‘Some’, ‘Any’, and ‘No Article’

(This is an extract from my book:

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We can use some, any or ‘no article’ before plural or uncountable nouns. They all mean something similar to a/an
before a singular noun. For example:

• Can I have a banana? [One banana, but any one is okay.]
• Can I have some bananas? [More than one banana, but any small group is okay.]

The difference between some and ‘no article’:

Often, there isn’t a big difference in meaning between ‘no article’ and some. However, we use some when we are talking about a
limited number or amount (but we don’t know or we don’t want to say the exact quantity).

Some
means ‘a certain number of’ or ‘a certain amount of’. We don’t use some if we are talking about something in general or thinking about it as a
category. When we use some, we don’t say the exact quantity, but we could probably find it out if we needed to. For example:

• Can you buy some milk? [We don’t know exactly how much, but I’m talking about a certain amount of milk – I don’t want all the milk in the world.]

On the other hand, we use ‘no article’ when we aren’t thinking about the quantity. It’s used to talk about the noun as a category, rather than a
certain amount of it:

• We need Ø milk to make pancakes. [I’m thinking about milk as a category. I’m not thinking about a certain amount of milk.]

More examples:

• We need to buy Ø coffee [I’m talking about coffee as a category, not thinking about the amount].
• Would you like some coffee? [I mean a certain amount of coffee, probably a cup.]
• I ate some bread [I mean a certain amount of bread].
• I ate Ø bread [not pasta or rice].

Remember that often it doesn’t make a big difference:

• Do you want Ø tea? [I’m not thinking about the amount.]
• Do you want some tea? [I’m thinking about the amount, but the meaning is really the same as the first sentence.]

Try an exercise about this

The difference between some and any:

Generally, we use any in the same way as some: when we are thinking about a certain amount or number of something. Remember, usually
both some and any can only be used with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns, but not usually with singular
countable nouns.

We usually use some with affirmative (positive) sentences and any with negatives and questions:

• She bought some tomatoes [positive sentence].
• She didn’t buy any tomatoes [negative sentence].
• Did she buy any tomatoes [question]?

However, there are some exceptions to this.

1: Any can be used in a positive sentence to mean ‘it’s not important which one’. When we use any in this way, it’s most often used
with singular countable nouns:

• You can take any bus.
• Pass me any glass.
• Come over any Sunday.

2: Any can also be used in positive sentences that have a negative feeling, for example if they include never, hardly, without:

• She never eats any fruit.
• We hardly watch any television.
• Julia left the house without any money.

3: Some can be used in questions when we expect that the answer will be ‘yes’. This is very common in offers and requests:

• Would you like some coffee?
• Do you want some sandwiches?
• Could you give me some help?
• Could you pass me some sugar?

Compare the following two sentences:

• Do you have any letters for me? [This is a real question. I don’t know if you have any letters or not.]
• Do you have some letters for me? [I think you do, so I’m expecting that you will say ‘yes’.]

Try another exercise about this here.

Go to the main ‘a’ and ‘the’ page.

(This is an extract from my book: A and The Explained We can use some, any or ‘no article’ before plural or uncountable nouns. They all mean something similar to a/an before a singular noun. For example:Often, there isn’t a big difference in meaning between ‘no article’ and some. However, we use some when we are talking about a limited number or amount (but we don’t know or we don’t want to say the exact quantity).Some means ‘a certain number of’ or ‘a certain amount of’. We don’t use some if we are talking about something in general or thinking about it as a category. When we use some, we don’t say the exact quantity, but we could probably find it out if we needed to. For example:On the other hand, we use ‘no article’ when we aren’t thinking about the quantity. It’s used to talk about the noun as a category, rather than a certain amount of it:More examples:Remember that often it doesn’t make a big difference:Try an exercise about this here Generally, we use any in the same way as some: when we are thinking about a certain amount or number of something. Remember, usually both some and any can only be used with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns, butwith singular countable nouns.We usually use some with affirmative (positive) sentences and any with negatives and questions:However, there are some exceptions to this.1: Any can be used in a positive sentence to mean ‘it’s not important which one’. When we use any in this way, it’s most often used with singular countable nouns:2: Any can also be used in positive sentences that have a negative feeling, for example if they include never, hardly, without:3: Some can be used in questions when we expect that the answer will be ‘yes’. This is very common in offers and requests:Compare the following two sentences:

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There is – There are

English Grammar Rules

We use there is and there are to say that something exists.

Positive Sentences

We use there is for and there are for .

• There is in the classroom.
• There are in the classroom.
• There is in the bath.
• There are at the bus stop.

We also use There is with uncountable nouns:

• There is milk in the fridge.
• There is some sugar on the table.
• There is ice cream on your shirt.

Contractions

The contraction of there is is there’s.

• There’s a good song on the radio.
• There’s only one chocolate left in the box.

You cannot contract there are.

• There are nine cats on the roof.
• There are only five weeks until my birthday.

Negative Form

The negative is formed by putting not after or :

• There is not a horse in the field.
• There are not eight children in the school.
• There is not a tree in the garden.
• There are not two elephants in the zoo.

We almost always use contractions when speaking.

The Negative contractions are:

• There’s not = There isn’t
• There are not = There aren’t

There aren’t with ANY

When we want to indicate that a zero quantity of something exists we use there aren’t

• There aren’t any people at the party.
• There aren’t any trees in my street.

We also use this structure with uncountable nouns:

• There isn’t any in the swimming pool.
• There isn’t any in my coffee.

Questions

To form a question we place is / are in front of there.

Again we use any with plural questions or those which use uncountable nouns.

We also use there is / are in short answers.

• Is there a dog in the supermarket? – No, there isn’t.
• Are there any dogs in the park? – Yes, there are.
• Is there a security guard in the shop? – Yes, there is.
• Are there any polar bears in Antarctica? – No, there aren’t.
• Is there any ice-cream in the freezer? – Yes, there is.

How Many with Are There

If we want to find out the number of objects that exist we use How many in the following form:

How many + plural noun + (+ complement).

• How many dogs in the park?
• How many students in your class?
• How many countries in South America?
• How many Star Wars films ?

Next activities

Try our interactive games to practice There is – There Are and There is – There Are 2.

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