Some and Any: Quantity, Offers and Requests
Learn to use some and any with plural and uncountable nouns, ask about quantities, make offers and requests, and choose any when the choice is free.
Use some and any to talk about a number or amount without saying exactly how much. They help you ask about quantities, offer things and make requests. Any can also mean that the choice is free.
Talking about quantity
Use some and any with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
| Noun type | With some | With any |
|---|---|---|
| Plural countable nouns | We have some apples. | Do we have any apples? |
| Uncountable nouns | We have some bread. | Do we have any bread? |
These words do not give an exact number or amount. Some apples could mean three apples or six apples, for example.
For one countable thing, normally use a/an: “I need an apple.”
Statements and negatives
We usually use some in positive statements and any in negative statements.
- There are some eggs in the fridge.
- There aren't any eggs in the fridge.
- I've got some money.
- I haven't got any money.
With not … any, the number or amount is zero. “There aren't any eggs” means there are no eggs.
For the ordinary meaning “zero”, use not … any, not not … some.
✓ We don't have any milk.
✗ We don't have some milk. — This does not express the ordinary meaning “We have no milk”.
Questions about what is available
Use any in most questions when you do not know the answer.
At home: Do we have any rice?
In a shop: Are there any blue shirts?
Before a trip: Have you got any water?
You can use some in a question when you expect the answer to be yes.
- Do you have any eggs? — I don't know whether you have eggs.
- Do you have some eggs? — I think you have eggs, and I want to check.
Do you have any …? and Have you got any …? are both correct. Have you got …? is especially common in spoken British English.
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Offers and requests
We usually use some when we offer something or ask someone to give us something. These are questions, but they are not simply asking what is available.
| Purpose | Useful pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | Would you like some …? | Would you like some tea? |
| Request | Could I have some …, please? | Could I have some water, please? |
| Request | Can you pass me some …, please? | Can you pass me some plates, please? |
Compare these two questions:
Do you have any bread? — I am asking whether bread is available.
Could I have some bread, please? — I am asking you to give me bread.
Do not choose any just because a sentence is a question. For a normal offer or request, some is usually the best choice.
Any when the choice is free
In positive sentences, any can mean “it doesn't matter which”. With this meaning, it can come before a singular countable noun too.
You can take any seat. — All the seats are available; choose the one you want.
Call me any day next week. — It doesn't matter which day you choose.
Compare:
- We have some books about cooking. — There are books about cooking here.
- You can borrow any book on this shelf. — Choose whichever book you want.
Quick choice checklist
- A positive statement about an amount? Usually use some: “We need some rice.”
- A negative statement meaning zero? Use any: “We don't have any rice.”
- A question with an unknown answer? Usually use any: “Is there any rice?”
- An offer or request? Usually use some: “Would you like some rice?”
- A free choice? Use any: “Choose any seat.”
When the noun is clear, you can leave it out: “Have we got any rice?” — “Yes, we've got some.” / “No, we haven't got any.”
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Last updated October 14, 2026