Page 240 - Basic English Usage

314 242

314 some and any

Some and any are determiners (see 96). We use them before
uncountable and plural nouns. Before another determiner or a pronoun
we use some of and any of. Compare:
Would you like some ice-cream?
Would you like some of this ice-cream?
| can’t find any cigarettes.
{can't find any of my cigarettes.

Some and any have the same sort of meaning as the indefinite article
a/an (see 39). They refer to an indefinite quantity or number. Compare:
Have you got an aspirin? (singular countable noun)
Have you got any aspirins? (plural countable noun)
| need some medicine. (uncountable noun)
We usually use some in affirmative clauses, and any in questions and
negatives. Compare:
! want some razor-blades.
Have you got any razor-blades?
Sorry, | haven’t got any razor-blades.
We use some in questions if we expect or want people to say ‘yes’; for
example, in offers and requests.
Would you like some more beer?
Could | have some brown rice, please?
Have you got some giasses that | could borrow?
We use any after words that have a negative meaning: for example
never, hardly, without. We often use any after if.
You never give me any help.
We got there without any trouble.
There's hardly any tea left.
If you want some/any help, let me know.

When some is used before a noun, it usually has the ‘weak’
pronunciation /sam/ (see 358).
For other uses of any, see 34; 35
For other uses of some, see 315.
For somebody and anybody, something and anything etc, see 317.
For the difference between someyvany and no afticle, see 316.
For not ... any, no and none, see 221; 223.