12 Some / any / no

Question 1

You’ll need a hammer, some nails and some wood.

Answer 1

Some nails = a number of nails.

Question 2

I’ve got some wood.

Answer 2

Positive

Question 3

I haven’t got any wood.

Answer 3

Negative

Question 4

Have you got any/some wood?

Answer 4

Quiestion:

Any means that the quantity may be zero.

Question 5

Pass me the hammer. ~ I can’t see any hammer.

Answer 5

In a negative sentence we can sometimes use any+ singular noun.

Question 6

I can’t find any nails.
I never have any spare time.
We’ve won hardly any games this season.
I’d like to get this settled without any hassle.

Answer 6

In negative sentences we almost always use any and not some. This includes sentences with negative words like never and hardly.

Question 7

Have you got any nails? ~ Yes./No./I don’t know.

Answer 7

Any is more usual in questions, and it leaves the answer open.

Question 8

Did you catch any fish? ~ Yes, a few./No, not many.

Answer 8

Any is more usual in questions, and it leaves the answer open.

Question 9

Did you catch some fish?

Answer 9

(I expect you caught some fish.)
But we use “some” to give the question a more positive tone, especially when making an offer or request. It suggests that we expect the answer yes.

Question 10

Would you like some cornflakes?

Answer 10

(Have some cornflakes.)
But we use “some” to give the question a more positive tone, especially when making an offer or request. It suggests that we expect the answer yes.

Question 11

Could you lend me some money?

Answer 11

(Please lend me some money.)
But we use “some” to give the question a more positive tone, especially when making an offer or request. It suggests that we expect the answer yes.

Question 12

If you need some help, do let me know.

If you need any help, do let me know.

Answer 12

In an if-clause we can choose between some and any. Some is more positive.

Question 13

Any problems will be dealt with by our agent.

Answer 13

We can use “any” in a main clause to express a condition.

Question 14

There was someone in the phone box.
There isn't anywhere to leave your coat.
Have you got anything suitable to wear?
Have you got something suitable to wear?
Could you do something for me?

Answer 14

We choose between compounds with some or any in the same way.

Question 15

There is no alternative.
There are no rivers in Saudi Arabia.
The driver had no time to stop.

Answer 15

No is a negative word. We can use it with both countable and uncountable nouns.
There is no alternative is more emphatic than There isn’t any alternative.

Question 16

No warning was given.

A warning was not given.

Answer 16

We can use no with the subject but we cannot use any.

NOT Any warning was not given.

Question 17

Some fish can change their sex.
Some trains have a restaurant car.
Some of the fish in the tank were a beautiful blue color.
Some of the canals in Venice have traffic lights.

Answer 17

We can use some to mean ‘some but not all’.

Question 18

Some people enjoy quiz shows.

Answer 18

= some but not all

Question 19

There were some people in the garden.

Answer 19

= some but not very many

Question 20

All fish can swim.

Some fish can change their sex.

Answer 20

General

Question 21

All of these fish are mine.

Some of these fish are blue.

Answer 21

Specific

Question 22

You can choose any color you like.
Play any music. I don’t mind what you play.
The delegation will be here at any minute.

Answer 22

We sometimes use any to mean ‘it doesn’t matter which’.

Question 23

Everyone knows the town hall. Any passer-by will be able to direct you.

Answer 23

Any refers to one part of the whole. All passers-by know where the town hall is, so you only need to ask one of them. But it doesn’t matter which one - you can ask any of them. They are all equally good.

Question 24

There are two colors. You can have either of them.

There are several colors. You can have any of them.

Answer 24

(= one of the two)
(= one of the several)

Question 25

The door isn’t locked. Anyone can just walk in.

Answer 25

We can use compounds of any in the same way.

Question 26

What do you want for lunch?~ Oh, anything. I don’t mind.

Answer 26

We can use compounds of any in the same way.

Question 27

Some idiot dropped a milk bottle.

The flight was delayed for some reason.

Answer 27

Some + singular noun can mean an indefinite person or thing.

Question 28

I’ll be famous someday/one day.

You must come and see me some time.

Answer 28

Someday/time means an indefinite time in the future.

Question 29

Some twenty people attended the meeting.

Answer 29

Some before a number means ‘about’.