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The words some and any are used when the speaker cannot specify or does not need/want to specify a number or an exact
amount. Compare the following sentences:
- I saw seven deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday. (It is important that you know how many deer I saw.)
- I saw some deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday. (I don't know exactly how many deer I saw. Or: It is not
important that you know exactly how many deer I saw.)
The "rules" that follow apply also to words containing some and any: somebody/anybody, something/anything, etc.
Look! There are some large black birds on the roof of the church.
In fact, the use of some/any is a little more complicated. Following are two common occasions when the above "rules" are
"broken":
2. We use any in positive sentences when we mean it doesn't matter which ..:
Some
Positive sentences
Offering
We use some in questions when we expect the answer to be 'yes' or when we are offering
something, otherwise, we use any:
Requests
Any
Negative sentences
Questions
Any is used in questions: