fridge if you’re hungry.
- Shall we bake _______ cupcakes for the party?
- Do you have _______ family in Italy?
- I won’t need to do _______more revision after my exams.
- There aren’t _______ shopping centres near my house.
- Is there _______news on the royal couple’s wedding plans yet?
- We finally have _______ news about the royal wedding!
- Would you like _______ more soup, or are you full?
- Pick _______ birthday card you like. I think they’re all nice.
B. Choose the correct word to complete the sentences below:
- How much/many/many of the guests ordered lunch?
- She has too much/many/much of ideas and can’t focus on one thing at a time!
- We don’t have much of/much/many sunshine at this time of year.
- How many/much/much of people live in your block of flats?
- How many/much/much of the assignment have you completed so far?
- How many/many of/much money will I need for 2 days in London?
- There has been many/much/much of debate about the new regulations.
- Too many/much/much of people are driving in London and the traffic is a nightmare.
- There isn’t much of/many/much time before our flight so let’s go straight to the gate.
- My son doesn’t have many/much/much of friends at school.
C. Fill in the gaps with either few, little, a few or a little:
- There’s _______ chance of Mary coming to the wedding. She’s in Australia!
- We have _______ options for our next holiday and they all look good.
- _______ people visit Siberia in the winter because it’s too cold.
- You have _______ time before the next class if you want to get a drink.
- Let’s spend _______ days reviewing the proposal as I don’t want to rush it.
- There’s _______ point in repeating yourself because she never listens!
- I have very _______ colleagues that I would trust in a crisis.
- _______ is known about the singer’s early life.
- Your dessert was delicious! Can I have _______ more, please?
- The staff training course takes _______ days to complete.
Check your answers!
A = any, some, some, any, any, any, any, some, some, any
B = many of, many, much, many, much of, much, much, many, much, many
C = little, a few, few, a little, a few, little, few, little, a little, a few
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So, we use some with questions that are offers or requests.
Examples:
Offer Would you like some milk?
Request Can you buy me some milk?
And we use any in questions when we don’t know if something exists.
Example:
Do you have any pizza?
Exceptions to the rules
We can sometimes use any in positive sentences
When it is not important which one
Pass me any drink.
We can go to any game you like.
When the sentence has a negative idea
We never get any chocolate
We hardly ever buy anything nice.
He stayed there without any clean clothes.
When we use if
Let me know if you need anything
I am sorry for anything he has done wrong.
Anything/Something, Anytime/Sometime, Somebody/ Anybody
Something(unspecified thing)
I want something but I don’t know what.
Anything
I didn’t buy anything.
Sometime(unspecified time)
Let’s meet sometime on Friday.
Anytime
Anytime on Friday is fine.(it doesn’t matter)
Someone (unspecified person)
Someone took my pen.
Anyone
Does anyone have a car I can borrow?
All of these words follow the same rules as any and some. Notice how any is used with time. Anytime= a time that doesn’t matter.
Look at this example
Someone means an unspecified person but anyone adds more meaning. Anyone is whatever person and he is looking for help.
Read more about someone vs anyone here.
Key words: Grammar: Possessive pronouns (second form). Comparison of adjectives and adverbs. Participle I. Indefinite pronouns some, any. Word formation: Compound words with some, any, every, no
In Lesson 4, you learned about the possessive pronouns my, his, her, its, our, their. Possessive pronouns have this form when they appear in front of a noun as its definition. But when they stand instead of a noun, replace it, then their form changes somewhat. Compare:
Compare also sentences with the same meaning:
Read and translate:
Take my notebook and give me yours. I your house; do you want to see ours? Give them our map, theirs is too small. She says that bag is hers.
1) Adjectives
In modern English, there are two ways to form degrees of comparison of adjectives:
The first method — using suffixes. In this way, the degrees of comparison of monosyllabic adjectives, as well as those disyllabic adjectives that end in y, are formed. Comparatively, the suffix -er [q] is added to them, and in the excellent -est [qst]. For example:
Polishing | Comparative | Superb |
warm warm | warmer warmer | (the) warmest warmest (warmest) |
wide wide | wider is wider | (the) widest widest (widest) |
big big | bigger bigger | (the) biggest |
easy easy | easier easier | (the) easiest (lightest) |
A noun defined by a superlative adjective usually has the article the or possessive pronoun:
This bridge is the finest in London. This is the most beautiful bridge in London.
He is my oldest friend. He is my oldest friend.
Comparison grades have the following spelling features
a) doubling a consonant before -er and -est, if the consonant is preceded by a short vowel: bid, bigger, (the) biggest;
b) the transition of the final у в iif the letter y is preceded by a consonant: easy, easier, (the) easiest.
second method — by adding the words more [mO:] more and (the)
most [must] most of all, the most… This is how the degrees of comparison of most disyllabic and all polysyllabic adjectives are formed. For example:
These two methods are basic for the formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives.
In addition, the degrees of comparison of some adjectives are derived from other roots. There are few such adjectives. Remember them:
Please note that the degrees of comparison of the corresponding Russian words are also formed from different roots: good is better; bad — worse; much more.
2) Adverbs
The degrees of comparison of adverbs are formed in the same way as the degrees of comparison of adjectives:
1) Using suffixes:
near — nearer — nearest close, closest, closest
2) Descriptively:
Source: http://www.englspace.com/online/lesson10/index.shtml
The use of some, any, no in English
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A pronoun is a word that indicates an object or quality of an object, but does not directly name it. Today we will take a look at the indefinite pronouns some, any, no in English.
Rules for using some, any, no
Before we consider the cases of the use of some, any, no, let’s find out the translation of these words.
- Some — some, some, some, a few.
- Any is translated in the same way, and can also be translated as «any».
- No — no, not at all.
The general rule for these pronouns is: some, any, no must come before the noun they define. In this function, they resemble articles (a / an and the), which are also used before a noun. Let’s take a look at the table.
Sentence Example Countable Uncountable
+ | We need | an (some) apple. some apples. | some rice. some milk. |
— | We don’t need | a (any) tomato.any tomatoes. | any rice.any sugar. |
? | do we need | a (any) tomato? any tomatoes? | any rice? any sugar? |
It is important to remember that it is better not to leave a noun unaccompanied by a pronoun or article. And now — to the rules of using some, any, no in English.
- The pronoun some is used in affirmative sentences. But it can also be found in interrogative sentences when it comes to a request or an offer to do something for someone.
There is some portrait on the wall. — There is a portrait hanging on the wall.
The boys broke some windows in the house. — The boys broke several windows in the house.
Would you some beer? — Would you like some beer? (offer)
Give me, please, some juice. — Please give me some juice. (request)
Please note that with words in the singular, some translates as «some» (some boy — some boy), with the same plural nouns — «several» (some people — several people), but with uncountable nouns — «a little» (some sugar — a little sugar).
- The pronoun any is used in interrogative and negative sentences instead of some and means «any, some, no».
Do you speak any foreign languages? — Do you speak any foreign languages?
Did the manager take any decision? — Did the manager make any decision?
I did not find any mistakes. — I haven’t found any errors.
If any is in an affirmative sentence, then it is translated as “any”, “any”, “whatever”.
Any vegetable is useful for your health. — Any vegetable is good for your health.
Any girl wants to get married. — Every girl wants to get married.
You can catch any of these buses. “You can take any of these buses.
- The pronoun no as a definition is used with all types of nouns, both in the singular and in the plural. It expresses the absence of something and is used only in negative sentences.
John has no furniture in his flat. — John has no furniture in the apartment.
Fortunately there are no cars in this area. “Fortunately, there are no cars in this area.
Note the difference between not and no. We use not for a verb, and no before a noun:
I have no telephone at home. = I have not got a telephone at home. “I don’t have a phone at home.
There are no pupils in the classroom. = There are not any pupils in the classroom. — There are no students in the class.
there is no information in the file. = There is not any information in the file. — There is no information in the file.
You can use either option: no or not any. Just do not mix them with each other, because in an English sentence there can be only one negation.
There is no any difference. — There is not any difference or There is no difference… — No difference.
Watch the video from a native speaker to understand the difference between some and any.
The combination of some, any, no with other words
When we talk about people, things, places, we can add some, any, no and get new words. Let’s look at the table to find out which words we can add these pronouns to.
AboutSome + Any + No +
People | Somebody, someone — someone, someone, someone, someone | Anybody, anyone — anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone | Nobody, no one — nobody, nobody |
Things | Something — something, something, something | Anything — anything | Nothing is nothing, nothing |
Places | Somewhere — somewhere, somewhere, somewhere | Anywhere — Anywhere, Anywhere, Anywhere | Nowhere — nowhere, nowhere |
And a few more rules worth paying attention to.
Source: https://engblog.ru/some-any-no
Any Some Terms of Use
By Alina Skorokhodova Mar 6, 2019 Indefinite pronouns indicate an indefinite object, object or person, as well as a small number. In English, this group includes some, any with their derivatives. Despite the same translation — «some, some, a little, a little, some, some», they have differences in the rules of use.
Some
Used primarily in affirmative sentences, special questions, and requests and offers. In general questions, the same can be used when it is necessary to especially strongly emphasize a small amount of something.
Any
It is used, as a rule, in negative phrases, general issues. In questions requiring a yes / no answer, in conditional sentences. It is also used in affirmative sentences, but in the meaning of «any, no matter what».
Comparative use of the pronouns some and any
The main difference lies in the types of utterances in which these pronouns are used.
Can I have something to eat? Yes, you can eat anything you want.
Can I eat something? Yes, you can eat what you want.
Rules for using some / any
Both of these words can act as:
- Pronoun adjectives (i.e. together with nouns)
- Pronoun nouns (i.e. instead of nouns)
They are used both for countable nouns in both numbers, and relatively uncountable ones. Accordingly, with uncountable (which includes mainly abstract concepts, substances, etc.) will mean «a little». Countable nouns are «a certain number, a few.»
Some applies
- In statements.
- You need to answer some questions. — You need to answer some questions.
- We have some time to do this. — We have some time for this.
- In special matters (ie, where the special interrogative words «what, where, when, etc.» are used.
)
- Where can I have some drink? — Where can I have a drink?
- In requests or suggestions.
- I can give you some lessons if you want. “I can give you some lessons if you want.
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Any used
- For general questions.
- Will there be any people in the room? — Will there be any people in the room?
- For negations (together with the not particle)
- There were not any dogs in the garden… “There were no dogs in the garden.
- In affirmative sentences can be used when it is important to put the emphasis that «it does not matter which, any»
- You could find these flowers in any forest. — You can find these flowers in any forest.
- Parents may return at any time. — Parents can return at any time.
- What kind of tea do you drink? Any will be ok. — What kind of tea do you drink? Anyone will do.
- Since any is used in negative constructs, it will also be used after negative adverbs, such as:
- Hardly, scarcely (hardly, almost not)
- Never (never)
- Without (- without, and when it is followed by the fourth / ing form of the verb, then «without doing anything»)
- Seldom, rarely (rarely, infrequently, occasionally)
- little, few (a little, a little)
Both of these pronouns can be translated into Russian, or their meaning is conveyed descriptively with the preservation of the meaning.
For example, usually some is left without translation when it is used with uncountable nouns, but the meaning implies “a little, a certain amount, a little”.
Could you give me some tea, please?
Could you pour me some tea, please.
Important notes
When used with uncountable nouns, some means only a certain amount, a part, and not the whole whole.
For comparison:
- Lend me some money for shopping. — Lend me some money for shopping.
- Give me the money, or I`ll shoot! — Give me money (everything you have), otherwise I’ll shoot!
It is also worth considering that when using indefinite pronouns with countable nouns, it is no longer necessary to put a definite / indefinite article.
- Where are the textbooks? — Some are on the table. — Where are the textbooks? — They (some) are on the table.
- I need some food. Please give me some. — I need some food. Please give me food.
If the pronoun some is used with respect to a certain set of persons or objects in the meaning, then the preposition of is placed after it, and the definite article the or the possessive / demonstrative pronoun is required before the subsequent noun. Derivatives from indefinite pronouns are not used in this construction.
Some of our guests were late. Some of our guests were late.
Some of the apples were already eaten… Some of the apples have already been eaten.
Derived from some and any
The pronouns some and any form derivatives with the suffixes «thing, body, one, where, when».
- something, anything — «something, anything, whatever» when it comes to inanimate objects and objects
- somebody, someone; anybody, anyone «Someone, someone, anyone, anyone, someone», are used in relation to animate nouns, that is, people
- somewhere, anywhere — «somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, everywhere, nowhere», that is, relative to the location
When using derivatives, you should follow the same rules as for the original pronouns.
For cooperation, please contact us by e-mail: [email protected]
Source: https://eng911.ru/rules/any-some-ispolzovanie.html
English grammar for beginners, part 5
: 20.03.2017
And here is another article from the «Grammar for Beginners» series. We have already published four articles and received hundreds of grateful responses from our readers. As a reminder, in this series of articles, we explain grammar in accessible words without complicated terms, so that beginners or people who don’t remember the basics of English well can understand grammar and put it into practice.
:
- 1. Demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those
- 2. The use of few, a few, little, a little, a lot of, plenty
- 3. Peculiarities of using some, any, no
- 4. Indefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-
Be sure to check out the following articles in this series:
Demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those
Demonstrative pronouns in English indicate an object, person, animal. In the singular we use the pronoun this (this, this, this) and that (that, that, that), in the plural — these (these) and those (those).
This and theseThat and those
1. We talk about objects and people who are next to us… In some cases, such phrases will contain the word here, which will indicate to you the proximity of the item. this book here. — Look at this book. (which means the book is next to us)Thesis shoes are too small. — These the shoes are too small. (you try on shoes and tell the seller that they are small) | 1. We talk about objects and people who are far from us… In some cases, such phrases will contain the words over there, which will indicate to you the distant location of the object.That book over there belongs to me. — And the book belongs to me. (the book is at the other end of the room, and you show the person that the book over there is yours)Those shoes look fantastic! — Those the shoes look fantastic! (shoes are on the shelf farthest from you) |
2. Talking about something happening at the moment of speech or close to the moment of speech.This girl is charming. — This the girl is adorable. (we are looking at the girl at the moment)Thesis hamburgers are tasty. — This is delicious burgers. (refers to the hamburgers we are eating at the moment) | 2. Talking about the event in the past tense, that is, distant from the moment of speech.That girl I met last week was charming. — And the girl I met last week was adorable. (the action took place in the past)Those hamburgers we ate yesterday were tasty. — Those the burgers we ate yesterday were delicious. (we are talking about the past — a distant moment in time) |
3. When we introduce ourselves (in a telephone conversation) or introduce a person / several people.hello, this is John! — Hey, it John! (we call and introduce ourselves)Thesis are my colleagues, Tom and Jerry. — This is my colleagues, Tom and Jerry. | 3. When you ask the person to introduce themselveswith whom you are talking on the phone (person is far away from you) .Hello, is That Sally? — Hey, it Sally? |
An interesting point: the pronouns this and it are very similar, we can say both This is a dog and It is a dog. What is the difference between them?
This is a dog. — This is a dog. (emphasis on the first word: we want to say that this, and not some other, animal is a dog)
A cat and a dog are standing in front of us. Your friend points to the cat and claims it is a dog. You point to a dog and say: This is a dog.
It is a dog. — This is a dog. (emphasis on the second word: we want to emphasize that this animal is a dog, not a cat)
Your friend points you to the dog and says it’s a cat. In this case, you tell him: It’s a dog.
Do you understand the difference between these pronouns? Then take our test.
Demonstrative test this, that, these, those
Using few, a few, little, a little, a lot of, plenty
In Part XNUMX of our Grammar for Beginners, we have already learned five words for the amount of something: many, much, some, any, and no. Now let’s see what other expressions are used to denote the number of countable (which can be counted) and uncountable (which cannot be counted) nouns. For convenience, we will present everything in the table.
Countable nouns Uncountable nouns Translation Example
a lot of, lots of | many, very many | I have a lot of books in my library. — In my library lots of books.I put plenty of milk in my coffee. — I poured lots of milk in your coffee. | |
many | much | many (many in all kinds of sentences, much mostly in negative and interrogative sentences) | do you have many books. — At your place lot books? Do you put much milk in my coffee? — You lot poured milk into my coffee? |
some | a little, a little (in affirmative sentences) | I have some books. — I have some books.I put some milk in my coffee. — I poured slightly milk in your coffee. | |
Any | several, a little (in interrogative and negative sentences) | do you have Any books? — Do you have slightly books? Did you put Any milk in my coffee? — You poured slightly milk in my coffee? | |
a few | a little | little but enough | I have a few books in my library. — In my library slightly books. (so many books are enough for me) I put a little milk in my coffee. — I poured slightly milk in your coffee. (It’s enough) |
few | little | little and not enough | I have few books in my library. — In my library little books. (so little that it’s not enough, there’s a lack) I put little milk in my coffee. — I poured little milk in your coffee. (I would like more, I feel a lack) |
No. | there is no one (s), there is no | I have No. books in my library. — In my library no one books.There is No. milk in my coffee. — In my coffee there is no milk. |
We want to clarify in a little more detail the difference between the words a few (a little) and few (little). The first of them (a few and a little) are used in case you have little of something, but this amount is still enough for you, you do not experience a shortage. While few and little we use, when you don’t have enough of something and this amount is not enough for you, you are missing it.
Peculiarities of using some, any, no
We figured out how to denote quantity using the words some, any, no. As you noticed, indefinite pronouns in English always appear before a noun and, in fact, replace the article. Let’s see examples of how this happens:
there is a book in the box. = There is some book in the box. — In the box some kind of
Source: https://englex.ru/english-grammar-for-beginners-part-5/
The turnover there is / there are, its negative form. Indefinite pronouns
Turnover there is/there are literally translated as «There is.» Choice is or are depends on the number of nouns pointed to by the turnover.
The need to use this turnover, perhaps, is not very clear for beginners to learn English, since the analogies of turnover there is/there are in Russian, no. The skills of using this phrase will be useful in the future and will undoubtedly make the language more expressive and beautiful.
This turnover has a fairly wide range of applications. In this topic, we will analyze one such application, namely, an indication of the location of an object.
Compare two sentences:
There are two books on the table. — There are two books on the table (There are two books on the table) and
Two books are on the table. — Two books on the table.
In a non-revolving sentence, the emphasis is on the object (two books). The turnover shifts this emphasis to the location of the object — that makes all the difference. It all depends on what is paramount to you. The difference can be seen from the translation, which is better at first to be guided at first. Thus, if necessary, to say that something is somewhere or located, we use the phrase there is / there are.
Affirmative sentences
An affirmative sentence begins with a turnover, followed by a subject (noun), which can be preceded by a numeral, possessive pronoun and / or adjective. In the last place is the circumstance of place: 1) There is / there are 2) what (who) is 3) where is.
There is a nice-looking girl in that room.
There are five red apples in my bag.
Indefinite pronouns
When using the phrase there is / there are are actively used by indefinite pronouns. Most often these are pronouns some и Anythat represent a certain amount of an object.
some roughly translates to «somewhat / some»
Any — «any / any»
Approximately — because often these pronouns are NOT translated (in sentences) into Russian, and sometimes their translation is very important. You need to get used to the use of these pronouns, since there are no complete analogues of them in the Russian language. But there are certain rules that make it easier to use these indefinite pronouns.
Pronoun some, as a rule, is used only in affirmative suggestions. Pronoun Any usually used in sentences negative и interrogative.
И someand Any are equally used with countable and uncountable nouns.
There ARE some books on the table. Possible translations: There are several books on the table; There is (some) books on the table.
Possible translations: There is (is) some tea in the cup. There is some tea in the cup.
Source: https://www.study.ru/courses/elementary/oborot-there-isthere-are
Some and Any in English — dot the I
As you know, it is impossible to learn any language for its full use, without having sufficient knowledge of the basis of this language, which is largely grammar. A good knowledge of grammar makes it possible to communicate correctly, build sentences, rewrite and, in general, get full access to all language tools of a particular language.
Learning English may seem difficult only at first glance, grammar is at first quite difficult for many, but if you look at how many people around the world are successfully learning English, you can come to the conclusion that this language is not so difficult to master.
In addition, it is the Russian language that is considered one of the most difficult in the world, and if we know Russian, then we will be able to learn English.
Basic grammar and some important points of information
There are many important and interesting questions in the grammar of the English language that require close study, and today we will talk about exactly what place the words some and any occupy in the English language and what this linguistic phenomenon is. More precisely, this is not even a design, but a language tool that will allow you to achieve the desired effect.
The words some and any are pronouns, but these are not ordinary pronouns, they are «indefinite». Indefinite pronouns are always used to indicate something, most often using a noun in a complex. As a rule, these words have meaning only in English, and they are not even translated into Russian, but let’s look at everything in order.
What are some and any for, how and where to use them
In English, some and any are used to denote an indefinite, often small, amount of something. Most often, these indefinite pronouns act as definitions for a noun and are placed instead of an article.
The word some, as a rule, is used precisely in affirmative sentences when it is placed before countable nouns (water is uncountable, coins are countable, that is, coins can be counted) in the plural, as well as before uncountable nouns.
In this case, some will assign the meaning «several» or «some». This is easier to understand by looking at more specific examples.
Examples of using some and any
Examples of using the pronoun some
I’ve got SOME interesting books to read. — I have SEVERAL interesting books to read.
SOME children don’t sleep. — SOME kids don’t like sleeping.
As you can see, in these two examples the pronoun some acquires different meanings — “several” and “some”. In the same meanings, the word can be used not only in affirmative sentences, but also in interrogative ones.
Examples of usage and purpose of the pronoun any
The pronoun any is used, as a rule, in negative and interrogative sentences and is translated as the adverb «a little», «at least a little», or is not translated into Russian at all. Combined with the negative particle not, the pronoun any acquires the meaning «none», which is often used in negative sentences. For example:
They haven’t got ANY mistakes in this text. — They have NO mistakes in this text.
When executing the function of defining an uncountable noun, the pronoun any takes the meaning «any»:
Have you got ANY milk here? Is there milk here? (HOW MUCH milk)
As you can see, in the last example, the pronoun is not translated into Russian and takes on special meaning only in English.
Article recommended by an expert: Maria Solomatina
Source: https://1hello.ru/grammatika/some-any-v-anglijskom-yazyke-rasstavim-vse-tochki-nad-i.html
How to use Some and Any in English (rules and examples)
Words some and any are used in different meanings, there are also pronouns derived from them with similar meanings. The basic rule is that some is used in affirmative sentences, and Any in denials and general issues.
:
Some and any meaning “several, some, some” — before a plural noun. number of
Some and any can be used in the meanings “several, some, some” before countable plural nouns (some and any act as adjective pronouns, that is, replace an adjective). In this case, into Russian some usually not translated.
There are some books on the shelf. — There are books on the shelf (several books, some books).
I am going to feed some birds. — I’m going to feed the birds (some birds, some birds).
Have you got Any yellow bricks? — Do you have yellow bricks? (some number of bricks)
Jack doesn’t have Any matches. — Jack has no matches (no matches).
They asked me some questions. “They asked me a few questions.
Note: some and any can also be used in place of plural nouns, acting as pronouns.
They wanted to see some samples of our product, and we sent them some… — They wanted to see samples of our products (a certain number), and we sent them some (samples).
I needed some nails, but they didn’t have Any… — I needed nails (a certain number), but they did not have them.
Some and any meaning “a certain amount, a little” — before an uncountable noun
In the examples above, the pronouns some and any were used in the meaning of “several, some”, that is, it was not only about the quantity, but also about its uncertainty. The second case is very close in meaning to the first, but there cannot be the meaning of “several” here, since we are talking about an uncountable subject.
In the meanings “some, a little, some” some, any are used before an uncountable noun.
give me some money please — Give me (some, some) money, please.
I have got some food — I have (a little, a certain amount) food.
Don’t give me Any money — Don’t give me (any) money.
I haven’t got Any food — I have no food (not at all).
Note: some and any can also be used in place of an uncountable noun.
Source: https://langformula.ru/english-grammar/some-any/
Indefinite pronouns some, any and rules for their use
Hi, dear friends. The pronouns some and any have a similar meaning — they translate as “some, some”. However, in speech they are used in different ways. Let’s consider the rules for using «some» and «any», as well as their derivatives.
The general rule of thumb for these pronouns is: some, any must come before the noun they define. In this function, they resemble articles (a / an and the), which are also used before a noun. Let’s take a look at the table.
SentenceExampleCountableUncountable
+ | We need | an (some) apple.some apples. | some rice. some milk. |
— | We don’t need | a (any) tomato.any tomatoes. | any rice.any sugar. |
? | do we need | a (any) tomato? any tomatoes? | any rice? any sugar? |
Pronoun some
Indefinite pronoun some mostly used in affirmative sentences.
- There is some water in the cup — there is some water in the cup
- There is some person in the hall — there is some person in the hall
- I have some plums — I have some plums
In interrogative sentences, some is used only in two cases: if we offer something to someone и if we ask for something.
- Would you some chocolate? — Would you like some chocolate?
- Can I have some salt, please? — Can I have some salt, please?
The word some is translated into Russian in different ways, depending on which nouns it is combined with. In combination with countable nouns in the singular, we translate some as “some”, if the countable nouns are in the plural, then “several”, and if some is used with uncountable nouns, then it can be translated into Russian as “ slightly ”or not, depending on the context.
- There is some book on the desk. Is it yours? “There’s a book on the table.
- Is this yours? — I have several pens, I can give you one.
- There is some milk in the bottle, but not much. — There is milk in the bottle, but not much.
- Take two eggs and some flour. — Take 2 eggs and some flour.
Pronoun any
Indefinite pronoun Any performs the function some in interrogative and negative sentences.
- I have some money
- I don’t have money — I don’t have any money
- You have money? — do you have any money?
Any can be used in an affirmative sentence, but in such cases its meaning will be “any, any, any».
- Any person wants to be happy — any person wants happiness
- You may call me any time — you can call me anytime
The combination of some, any with other words
When we talk about people, things, places, we can add some, any and get new words. Let’s look at the table to find out which words we can add these pronouns to.
About | some + | any + |
People | Somebody, someone — someone, someone, someone, someone | Anybody, anyone — anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone, anyone |
Things | Something — something, something, something | Anything — anything |
Places | Somewhere — somewhere, somewhere, somewhere | Anywhere — Anywhere, Anywhere, Anywhere |
Example:
- I have something to tell you. “I want to tell you something.
- Did he see anything terrible there? — He saw something terrible there?
- I know nothing about him. “I don’t know anything about him.
- Somebody / someone has stolen my purse! — Someone stole my wallet!
- Has anybody / anyone heard something about Jack? — Has anyone heard anything about Jack?
- The keys should be somewhere on the table. — Should the keys be on the table somewhere?
- We can go anywhere this summer. — We can go anywhere in the summer.
Derivative pronouns formed from some, any are used in a sentence without nouns, and can act as a subject or object in a sentence. Moreover, such subjects agree with the predicate in the third person singular:
Example:
- Something is bothering you. — Something is bothering you.
- Somebody has been sleeping in my bed. — Someone was sleeping in my bed.
Some, Every, Any, No & Compounds
As you can see, there are not so many rules. If you study all this, the use of some, any should not cause any difficulties. We hope that your English grammar knowledge box has been replenished. Good luck!
Source: http://englishfox.ru/mestoimeniya-some-any.html
Indefinite words in English. Some any no — negative and indefinite pronouns in English
Friends, we have already learned many types of English pronouns. Everyone has long known that the pronoun is one of the main parts of speech that replaces a noun in a sentence and in speech.
Today we will discuss another kind of English pronouns — indefinite pronouns. Indefinite pronouns in English are a very curious thing. After all, they all come from two short words — Some и Any, which seem to be similar, but used in different ways.
Let’s figure out what these words are, how and where they are used, what meaning they have in a sentence. Some и Any translated as «some, some, a little, a little.» In the sentence, they serve as a definition. They are translated virtually the same way, but they are used differently in the sentence. And here is the very use of these words.
Someused in affirmative sentences:
- IHavesomegoodfriends. — I have some good friends.
- SandrahassomeFrenchbooksathome. — Sandra has several French books at home.
Anyused in negative and interrogative sentences. Sometimes it can be translated as «none» or even omitted in translation:
- Ihaven «tAnybooksofMathematics. — I don’t have any books on mathematics.
- DoyouHaveAnylettersfromTom? — Do you have any letters from Tom?
Sometimes a word Somecan be used in interrogative sentences if you offer something to the interlocutor:
- would you some coffee? — Would you like some coffee?
As you have already noticed, Some и Anygo well with both countable and uncountable nouns:
- WeHavesomemilkandTwoeggs;sowecanmakeacake. — We have some milk and two eggs; we can bake a cake.
- WeHavesomepepper,butwedon «tHaveAnysugar;weshouldntbuysome. — We have some pepper, but no sugar; need to buy some (sugar).
To reinforce what you have learned, try translating the following sentences into English using words Some и Any… Exercises of this type will train you in the knowledge of indefinite pronouns:
- Do you have knives and forks?
- He has several German books at home.
- Show him some photos, please.
- Does he have any English magazines at home?
- Do you have children?
- Jim has some colored pencils.
- A friend of mine has several geographic maps.
The indefinite pronoun table is easy!
All we need to know is that indefinite pronouns in English are formed from words Some и any.And together we will compile a table of these indefinite pronouns!
Pay attention: we take words Some и thing and get Something; or Any и body and get Anybody.You have probably recognized these indefinite pronouns. The use of such words in speech is familiar to everyone who learns English! Well, well, we’ve refreshed our memory, now let’s get down to the table!
Pronoun | Transfer |
Some | Some, some some, (none) |
Someone | Someone, someone, someone
Someone, someone, no |
Somebody | Someone, someone, someone
Someone, someone, no |
Something | Something, something, something
Something, something, nothing |
Somewhere | Somewhere, somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere (nowhere) |
somehow | Somehow, somehow, somehow Somehow, somehow, no way |
Here’s a table we have with you turned out. Small, but very necessary for the use of indefinite pronouns in speech.
The use of these pronouns in a sentence and in speech corresponds to the use of words Some и any.All on Someused in affirmative sentences; all on Any— in negative and interrogative. For example:
- You should finish your report a, otherwise you can get a bad mark. — You must somehow finish your report, otherwise you can get a bad grade.
- DoyouKnowanyonewhoCouldhelpus? — Do you know someone who would help us?
- Ican «tstopthewater,por favor,dosomething! — I can’t stop the water, please do something!
- Isanybodyin? — Is there anyone at home?
- WeneedsomeonewhoknowsEnglish. — We need someone who knows English.
We hope friends, you all understand about indefinite pronouns. Now let’s see how to learn them quickly and easily.
How to quickly and easily learn indefinite pronouns?
Friends, if you are learning English, then you cannot do without indefinite pronouns. With them, your speech will be much more developed. How can you quickly and easily learn them?
The most optimal way is to form sentences and do exercises with indefinite pronouns. As much of this type of work as possible and you will very quickly master indefinite pronouns, and most importantly, you will get used to using them in speech.
We wish you good luck and early learning of the indefinite pronouns of the English language!
In English, pronouns play a particularly important role. Their use requires the development of certain skills and abilities. In this article, we will learn how indefinite pronouns behave in English and get acquainted with the rules for their use.
There are different schools of the English language, and they use different classifications of pronouns, so we will focus on those words whose ambiguity raises the least doubt.
Pronouns are 100 percent indefinite. some и Any in English, and, with a slight stretch, No., since this word and its derivatives simply deny the presence of an object or person.
Therefore, let us first dwell in detail on the first prepositions mentioned. Let’s start with the word some, which in most cases is used in affirmative sentences to mean «a little.»
There is some coffee in the thermos… There is some coffee in the thermos.
There are some potatoes in the pale… There are some potatoes in the bucket.
The assertion rule does not work when we ask polite questions with the words could, would:
Source: https://parlini.ru/neopredelennye-slova-v-angliiskom-yazyke-some-any-no.html
Words in English can be confusing, especially when those words are meant to signify a specific (or generalized) number. “Some” is one such word that makes learning it confusing. It makes people ask questions like how much is some? And what number is some associated with?
The definition of some in numbers is that it equals at least one, but possibly all. That might sound strange at first, but hear us out. When we use “some” in a sentence, we are talking about one or more things. Depending on the context, it could refer to all. For example, “some of my friends” could mean “two of my friends,” just as easily as it could mean “all of my friends.” The context is important with the usage of “some.”
A lot of people are familiar with “some,” meaning at least one. They’ll use it to give someone an indefinite number or a quick answer to a question that asks for quantification. For example, if someone asked you “how many people are coming,” and you reply “some friends,” it’s a quick way to respond without having to give the exact number, because either you don’t know it yourself, or you don’t really care about the answer!
Some is used mostly as a brush-off word that helps to distinguish a number. As we said, though, the number comes more from context than definition. You can’t put one singular number to it and expect it to equal the same amount every time. That’s the glory of using words like “some” or “several,” there’s never a direct answer, so you can have fun with them.
10 Examples Of How To Use “Some” In A Sentence
Now that we’ve cleared up the definition of “some” and how many it might refer to, it’s time to put our newfound knowledge into action. Let’s look through some examples of using it (see how we just used it in that sentence, too). We’ll show you when it’s best suited, as well as when it can mean anywhere between one thing or person, to all the things and people.
- Some of my friends are coming around later.
- You’ll find some food in the fridge.
- Some of you won’t be graduating tomorrow.
- Some of us might not make it.
- I’ve ordered us some Indian food.
- We’re not some random people.
- Do you have some milk?
- Does anyone have some answers to my question?
- Some of you may die, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
- Some day soon, I’ll make it out of here.
You can talk about friends, food, days, and everything in between. In each of these cases, the object of the sentence relating to “some” varies. If it can be quantified (given a number), then the word “some” may apply when talking about an indefinite number.
Synonyms For “Some”
Now that we’ve covered all we need to know about “some” and what it means, there’s one last thing to cover. If you’re still unsure of how to use “some” or fancy having a wider range of words to use, then synonyms might be the answer for you! Finding alternatives to words not only makes you more comfortable with replacing words you’re not too familiar with, but it also shows you have a much deeper understanding of the language!
- Few
This is one of the other most common quantifiable words in English. We use this to talk about more than one, but only a selection of a group.
- Various
A way to say that varying options are spoken about. It’s a bit more restrictive than the open-ended “some,” but it’s still a good choice.
- Several
Another quantifiable word that refers to more than “few.” If you’re using this instead of “some,” you’re often using it on the upper end of the amount scale.
- A number
This one’s good if you don’t want to give an exact number but have a rough idea anyway.
- A portion
This one’s similar to “a number” but is reserved for specific situations, so you can’t always use it. For example, you can say “a portion of cake,” but you won’t get away with “a portion of friends.” It’s usually referring to amounts in food.
You may also like:
How many is A few? Here’s the FULL explanation (+10 EXAMPLES)
How many is A couple? Here’s the FULL explanation (+10 EXAMPLES)
How many is Several? Here’s the FULL explanation (+10 EXAMPLES)
How many is Many? Here’s the FULL explanation (+10 EXAMPLES)
Some Is vs. Some Are – Learn If “Some” Is Singular Or Plural
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
When do we use some and when any?
We use some and any for an amount which is not known e.g. Have you got any crisps?
Use of some and any
- some: affirmative statements, offers, requests and in questions when you expect the answer ›yes‹
- any: negative statements, questions
Have you got any bananas? No, we haven’t got any. But we’ve got some oranges.
Exceptions:
I would like to buy fruit at a market. I see the man has wonderful apples so I can ask him:
- Can I have some of these apples?
If I do not see apples or if I am not sure whether there are apples at all I use any in this question.
- Have you got any apples?
The words ‘some’ and ‘any’ are quantifiers. We use ‘some’ and ‘any’ with a noun when we don’t know the amount.
I have 3 apples.
I have some apples.
We can use ‘some’ and ‘any’ with countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
There are some apples in the fridge.
The noun ‘apples’ is countable.
There is some juice in the fridge.
The noun ‘juice’ is uncountable.
When Do I Use ‘Any’?
We use ‘any’ in three ways:
- Negative sentences;
- Questions;
- ‘If’ statements.
Negative sentences
We use ‘any’ with ’not’ to make negative sentences.
We don’t have any milk.
There isn’t any bread.
Questions
We use ‘any’ to make questions.
Do we have any milk?
Is there any bread?
‘If’ Statements
We use ‘any’ when the sentence starts with ‘if’.
If you have any questions, just ask.
When Do I Use ‘Some’?
We use ‘some’ in three ways:
- Positive sentences;
- Making offers or requests;
- Asking questions when you think the answer is ‘yes’.
Positive Sentences
We use ‘some’ to make positive sentences.
I bought some bread.
There is some milk in the fridge.
Offers and Requests
Offers and requests are often questions. When a question is an offer or a request we use ‘some’.
Would you like some coffee?
This is an offer. You are offering me coffee.
Can I have some water?
This a request. I am requesting water.
Asking Questions When you Think the Answer is ‘Yes’
We usually use ‘any’ to make questions. You can use ‘some’ in a question when you think the answer to the question will be ‘yes’.
Did you learn some new words in class?
I think the answer is ‘yes’. I think you did learn new words.
Do we still have some milk in the fridge?
I think the answer is ‘yes’. I think we have milk.
Making Sentences with ‘Some’ and ‘Any’
We usually use ‘some’ or ‘any’ directly before the noun.
some + noun
any + noun
We can use ‘some’ or ‘any’ without a noun when the person you are speaking to knows the noun you are talking about.
I couldn’t find the bread. We didn’t have any.
In the first sentence I introduce the noun ‘bread’. In the second sentence I use ‘any’ without a noun. ‘Any’ refers to the noun ‘bread’. I don’t need to use the noun ‘bread’ in the second sentence, because you know I am talking about ‘bread’.
It is common to leave out the noun when you are answering a question.
John: Do we have any milk?
Sarah: Yes, there is some in the fridge.