In what cases are some and any used? Rule for using indefinite pronouns some and any in English

A pronoun is a word that indicates an object or the quality of an object, but does not directly name it. Today we will look at indefinite pronouns( indefinite pronouns) some, any, no in English.

Rules for using some, any, no

Before considering use cases some, any, no, let's find out the translation of these words.

• Some– some, some, some, several.
• Any translated in the same way, and can also be translated as "any".
• No- none, not at all.

The general rule for these pronouns is: some, any, no must come before the noun they qualify. In this function they resemble articles ( a/an And the), which are also used before a noun. Let's look at the table.

It is important to remember that it is better not to leave a noun unaccompanied by a pronoun or article. And now - to the rules of use some, any, no in English.

1. Pronoun some used in affirmative sentences. But it can also be found in interrogative sentences, if we are talking about a request or offer to do something for someone.
   

   There is some portrait on the wall. – There’s a portrait hanging on the wall.

   The boys broke some windows in the house. – The boys broke several windows in the house.

   Would you like some beer? - Would you like some beer? (offer)

   Give me, please, some juice. - Give me some juice, please. (request)

   Please note that with singular words some translated as “some” ( some boy- some boy), with the same nouns in the plural - “several” ( some people– several people), but with uncountable nouns – “a little” ( some sugar– a little sugar).

2. Pronoun any used in interrogative and negative sentences instead some and means “any, any, any.”
   

   Do you speak any foreign languages? – Do you speak any foreign languages?

   Did the manager take any decision? – Has the manager made any decisions?

   I did not find any mistakes. - I didn't find any errors.

   If any stands in an affirmative sentence, it is translated as “any”, “any”, “whatever”.

   Any vegetable is useful for your health. – Any vegetable is good for your health.

   Any girl wants to get married. - Every girl wants to get married.

   You can catch any of these buses. – You can take any of these buses.

Watch a video from a native speaker to understand the difference between some And any.

3. Pronoun no as a definition it is used with all types of nouns, both singular and plural. It expresses the absence of something and is used only in negative sentences.
   

   John has no furniture in his flat. John doesn’t have any furniture in his apartment.

   Fortunately there are no cars in this area. - Fortunately, there are no cars in this area.

   Please note the difference between not And no. Not we use for the verb and no– before a noun:

   I have no telephone at home. = I have not got a telephone at home. – I don’t have a phone at home.

   There are no pupils in the classroom. = There are not any pupils in the classroom. - There are no students in the class.

   There is no information in the file. = There is not any information in the file. – There is no information in the file.

   You can use any option: no or not any. Just don’t mix them up, because there can only be one negative in an English sentence.

   There is no any difference. – There is not any difference or There is no difference. - There is no difference.

Combination of some, any, no with other words

When we talk about people ( people), things ( things), places ( places), we can add some, any, no and get new words. Let's look at the table to see which words we can add these pronouns to.

And a few more rules that are worth paying attention to.

1. We use somebody, something, somewhere etc., when we do not say exactly who, what or where performs the action.
   

   Somebody broke the window. - Someone broke the window.

   He has done something special for me. “He did something special for me.”

   I want to go somewhere nice this evening. – I want to go to some cool place in the evening.

2. Use anybody, anything, anywhere in questions and with verbs in the negative form.
   

   We didn't do anything last night. – We didn’t do anything yesterday.

   My friend didn’t see anybody at the park. – My friend didn’t see anyone in the park.

3. Choose nobody, nothing, nowhere, when you give a short answer, and also when the verb is in the affirmative form, but you still build a negative sentence.
   

   Who's in the bathroom? - Nobody. - Who's in the bathroom? - Nobody.

   We did nothing last night. – We didn’t do anything yesterday.

4. Somebody, nobody used in the same way as someone, no one. There is no difference in their meanings.
   

   Somebody (someone) wants to see you. - Someone wants to see you.

As you can see, there are not many rules. If you study all this, the use some, any, no should not cause any difficulties. At the end, we offer you a tablet for downloading and a test so that you remember the rules for using these pronouns.

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Test

Using some, any, no

I tried to explain everything you need to know about some - any in this article briefly and in accessible language. Read everything carefully and you will understand the material the first time. In the future, you will not have problems or questions about the difference between some and any and how to use them correctly. All examples are given with translation.

Translation of Somebody

Some - Any - are often not translated into Russian at all.
However, rely on the following meanings and translations:

Some - a little, several, some, some.
Any - any.

When is Some Any used and what is their difference?

1. Some - Any used with plural nouns.

I have some money.
I have money.

You can take any bus to the downtown.
You can take any bus to the city center.

He has some friends in New York.
He has friends in New York.

2. Some - Any used when we need to indicate the quantity, but we do not know the exact quantity. Or the exact number doesn't matter.

Compare these offers:

I saw seven deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday.
Yesterday I saw seven deer in the forest.
*We report: we saw as many as 7 deer, we emphasize the number.

I saw some deer when riding my bike in the forest yesterday.
Yesterday I saw deer in the forest.
*We inform the interlocutor about the fact: we saw deer.
We either don’t know how many there were, or it doesn’t matter.

Some differs from Any in that

3. Some used in affirmative sentences.

I'm looking for some good music.
I'm looking for good music.

4. Any used in negatives and interrogatives.

5. Exception #1: Some, however, is used in interrogative sentences when we ask or offer something.

Would you like some more tea?
Would you like some more tea?

Can I have some water, please?
Can I have some water please?

Do you want something to eat?
Do you want to eat something?

6. Exception #2: Any can be used in affirmative sentences, with the words "any, anywhere, however."

This is such simple material that causes some difficulties for beginners in understanding the topic and using - Some - Any in colloquial speech. Although there is nothing complicated in this rule. If you are at the beginner or elementary and pre-Intermediate level, this knowledge will be enough for you to provide a basic explanation. They will help you consolidate what you have learned

Go up a notch - intermediate level - see the rule and examples below.

7. The above rules also apply to derivative words containing some - any: somebody, anybody, something, anything, nothing, somewhere / anywhere / nowhere.

Someone forgot to turn the lights off before leaving.
Someone forgot to turn off the lights before leaving.

I don’t know anyone who works from home.
I don't know anyone who works from home.

Did you meet anyone new at the conference?
Did you meet anyone at the conference?

Nobody likes the new teacher.
Nobody likes a new teacher.

I want to try something new this year.
I want to try something new this year.

I didn't eat anything at the restaurant.
I didn't eat anything at the restaurant.

Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?
Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?

There's nothing to do in this town.
There is nothing to do in this city.

Let's go somewhere warm on our next vacation.
Let's go somewhere on our next vacation.

I can't find my keys anywhere!
I can't find my keys anywhere!

Did you go anywhere else before coming home?
Did you go somewhere else before coming home?

The waiting room was so crowded that there was nowhere to sit down.
The waiting room was so crowded that there was nowhere to sit.

Dear readers, you often ask us questions and ask for help. We are happy to help everyone, check your assignments and create articles with explanations. Lately we have received several letters asking us to explain how to use the words some, any, no in sentences. According to your requests, keep the long-awaited article! If you are not always sure what you are using some, any, no as it should, then you will definitely need this information.

Any- a determiner, which implies a certain quantity, is used with countable and uncountable nouns when the specific quantity is not important or does not need to be specified. Any used in interrogative sentences ( any amount; any quantity; some), but, as a rule, is not translated into Russian. And also any occurs in negative sentences ( not at all, not one, none), where it can be translated into Russian:

Have you got any questions? - Do you have (any, any) questions?

Did you buy any milk? - Did you buy (any; any quantity) milk?

Were there any celebrities? - Were there (any, any) celebrities there?

I cannot see any pictures. - I don’t see (any) pictures.

We have not read any letters. - We didn’t read (any) letters.

There is not any furniture in the room. - There is (no) furniture in the room.

No- a qualifier that denotes the complete absence of something. Used in sentences with a negative meaning. No- a stronger determinant than not any, conveys the idea of ​​absence more emphatically, although both sentences are translated into Russian the same way:

Typically, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns are used after no, but in certain contexts it is also possible to use no with singular countable nouns:

I have got no friends. - I have no friends.

She has no husband. - She doesn't have a husband.

Having a sentence with the word some, you can make up its interrogative form (with any) and two negation sentences (c no And not any). If this topic is new to you, then at first you will still think about which word to use, but in the future you will learn to construct different types of statements automatically:

We introduced you to the basics of using the words some, any, no. However, that's not all. There are still some nuances, one might say exceptions, which it would also do you good to remember.

As stated above, some Most often used in affirmative sentences. Exceptions are interrogative sentences in which something is offered or asked:
Do you mind if...?
Can I have some...?
Would you like...?

Would you like some tea? - Would you like (some) tea?

Do you mind if I take some cake? - Do you mind if I take (a little) cake?

Can I have some water? - Can I have (some) water?

Some is also used in questions when they expect a “Yes” answer, and to make it clear that they are expecting an affirmative answer:

In addition to an indefinite quantity, some denotes the indefiniteness of the thing itself (something) when used with a count noun. If you want to show that an object or person is unknown or of little interest to you, do it using the word some:

As it turns out, some can be found in the question. May be, any used in affirmative statements? Yes, it is used. But not in all, but in some cases.

Any is used in, after if:

If you have any questions, just ask me. - If you have any questions, just ask me.

If they leave any messages, you must inform me. - If they leave any messages, you must inform me.

Any is used in statements to mean “any,” “whatever,” “it doesn’t matter which,” to emphasize the idea of ​​free choice:

You can choose any dress, it will be my present for you. - You can choose any dress, it will be my gift.

If you do not know the way to the laboratory, ask any student. - If you don’t know how to get to the laboratory, ask any student.

If any is used with this meaning, it is emphasized in the sentence.

After words with a negative meaning: never, hardly, without is used any, not some:

That's all you need to know about words some, any, no. Of course, each of these words has additional features, but we will talk about them in our next publications.

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Indefinite pronouns indicate an undefined thing, object or person, as well as a small quantity. In English, this group includes some, any with their derivatives. Despite the same translation - “some, some, a little, several, some, some”, they have differences in the rules of use.

Some

Used mainly in affirmative sentences, special questions, and requests and offers. In general questions the same can be used when it is necessary to especially strongly emphasize a small amount of something.

Any

It is usually used in negative phrases and general questions. In questions that require a yes/no answer, in conditional sentences. It is also used in affirmative sentences, but in the meaning “any, no matter what.”

Comparative use of the pronouns some and any

The main difference lies in the types of utterances in which these pronouns are used.

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Any is used

• For general questions.
  • Will there be any people in the room?— Will there be any people in the room?
• For negatives (together with the particle not)
  • There were not any dogs in the garden. — There were no dogs in the garden.
• In affirmative sentences it can be used when it is important to emphasize that “it doesn’t matter which, any”
  • You could find these flowers in any forest.— You can find these flowers in any forest.
  • Parents may return at any time. — Parents can return at any time.
  • What kind of tea do you drink? Anyone will be ok. — What kind of tea do you drink? Any will do.
• Since any is used in negative constructions, it will also be used after those having a negative, such as:
  • Hardly, scarcely(hardly, almost not)
  • Never(never)
  • Without(- without, and when it is followed by the fourth/ing form of the verb, then “without doing something”)
  • Seldom, rarely(rarely, infrequently, occasionally)
  • (a little, little)

Both of these pronouns can be translated into Russian, or their meaning is conveyed descriptively while preserving the meaning.

For example, it usually remains without translation when used with uncountable nouns, but the meaning means “a little, a certain amount, some.”

you give me some tea, please?

Could you pour me some tea, please?

Important Notes

When used with uncountable nouns, some means only a certain quantity, part, and not the whole.

For comparison:

• Lend me some money for shopping. — Lend me some money for shopping.
• Give me the money, or I`ll shoot! — Give me the money (all you have), otherwise I’ll shoot!

It is also worth considering that when using indefinite pronouns with countable nouns, it is no longer necessary to put.

• Where are the textbooks? – Some are on the table.- Where are the textbooks? - They (some) are on the table.
• I need some food. Please give me some. — I need some food. Please give me some food.

If the pronoun some is used in relation to a certain set of persons or objects in meaning, then the preposition of is placed after it, and the definite article the, or a possessive/demonstrative pronoun is required before the subsequent noun. Derivations from indefinite pronouns are not used in this construction.

Some of our guests late. Some of our guests were late.
Some of the apples were already eaten. Some apples have already been eaten.

Derivatives of some and any

some and any form derivatives with the suffixes “thing, body, one, where, when”.

• something, anything- “something, anything, whatever” when talking about inanimate objects and objects
• somebody, someone;anybody, anyone“someone, anyone, everyone, any, somebody” are used in relation to animate nouns, i.e. people
• somewhere, anywhere- “somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, everywhere, nowhere”, i.e. relative to location

When using derivatives, you should follow the same rules as for the original pronouns.

The meaning of indefinite pronouns and their translation into Russian depends on the sentence in which they are used: affirmative, interrogative or negative.

1. a) Some several, some used in affirmative sentences, for example:

b) When the adjective pronoun some (with the meaning some amount) stands before an uncountable noun, replacing the article; it is not translated into Russian.

Some before a numeral matters approximately, about.

Some is sometimes used before singular countable nouns with the meaning some.

c) The noun pronoun some translates some of with the subsequent definition introduced by the preposition of.

2. Any is used:

a) In affirmative sentences with the meaning everyone, any before countable nouns in the singular. For example:

b) In conditional sentences with some meaning. For example:

c) In negative sentences with the meaning none. For example:

d) With uncountable nouns or when you need to replace them. In this case, the word any is usually not translated into Russian. For example:

Any of translates any of. For example:

With a noun, only the pronoun no (and not not any) is used as a subject, which is translated into Russian none, none.

None is used instead of an already mentioned noun.

None as a pronoun-noun with a definition introduced by the preposition of, translates none from:

Derived words from the indefinite pronouns some, any and the negative pronoun no

The pronouns some, any, no, as well as the pronoun avery everyone occur with the words thing thing, body person, one someone, were where, where.
With negative pronouns and adverbs, there can be two options for constructing an English sentence. For example:

In negative sentences if available no, nothing, nobody, no one, none, nowhere the verb is put in the affirmative form, since there should not be two negatives in the sentence. For example:

Notes: 1. In negative sentences, only nobody, no one, and nothing are used as subjects.

2. After the pronouns nobody, nothing, anybody (in an affirmative sentence), anything, no one, somebody, something, everything, everybody The verb is in the 3rd person singular.

3. The English word every as an adjective in English-Russian dictionaries is translated by the Russian word every. Derivatives of the words everybody, everyone are also given in the meanings everyone, everyone (person).
In order to comply with the stylistic norms of Russian speech, combinations of the word every with a noun (every effort, every action) can often be translated into the Russian word all (all efforts).
In this case, the predicate of the English sentence, expressed in the personal form of the verb in the singular, is conveyed by the Russian verb in the plural: