Difference between "some" and "any"

Question

Can anybody please tell me what the difference between some and any is?

Here are two examples:

Can you please give any advice on that?

Can you please give some advice on that?

Use some when you’re talking about something that is specific and use any when you’re talking about something that is not specific. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/learn-the-difference-between-some-and-any-in-less-than-a-minute/ — Raj 33, Jan 07 '18 at 18:42
The use of any in that sentence may suggest that the person addressed has given no satisfactory advice so far, but other than that there's no productive difference. — Robusto, Jan 07 '18 at 18:44
@Raj33: "Any horse is a quadruped": that is pretty far from specific, yet it's a valid usage. Don't forget that any can mean all, which is decidedly non-specific. — Robusto, Jan 07 '18 at 18:45
related When to use “some” instead of “a” and Usage of “any” or “some” in “Would you like … wine?” and Using of Some and any — Mari-Lou A, Jan 07 '18 at 19:04

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 07 '18 at 18:54

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Can you give me any advice on this? [Idea: Is advice even possible here?]

Can you give me some advice on this? [Idea: Just give me some advice, there is advice that can be given]

answered Jan 07 '18 at 18:54

Lambie

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 07 '18 at 19:15

any refers to an amount, no matter how little of it there may be:

Is there any salt left?
--Yes, but there is only the tiniest pinch.

or to a set that is not the null set:

Was any person in the audience wearing a baseball cap?
--Yes, there was a guy wearing a baseball cap.

some refers to an indefinite number:

Were people in the audience wearing baseball hats?
--Yes, some people were wearing baseball hats.
Were there many?
--Well, more than a few to be sure.

or to an indefinite amount:

I would like to try some of your soup, but just a little, please.

Difference between "some" and "any"

2 Answers2