Some and Any

Master when to use 'some' (positive sentences, offers, requests) vs 'any' (negatives, questions, 'whichever' meaning, after near-negatives). 10 exercises.

Some vs Any in English

Some and any are among the first quantifiers taught, yet errors persist into B2 level because the basic positive/negative rule has significant exceptions. Corpus data from Cambridge Assessment shows that some/any confusion appears in around 15% of B1–B2 written samples, with errors in offers and requests ('Would you like any coffee?') being the most common single pattern. Learners who know the basic rule often misapply it precisely when the exceptions matter most.

The Basic Rule

There's some milk in the fridge. (positive)
There isn't any milk in the fridge. (negative)
Is there any milk in the fridge? (question)

Exceptions: Offers and Requests

Use 'some' — not 'any' — in offers and polite requests, because the speaker expects or hopes for a positive response:

Would you like some coffee? (offer)
Could I have some water, please? (request)

'Any' in Positive Sentences

In a positive sentence, 'any' means 'whichever / it doesn't matter which':

You can sit in any seat — they're all free.
Call me at any time.

'Any' After Near-Negatives

Use 'any' after words with a negative meaning, even in positive sentences:

We got there without any problems.
There's hardly any food left. (hardly = almost none)

Common Mistakes

✗ Would you like any tea before you leave? → ✓ Would you like some tea? (offer)
✗ I don't have no cash on me. → ✓ I don't have any cash. (double negation)