Some and Any – English Grammar
When do we use some and when any?
We use some and any for an amount or quantity which is not known e.g.
- I need to buy some apples.
- Have you got any milk?
Use of some and any
- some: positive statements, offers, requests and in questions when you expect the answer “yes.”
- any: negative statements, questions
Have you got any apples? No, we haven’t got any. But we’ve got some pears.
Exceptions:
I would like to buy fruit in a shop. I can see the shopkeeper has oranges so I can ask:
- “Could I have some of these oranges, please?” ( I expect the answer to be “yes”)
If I do not see oranges or if I am not sure whether there are oranges at all so I use any in the question.
- Have you got any oranges, please?