An explanation of the use of 'some' and 'any' (including compound) in English with examples.

1. SOMEAND ANY
Some = positive sentences
Any = negative andquestions
I have some time for class
I have some students
I don’thave any time for class
I don’thave any students
Do you have any time for class?
Do you have any students?
Itis important to see that ‘any’ DOES NOTMAKE A SENTENCE NEGATIVE. Itis
used when the sentence is already negative (it has negative words like ‘don’t’
or ‘isn’t, etc.)
Some and Any Compounds
The same rules apply when wemake compounds:
Something/Anything
Someone/Anyone (somebody/anybody)
Somewhere/Anywhere
There is something on the table.
There wasn’tanyone at the party.
Do you know somewhere to stay in New York?
Remember someone/anyoneis 3rd
personsingular:
Doesanyone have my book?
Someone is at the door.
Like above, the ‘any’ compounds do not make a sentence negative. The
sentence is already grammatically negative.

2. Exceptions:
Positive Sentences:
1. We use ‘some’ in positive sentences EXCEPT after the words ‘never’,
‘without’ and ‘hardly’ when we use‘any’.
She did her homework withoutany help
There were hardly any people at the footballgame.
2. When we are offered a choice of options and we don’t mind which
one we get or we talk about someone having complete freedomto
choose:
He’s notfussy. He’ll have any drink you buy him.
You can have any seat in the restaurant: it’s empty!
Questions:
3. In questions we use‘any’ EXCEPT when offering something or
requesting something weuse‘some’.
Would you like some coffee?
Can I have some orange juice please?
The exceptions work the same for compounds:
Can I get you something to drink?
You look upset? Did something happen to you? (expect the answer to be
‘yes’)
Where do you wantto go tonight? I don’tcare, we can go anywhere.
Whatdo you wantto do this weekend? We can do anything you want.
Itis possibleto use ‘no’ and ‘no’ compounds to make a sentence negative:
Nothing, no one (nobody), nowhere
He hasno time for extra classes.
I have no students at the moment.
There was nothing left to eat.
Nobody came to the party.
There is nowhere to stay in New York.