Some / Any / No + Exercises

Some or Any?

Use SOME in positive statements.

• I’ve read some good books lately.

Use “some” with uncountable nouns and with plural countable nouns.

With singular countable nouns, just use a/an:

• I’ve read a good book lately.

Use ANY in negative statements (with don’t, didn’t, haven’t, etc)

• I haven’t read any good books lately.

Use ANY in questions:

• Have you read any good books lately?

Exception: Always use SOME when offering something (would you like…?) or asking for something (can I have…?)

• Can I have some soda?
• Would you like some chicken?

Any or No?

In sentences that begin with “There,” you can say them two different ways:

• There aren’t any books on the table.
  = There are no books on the table.
• There isn’t any milk in the fridge.
  = There‘s no milk in the fridge.
• There wasn’t any music at the party.
  = There was no music at the party.
• There weren’t any cookies in the box.
  = There were no cookies in the box.

Both forms are correct!

Double Negatives

Never use “not” and “no” together:

• There aren’t no books on the table.
• There isn’t no milk in the fridge.
• There wasn’t no music at the party.
• There weren’t no cookies in the box.

Something / Anything / Nothing

The same rules apply to something, anything, and nothing:

• I want to try something new this year.
• I didn’t eat anything at the restaurant.
• Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?
• There’s nothing to do in this town.

Someone / Anyone / No one
Somebody / Anybody / Nobody

Someone and somebody are the same, as are anyone and anybody and no one and nobody.

• Someone forgot to turn the lights off before leaving.
• I don’t know anyone who works from home.
• Did you meet anyone new at the conference?
• Nobody likes the new teacher.

Somewhere / Anywhere / Nowhere

• Let’s go somewhere warm on our next vacation.
• I can’t find my keys anywhere!
• Did you go anywhere else before coming home?
• The waiting room was so crowded that there was nowhere to sit down.