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” with uncountable nouns and with plural countable nouns. With singular countable nouns, just use a/an:
- I don’t have any pencils.
(pencils = plural countable noun) - I don’t have any paper.
(paper = uncountable noun) - I don’t have any dictionary.
I don’t have a dictionary.
(dictionary = singular countable noun)
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.