• In sentences with a negative meaning (including words such as not (...n't);
Barely, hardly, never, rarely, scarcely, seldom;
Deny, fail, forbid, prohibit;
Impossible, unlikely)
• We haven't got any butter left.
• It was impossible for any air to get out.
• In other questions
• Do you have any better ideas?
• Has there been any discussion about the proposal yet?
Some and any can also be used to talk about a particular person or thing without mentioning them specifically. When some is used in this way it is pronounced /SAITI/:
• There must be some way I can contact Jo. (= There must be a way, but I don't know it.)
• Isn't there any book here that will give me the information I want? (= There must be a book like this, but I can't find out what / where it is.)
1D Some and any: details
Some is used...
• When we mean quite a large amount of or large number of something:
• The talks went on at some (/sAm/) length. (= a long time)
• When we mean 'not all' (see Unit 59):
• Some (/sAm/) people don't like tea.
• In offers and requests in order to sound positive, expecting the answer 'Yes':
• Shall I send you some (/sam/) details?
• Can you buy some (/sam/) rice in town?
Any is used...
• When we mean 'all (of them), and it's not important which':
• Any of the students could have answered the question. ('Some of the students ...' here would mean 'some, but not all')
• When any means 'If there is/are any':
• Any questions should be sent to the manager. (= If there are questions...)
• Commonly in 'if clauses:
• If you have any problems, let me know, ('some' is possible, but is more positive, expecting problems)
A number of compound words begin with some and any: someone/anyone (or somebody/ anybody), something/anything, and somewhere/anywhere:
• I thought I heard someone knocking at the door.
• Is there anyone at home?
^ The use of these words is generally the same as that of some and any described in A and B.
• Notice that we use a singular verb with them:
• If anybody calls, tell them I'm not at home, (not if anybody calls...)