Indefinite pronouns indicate an undefined thing, object or person, as well as a small quantity. In English, this group includes some, any with their derivatives. Despite the same translation - “some, some, a little, several, some, some”, they have differences in the rules of use.
Some
Used mainly in affirmative sentences, special questions, and requests and offers. In general questions the same can be used when it is necessary to especially strongly emphasize a small amount of something.
Any
It is usually used in negative phrases and general questions. In questions that require a yes/no answer, in conditional sentences. It is also used in affirmative sentences, but in the meaning “any, no matter what.”
Comparative use of the pronouns some and any
The main difference lies in the types of utterances in which these pronouns are used.
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Any is used
- For general questions.
- Will there be any people in the room?— Will there be any people in the room?
- For negatives (together with the particle not)
- There were not any dogs in the garden. — There were no dogs in the garden.
- In affirmative sentences it can be used when it is important to emphasize that “it doesn’t matter which, any”
- You could find these flowers in any forest.— You can find these flowers in any forest.
- Parents may return at any time. — Parents can return at any time.
- What kind of tea do you drink? Anyone will be ok. — What kind of tea do you drink? Any will do.
- Since any is used in negative constructions, it will also be used after those having a negative, such as:
- Hardly, scarcely(hardly, almost not)
- Never(never)
- Without(- without, and when it is followed by the fourth/ing form of the verb, then “without doing something”)
- Seldom, rarely(rarely, infrequently, occasionally)
- (a little, little)
Both of these pronouns can be translated into Russian, or their meaning is conveyed descriptively while preserving the meaning.
For example, it usually remains without translation when used with uncountable nouns, but the meaning means “a little, a certain amount, some.”
you give me some tea, please?
Could you pour me some tea, please?
Important Notes
When used with uncountable nouns, some means only a certain quantity, part, and not the whole.
For comparison:
- Lend me some money for shopping. — Lend me some money for shopping.
- Give me the money, or I`ll shoot! — Give me the money (all you have), otherwise I’ll shoot!
It is also worth considering that when using indefinite pronouns with countable nouns, it is no longer necessary to put.
- Where are the textbooks? – Some are on the table.- Where are the textbooks? - They (some) are on the table.
- I need some food. Please give me some. — I need some food. Please give me food.
If the pronoun some is used in relation to a certain set of persons or objects in meaning, then the preposition of is placed after it, and the definite article the, or a possessive/demonstrative pronoun is required before the subsequent noun. Derivations from indefinite pronouns are not used in this construction.
Some of our guests late. Some of our guests were late.
Some of the apples were already eaten. Some apples have already been eaten.
Derivatives of some and any
some and any form derivatives with the suffixes “thing, body, one, where, when”.
- something, anything- “something, anything, whatever” when talking about inanimate objects and objects
- somebody, someone;anybody, anyone“someone, anyone, everyone, any, somebody” are used in relation to animate nouns, i.e. people
- somewhere, anywhere- “somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, everywhere, nowhere”, i.e. relative to location
When using derivatives, you should follow the same rules as for the original pronouns.
In English, these words are classified as pronouns (Pronouns). Surely you have already met them. How to correctly use these words, as well as their derivatives (somebody, anything, nowhere)?
Rule #1
The usage depends on the type of sentence - affirmative, negative or interrogative.
As you can see, these words are used in the same way with both countable and uncountable nouns, but they will be translated into Russian slightly differently. For example:
I have some books in my bag. - I have it in my bag some books.
I have some money in my purse. - I have it in my wallet A little money.
Ben doesn't have any pens. - Ben doesn't have no handles
There isn't any milk in the fridge. - In a refrigerator not at all milk.
Do you have any questions? - You have any questions?
Do you have any flour? - Do you have for some time flour?
Rule #2
There are 2 cases when the word some is used in an interrogative sentence.
- Request:
Could you lend me some money? - Could you lend me A little money?
- Offer:
Would you like some water? - You do not want A little water?
Rule #3
Also the word some can be used to mean "some". In this case, it must be followed by a preposition of and either the definite article the, or a possessive pronoun ( my, her...). For example:
Some of my friends play football. – Some of my friends play football.
Word any can also be used to mean "any, everyone". In this case, it can be put in an affirmative sentence. For example:
Take any of these oranges. - Take any of these oranges.
Rule #4
Negation in which the word is usually used any, is not always formed with an auxiliary verb. For this, various words that carry a negative meaning can be used. For example:
She never does any housework - They never doesn't no housework.
Peter has read hardly any books in his life. – Peter hardly read how much books in my life.
Rule #5
The pronoun no can only be used in negation; more precisely, it itself makes the sentence negative. Since in English there can only be one negation in a sentence (we cannot say, as in Russian “I don’t know anything”), the sentence will be constructed as follows:
He has no problems. - He doesn't have no problems.
As you can see, the sentence has the same construction as the affirmative, but carries a negative meaning. This proposal can be formulated in another way:
He doesn't have any problems. - He doesn't have no problems.
The pronoun used here any, which, as you already know, is used in negatives.
Rule #6
Derivatives can be formed from all three pronouns. They appear in speech very often and you have probably already seen them too. For example, in song titles: “ Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye – “ Somebody, whom I knew" or "Takes me nowhere” by the Offspring team – “ Nowhere will not lead me" (translation option - " To nothing won't lead me).
First, we need to understand how derivatives are formed.
Please note that derived words denoting people and things will fall under the category of pronouns, and those denoting place will fall under the category of adverbs (Adverbs). Words somebody/someone are synonymous, however someone is used somewhat more often. Words no one is the only pronoun in this group that is written separately.
The rules of use here are similar to those stated above:
Statement:
Somebody has just entered the room. – Somebody just entered the room.
Something strange happened last week. - Happened last week something strange.
I need somewhere to leave my personal belongings. - I need somewhere leave my personal belongings.
Negation:
I didn't see anybody in the library yesterday. - Yesterday I was in the library no one did not see.
I saw nobody in the library yesterday. - Yesterday I was in the library no one did not see.
Don't let anyone leave the class. - Do not allow no one leave the class.
I can't see your glasses anywhere. - I nowhere I don't see your glasses.
Question:
Have you told anyone? - You said someone?
Do you have anything interesting to read? - Do you have anything interesting to read?
Derivatives of some can also be used in requests and sentences:
Would you like something to drink? - Want to anything drink up?
Can I have something to drink? - May I anything drink up?
Also, derivatives of some can be used in questions if the speaker expects an affirmative answer:
Are you watching something on TV at the moment? - Are you looking now? something on TV?
Just like a word any, its derivatives can be used in the meanings " any, anyone, anything, anywhere."
It’s very easy – ask anybody! - It's very simple - just ask any!
We use some, any or the zero article before uncountable or plural nouns. In meaning they are close to indefinite articles a/an before singular nouns. For example:
- Can I have a banana? - Can I have a banana? [One banana, any, unspecified].
- Can I have some bananas? - Can I have some bananas? [Some].
Difference between some and the zero article:
There is often no significant difference between using the zero article and some. However, we use some, when we mean a limited amount of something (we don’t know the exact quantity or don’t want to say).
Some carries the meaning of "a certain amount of something." We don't use some, if we talk about something in general or mean a category of something. When we use some, we do not give the exact quantity, but we can find out if necessary. For example:
- Can you buy some milk? -Can you buy some milk? [We don't know exactly how much, but we mean a certain amount of milk, not all the milk in the world].
On the other hand, we use the zero article when we are not talking about quantity. The article is not required when we mean the word expressed by a noun as a category, and not as a specific quantity:
- We need Ø
milk to make pancakes. - We need milk to make pancakes. [We talk about milk as a category without referring to a specific quantity of the product].
More examples: - We need to buy Ø coffee. - We need to buy coffee. [Coffee as a category, not a specific quantity of product].
- Would you like some coffee? - Would you like some coffee? [This refers to a certain amount of coffee, a cup of coffee, for example].
- I ate some bread. - I ate some bread. [A certain amount of bread].
- I ate Ø bread. - I ate bread. [It is bread, not rice or pasta].
Remember that often the difference in the use of some and the zero article is insignificant:
- Do you want Ø tea? - Do you want some tea? [We don't mean quantity].
- Do you want some tea? - Would you like some tea? [We mean a certain amount, but the meaning is the same as in the example above].
You can do this to consolidate the material described above.
Difference between some And any:
Usually we use any in the same cases as some: when we mean a certain amount of something. Remember that both some And any are used with uncountable nouns or with plural nouns, and only sometimes with singular countable nouns.
Usually some used in affirmative sentences, and any in interrogatives and negatives:
- She bought some tomatoes. - She bought some tomatoes. [affirmative sentence]
- She didn't buy any tomatoes. - She didn’t buy a few tomatoes. [negative sentence]
- Did she buy any tomatoes? - She bought some tomatoes? [interrogative sentence]
Exceptions:
1: Any can be used in affirmative sentences when it does not matter which of the total number of objects we are talking about. When any used in this meaning, most often it is used with singular countable nouns:
- You can take any bus. - You can take any bus.
- Pass me any glass - Pass me the glass.
- Come over any Sunday. - Come any Sunday.
2: Any can also be used in affirmative sentences if it comes after a word that has a negative or limiting connotation ( never - never, hardly - barely, without - without):
- She never eats any fruit. - She never eats fruit.
- We hardly watch any television - He can barely watch TV.
- Julia left the house without any money. - Julia left home without any money.
3: Some can be used in interrogative sentences when an affirmative answer is expected. For example, when making requests or suggestions:
- Would you like some coffee? - Would you like some coffee?
- Do you want some sandwiches? - Do you want sandwiches?
- Could you give me some help? - Could you help me?
- Could you pass me some sugar? - Could you pass me the sugar?
Compare the following two sentences:
- Do you have any letters for me? - Do you have letters for me? [This is a question. I don't know if you really have letters for me].
- Do you have some letters for me? - Are there any letters for me? [I expect there are letters for me].
In English grammar, special attention should be paid to the category of indefinite pronouns, which includes pronouns such as some, any, little, few, every, much, etc.
These pronouns are studied in separate topics, usually in pairs:
Some/any;
Either/neither;
Much/many, etc.
This article will cover in detail the pronouns some and any, which are used in different meanings. To present the information in a convenient, structured form, all of it is entered into a table.
Usage table for Some and Any
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1. Some and any are used to mean before plural nouns. |
They sent me some boxes of salt - They sent me several boxes of salt. | |
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| 2. Some and any are used to mean some, several, someinstead of plural nouns. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | Clients of our company wanted to look at the new products and we showed them some – Clients of our company wanted to look at new products, and we showed them a few. |
| Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | Tom asked me for some tickets but I hadn't any - Tom asked me for tickets, but I didn’t have them. | |
| 3. Some and any are used to mean before uncountable nouns. However, they are often not translated into Russian. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | Add some oil, please – Add some oil, please. |
| Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | We don"t have any work in May - We have no work in May. | |
| 4. Some and any are used to mean some amount, a little, someinstead of uncountable nouns. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | We need some salt. Please pass me some - We need salt. Pass me the salt, please. |
| Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | I have lost my money on my way home. Have you got any? – I lost my money on the way home. You have money? | |
| 5. In special matters some is used, not any. |
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| 6. Some is used to mean some before plural nouns. | Some animals die in cold weather – In cold weather, some animals die. | |
| 7. Some is used to mean part before uncountable nouns. | Some of the fuel was found in the forest – Some of the fuel was found in the forest. | |
| 8. Any is used in any sentences to mean everyone, any with uncountable nouns or countable nouns in the singular. |
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Dear readers, you often ask us questions and ask for help. We are happy to help everyone, check your assignments and create articles with explanations. Lately we have received several letters asking us to explain how to use the words some, any, no in sentences. According to your requests, keep the long-awaited article! If you are not always sure what you are using some, any, no as it should, you will definitely need this information.
Any- a determiner, which implies a certain quantity, is used with countable and uncountable nouns when the specific quantity is not important or does not need to be specified. Any used in interrogative sentences ( any amount; any quantity; some), but, as a rule, is not translated into Russian. And any occurs in negative sentences ( not at all, not one, none), where it can be translated into Russian:
Have you got any questions? - Do you have (any, any) questions?
Did you buy any milk? - Did you buy (any; any quantity) milk?
Were there any celebrities? - Were there (any, any) celebrities there?
I cannot see any pictures. - I don’t see (any) pictures.
We have not read any letters. - We didn’t read (any) letters.
There is not any furniture in the room. - There is (no) furniture in the room.
No- a qualifier that denotes the complete absence of something. Used in sentences with a negative meaning. No- a stronger determinant than not any, conveys the idea of absence more emphatically, although both sentences are translated identically into Russian:
Typically, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns are used after no, but in certain contexts it is also possible to use no with singular countable nouns:
I have got no friends. - I do not have friends.
She has no husband. - She doesn't have a husband.
Having a sentence with the word some, you can make up its interrogative form (with any) and two negation sentences (c no And not any). If this topic is new to you, then at first you will still think about which word to use, but in the future you will learn to construct different types of statements automatically:
We introduced you to the basics of using the words some, any, no. However, that's not all. There are still some nuances, one might say exceptions, which it would also do you good to remember.
As stated above, some Most often used in affirmative sentences. Exceptions are interrogative sentences in which something is offered or asked:
Do you mind if...?
Can I have some...?
Would you like...?
Would you like some tea? - Would you like (some) tea?
Do you mind if I take some cake? - Do you mind if I take (a little) cake?
Can I have some water? - Can I have (some) water?
Some are also used in questions when they expect the answer “Yes”, and to make it clear that they are expecting an affirmative answer:
In addition to an indefinite quantity, some denotes the indefiniteness of the thing itself (something) when used with a count noun. If you want to show that an object or person is unknown or of little interest to you, do it using the word some:
As it turns out, some can be found in the question. May be, any used in affirmative statements? Yes, it is used. But not in all, but in some cases.
Any is used in, after if:
If you have any questions, just ask me. - If you have any questions, just ask me.
If they leave any messages, you must inform me. - If they leave any messages, you must inform me.
Any is used in statements to mean “any,” “whatever,” “it doesn’t matter which,” to emphasize the idea of free choice:
You can choose any dress, it will be my present for you. - You can choose any dress, it will be my gift.
If you do not know the way to the laboratory, ask any student. - If you don’t know how to get to the laboratory, ask any student.
If any is used with this meaning, it is emphasized in the sentence.
After words with a negative meaning: never, hardly, without is used any, not some:
That's all you need to know about words some, any, no. Of course, each of these words has additional features, but we will talk about them in our next publications.
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