Some and Any
Master when to use 'some' (positive sentences, offers, requests) vs 'any' (negatives, questions, 'whichever' meaning, after near-negatives). 10 exercises.
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Would you like ___ tea before you leave?
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some
Use 'some' in an offer, even though it is a question.
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Is there ___ milk in the fridge?
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any
Use 'any' in a neutral question.
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I'm sorry, I don't have ___ money with me.
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any
After a negative verb ('don't have'), use 'any'.
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There are ___ apples on the kitchen table.
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some
Use 'some' in a positive statement.
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I bought ___ flowers to brighten up the room.
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some
Use 'some' in a positive statement.
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She didn't give me ___ help at all with the project.
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any
After a negative verb ('didn't give'), use 'any'.
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Can I have ___ sugar for my coffee, please?
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some
Use 'some' in a request.
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Take ___ book you like — they're all free.
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any
Here 'any' means 'it doesn't matter which'.
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There's ___ coffee in the pot if you'd like a cup.
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some
Use 'some' in a positive statement.
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We didn't receive ___ replies to the invitation.
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any
After a negative verb ('didn't receive'), use 'any'.
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 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:
Could I have some water, please? (request)
'Any' in Positive Sentences
In a positive sentence, 'any' means 'whichever / it doesn't matter which':
Call me at any time.
'Any' After Near-Negatives
Use 'any' after words with a negative meaning, even in positive sentences:
There's hardly any food left. (hardly = almost none)
Common Mistakes
✗ I don't have no cash on me. → ✓ I don't have any cash. (double negation)
Last updated: · Satori Editorial