What context can I use each word in?

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

any

Example

Do you have any apples? [any: determiner]

Example

I don't have any money left. [any: pronoun]

Example

Is there any chance of rain today? [any: determiner]

some

Example

Can I have some water, please? [some: determiner]

Example

There are some books on the shelf. [some: pronoun]

Example

Would you like some cake? [some: determiner]

Definitions of any and some

🤔

Key differences and similarities of any and some

👉

Good things to know

Which word is more common?

Some is more commonly used than any in everyday language. Some is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while any is less common and typically used in specific situations such as negative sentences or questions.

What’s the difference in the tone of formality between any and some?

While some is generally considered more formal, any is often used in casual or everyday language. Both words can be used in various formality levels, but some is more commonly used in formal contexts.