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English grammar

some and any

A0 · Starter Nouns and describing Questions 10

The rule

Some things cannot be counted — water, bread, milk, money, help — so English cannot say a water or two breads. Instead it says some: some water, some bread. The rule at A0 is simple: some in a normal sentence, any in a question or after not. I need some milk. Do you have any milk? We do not have any milk.

Pattern

I need some … · Do you have any …? · There is not any …

Examples

  1. I need some bread and some milk.

  2. Do you have any milk?

  3. Excuse me, can I have some water?

  4. Are there any free seats?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Can I have a water?

    Right: Can I have some water?

    water cannot be counted, so it takes no a.

  • Wrong: Do you have some milk?

    Right: Do you have any milk?

    A question normally takes any. some in a question is an offer, not a question about what exists.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    I need _____ bread and _____ milk.

    1. any
    2. some
    3. an
    4. a
    Show answer

    Answer: B some

    A normal sentence → some.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    Do you have _____ sugar?

    1. any
    2. some
    3. an
    4. a
    Show answer

    Answer: A Do you have any sugar?

    A question → any.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    Sorry, we do not have _____ tomatoes today.

    1. some
    2. any
    3. a
    4. the
    Show answer

    Answer: B Sorry, we do not have any tomatoes today.

    After not → any.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Can I have a water?
    2. Can I have some water?
    3. Can I have an water?
    4. Can I have water one?
    Show answer

    Answer: B Can I have some water?

    water takes no a, ever.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I do not have enough a money.
    2. I do not have enough moneys.
    3. I do not have a enough money.
    4. I do not have enough money.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I do not have enough money.

    money cannot be counted either.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    Are there _____ free seats?

    1. the
    2. a
    3. any
    4. some
    Show answer

    Answer: C Are there any free seats?

    A question → any.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    I need some help

    Show answer

    Answer: I need some help.

    help cannot be counted → some.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I would like some bread, please.
    2. I would like two pieces of bread, please.
    3. I would like a bread, please.
    4. Do you have any bread?
    Show answer

    Answer: C I would like a bread, please.

    bread cannot take a.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Would you like any teas?
    2. Would you like tea some?
    3. Would you like some tea?
    4. Would you like a tea some?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Would you like some tea?

    An offer uses some even though it is a question.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    Is there _____ hot water?

    1. an
    2. some
    3. a
    4. any
    Show answer

    Answer: D Is there any hot water?

    A question → any.

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