Grammar rule and drill

Some vs any

Some for positive sentences, any for negatives and questions, and the polite exceptions that use some.

CEFR A1-A220 questionsUpdated 5 October 2026

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Some and any are two of the first words English learners meet, and two of the first they mix up. The basic rule is easy: some likes positive sentences, and any likes negatives and questions.

The exceptions matter just as much. When you offer or request something, you usually use some even though the sentence is a question: "Would you like some tea?" The speaker expects a friendly yes.

Any also has a second life in positive sentences, where it means "it does not matter which": "Take any seat." This page covers the basic rule, the polite exceptions, the compound words, and ends with a 20-question drill.

The rule

Some: positive sentences

Use some with plural countable nouns: some apples, some friends, some tickets.
Use some with uncountable nouns: some water, some advice, some money.
The sentence is normally positive: "I have some milk", "She bought some shoes."
Some can also appear in a positive question when the answer is probably yes: "Did you have some trouble finding us?"

Any: negatives and questions

Use any in negative sentences: "There is not any milk", "I do not have any questions."
Use any in most questions: "Do you have any brothers?", "Is there any sugar?"
The negative can also use no: "There is no milk" means the same as "There is not any milk."
In short answers, any comes with not: "Have you got any change?" "Sorry, I have not got any."

Polite offers and requests use some

Use some in offers: "Would you like some coffee?", "Can I get you some water?"
Use some in requests: "Could I have some bread, please?", "Can you lend me some money?"
The reason is the same in both cases: the speaker expects or hopes for a yes, so the question behaves like a positive sentence.
In a real hospital-style question with no expectation, any is still fine: "Do you have any questions?"

Any in positive sentences: it does not matter which

In a positive sentence, any can mean "no matter which one": "Take any bus; they all go downtown."
It can also mean "every one is acceptable": "Choose any colour you like."
This meaning is different from some, which points to a limited, known amount: "Take some biscuits" means there is a packet on the table.
The same pattern appears in clauses after if: "If you need any help, call me."

Compound words: somebody, anything and friends

The rule transfers to the compounds: something, somebody, someone, somewhere and any of their twins.
Positive sentences take the some- words: "Someone is at the door", "I have something to tell you."
Negatives and questions take the any- words: "I cannot see anything", "Is anybody home?"
Offers and requests take some- words again: "Would you like something to eat?"

Examples

I have some milk in the fridge.A positive sentence with an uncountable noun takes some.
Do you have any questions?A normal question takes any.
There are not any apples left.A negative sentence takes any.
Would you like some tea?An offer uses some because the speaker expects a yes.
Could I have some water, please?A polite request uses some.
She bought some new shoes yesterday.A positive past sentence takes some with a plural noun.
Is there any sugar in the cupboard?A question about an unknown quantity takes any.
You can take any bus into the centre.Any in a positive sentence means no matter which.
I cannot find any information about the concert.A negative sentence takes any with an uncountable noun.
Someone left a message for you.A positive sentence takes the some- compound.

Common mistakes

Wrong: I have any money in my pocket. Right: I have some money in my pocket.: A positive sentence takes some. Any belongs in negatives and questions.
Wrong: Would you like any coffee? Right: Would you like some coffee?: An offer uses some because the speaker expects a friendly yes.
Wrong: There is not some bread left. Right: There is not any bread left.: A negative sentence takes any, not some.
Wrong: Take some bus; all of them go to the centre. Right: Take any bus; all of them go to the centre.: When the meaning is no matter which, the positive sentence uses any.
Wrong: Do you have some brothers? Right: Do you have any brothers?: A normal question with no expectation takes any. Some would suggest the speaker believes the answer is yes.

Questions learners ask

Can I use "some" in a question at all?

Yes, in two situations. First, offers and requests: "Would you like some cake?", "Can I have some water?" Second, when you already believe the answer is yes: "Did you have some problems with the traffic?" In ordinary information questions, use any: "Do you have some/any change?" Any is the neutral choice.

What is the difference between "not any" and "no"?

They mean the same thing, and the grammar around them differs. "There is not any milk" uses not plus any with a normal verb. "There is no milk" puts no directly before the noun. English usually prefers no in short written sentences and not any in longer spoken ones. Never use both: "There is not no milk" is a double negative.

Do some and any change with countable and uncountable nouns?

No. Both work with plural countable nouns (some books, any books) and with uncountable nouns (some rice, any rice). What changes is the sentence type, not the noun type. The pair much/many does depend on the noun, and it has its own page on this site.