Some and Any
I can say what is available and ask neutral questions about it.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
We have some apples. We don’t have any oranges. Before lunch, we ask, “Do we have any bread?”
Read the situation transcript
We have some apples. We don’t have any oranges. Before lunch, we ask, “Do we have any bread?”
Which question checks availability without assuming the answer?
Compare your idea
Do we have any bread? is a neutral availability question.
How it works
Use some in many affirmative sentences with plural or uncountable nouns: some apples, some water. Use any in many negative sentences and neutral questions.
A positive offer or request often uses some: Would you like some tea? Can I have some water? Do not turn the useful pattern into a rule that every question must contain any.
Affirmative: some. Negative or neutral availability question: any. Offers/requests often use some.
Notice this
We have some apples.
An amount is available.
Compare this
We don’t have any oranges.
None are available.
Hear the examples
We have some apples.
An amount is available.
We don’t have any oranges.
None are available.
Have you got any bread?
This checks whether bread is available.
Would you like some tea?
This offers tea.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: We don’t have some milk.
Say: We don’t have any milk.
For the ordinary meaning “no milk”, use any in this negative.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Say what food you have.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
We have some rice.
Check yourself: Use some with rice, not a rice for this meaning.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Ask a neutral question about apples.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Do we have any apples?
Check yourself: Use any to check availability.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Offer a drink.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Would you like some water?
Check yourself: Some is natural in an offer.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete: There aren’t ___ clean cups.
Compare a model and explanation
There aren’t any clean cups.
Any is used in this ordinary negative.
Self-check 2
Offer tea using some.
Compare a model and explanation
Would you like some tea?
A question can contain some when it is an offer.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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We have ___ bananas.
some: Some fits the plural bananas in this affirmative.
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We don’t have ___ sugar.
any: Any fits the ordinary negative with uncountable sugar.
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Neutral check: “Have you got ___ eggs?”
any: Any works with plural eggs in a neutral question.
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Which sentence means no bread is available?
We haven’t got any bread.: Haven’t got any expresses absence here.
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Choose a natural offer.
Would you like some tea?: Some is natural when offering an available drink.
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Correct “We have a apples.”
We have some apples.: Apples is plural, so a and an do not fit.
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Which noun can follow some in this lesson?
water: Some can come directly before uncountable water.
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What is not available?
Milk: The speaker says there isn’t any milk.
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A customer requests water. Choose the natural request.
Can I have some water?: Requests commonly use some with water.
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Must every question use any rather than some?
No; offers and requests often use some.: The question’s purpose matters, not just its question mark.
Take it with you
I can say what is available and ask neutral questions about it.