'Some' and 'Any' Difference and Exercises+pdfs
‘Some’ and ‘any’ are commonly used in English. Practice the exercises on this page to build your confidence and learn the difference between them. Free pdf worksheets are available to download.
🔹Difference/Exercise 1 (Positive/Negative Sentences)
🔹Exercise 2 (Questions /Requests and Offers)
What is the main difference between 'some' and 'any'?
The main difference is that ‘some’ is generally used with positive sentences while ‘any’ is generally used with negative sentences. We use ‘some’ and ‘any’ before countable and uncountable nouns.
Examples
➕Positive sentences using ‘some’:
▪️”I would like some pizza with some extra cheese on top”
▪️”I have made some food for you. Let’s eat!”
▪️”I have some money. Please let me pay for the meal.”
➖Negative sentences using ‘any’:
▪️”I do not want any pizza. I’m not hungry.”
▪️”I haven’t made any food for you. Sorry”
▪️”I do not have any money.. I am sorry .”
When we say ‘some’ and ‘any’ we do not know the number or amount of the noun it comes before.
Exercise 1
Exercises for positive and negative sentences using ‘some’ and ‘any’.
1 . I’m going to buy ____ fruit and vegetables today.
some / any
✅ some
Why?
ℹ️ This is a positive sentence.
2. I don’t want to buy ____ fruit or vegetables in this shop.
some / any
✅ any
Why?
ℹ️ This is a negative sentence.
3. We’ve decided to visit ____ restaurants while we are in London.
some / any
✅ some
ℹ️ Another positive sentence.
4. He doesn’t do ____ work.
some / any
✅ any
ℹ️ This is a negative sentence.
5. He does do ___ work at night, but he’s quite lazy.
some / any
✅ some
ℹ️ A positive sentence.
6. I want to see ____ old friends when I go home.
some / any
✅ some
7. There isn’t ___ food in the fridge. We will buy some later.
some / any
✅ any
8. We don’t want ___ food or drink. It’s ok we are happy.
some / any
✅ any
9. We would like to have ___ children in the future. Maybe 3 or 4..!
✅ some
10. They don’t have ___ children. They don’t want to start a family.
✅ any
11. He owns ____ property in the USA.
✅ some
12. They don’t own ___ property in Spain.
✅ any
13. I am sorry. We don’t have ____ tea. We only have cold drinks.
✅ any
14. Ok, I will have ____ orange juice and my wife would like the same.
✅ some
15. When I go to my grandmother’s house, I want ____ of her apple pie.
✅ some
16. I don’t want ____of her chocolate cake.
✅ any
17. I wouldn’t eat ____ pineapple pizza because I hate it!
✅ any
18. I would love _____ more snacks.
✅ some
19. Shopkeeper: I’m sorry we don’t have ____ left…
✅ any
20. There are _____ interesting things to see in this city.
✅ some
21. There aren’t ____ interesting museums in this city.
✅ any
22. I don’t have ____ confidence, so I’m not going to perform at the theatre.
✅ any
23. She doesn’t have ____ work at the moment, but she has one job interview next week.
✅ any
24. I can give you _____ work if you are qualified.
✅ some
25. I’m sorry, I can’t give you _____ work at this time.
✅ any
Exercise 2
How to use 'some' and 'any' for questions, requests, and offers.
‘Any’
‘Any’ is used for most positive and negative questions.
Examples:
▪️Do you sell any ham sandwiches in this café?
▪️Don’t you want any of this food?
▪️Do you have any advice on buying a new computer?
‘Some’
‘Some’ is used in questions when we offer, suggest, or ask for things. We often expect a positive response when using ‘some’.
Examples:
▪️Would you like some more of this food? (Offering)
▪️Why don’t I give you some advice on buying a computer? (Suggesting)
▪️Can I have some of those ham sandwiches? (Asking for something)
🔍 Look at this example to understand the difference.
You can see chocolate cakes are on display and available, so you ask the shop assistant:
“Can I have some of those chocolate cakes please?”
(You expect her answer to be ‘yes’.)
This time, the chocolate cakes are not on display. Maybe they have some in the kitchen.
“Do you have any chocolate cakes here?”
These exercises focus on general questions using ‘any’ and offers, suggestions, and asking for things using ‘some’.
1 . Customer in a bookshop: Hi, I would like ____ help finding a good book for my daughter.
(This person is asking for something.)
2. Book shop assistant: Sure! Let me give you _____ help.
(This is an offer.)
3. Friend A: I know you have recently moved into this house, but do you have ____ food here?
(The person does not know if there is any food in the house.)
✅ any
Later
4. Friend B: Would you like ____ of this food I’ve just made for you?
(The person is making an offer.)
✅ some
5. Friend A: Does this curry have ____ meat in it?
(The person does not know if there is meat in the curry.)
✅ any
6. Child to mother: Can you give me ____ help with this homework?
(The child is asking for something and expects a positive response.)
✅ some
7. Child to mother: Do you have ___ time today to help me with my homework?
(The child does not know if her mum has time to help.)
✅ any
8. Husband to wife: Why don’t we order ____ takeaway food tonight?
(This is a suggestion.)
✅ some
9. Husband to wife: Actually, I have a better idea. Why don’t I cook ____ food for you. You look tired.
(This is an offer)
✅ some
On holiday
10. Wife: Can we spend _____ more time here next year?
(She is asking/requesting something)
✅ some
11. Husband: Do you think we will have ____ available time next year?
(He does not know the answer to this question)
✅ any
12. Wife: Maybe not. Why don’t we save _____ extra money and go earlier in the year?
(This is a suggestion.)
✅ some
13. 📞 (Calling the insurance company. ) Hi, I’m calling because I have a problem with a broken window in my house. Please can you give me _____ help to make an insurance claim?
(Asking/requesting something)
✅ some
14. 📞 (Calling the insurance company again. ) Hi, I am interested in buying some insurance. Do you have ____ special promotions at the moment?
(This person is asking a general question and does not know the answer.)
✅ any
15. At the sandwich shop:
Customer: Hi, Could you have that sandwich please.
Seller: No problem. Would you like _____ mayonnaise in your sandwich?
(The seller is making an offer.)
✅ some
16. Customer: No. I don’t want any mayonnaise, but I would like _____ tomato sauce. Thanks.
(Asking for something)
✅ some
17. Seller: Sure.
***After 1 minute***
Let me give you _____ of these cookies. They are free when you order a sandwich.
(An offer.)
✅ some
18. Have you made ___ progress with your project?
(This person does not know if the other person has made progress.)
✅ any
19. Would you like ____ help with your project?
(This is an offer.)
✅ some
20. Why don’t you have _____ rest. You have worked very hard today.
(This is a suggestion.)
✅ some
