Some or Any

We use some and any with uncountable nouns and with countable nouns in the plural when we don't know the exact amount.

Use of some

SOME:

1. In sentences you expect a positive answer and with demands

Examples: I bought some very nice postcards. Give me some orange juice, please.

2. In polite questions or requests or if we expect the answer "YES".

Examples: Would you like some more coffee? Do we have some time to go to the cinema?

ANY:

1. In questions: Have you got any blue shoes?

2. In negations: No, I haven't got any.

3. In conditional clauses: If I had any, I would wear them.

4. We use any with never, without and hardly: They hardly do any homework.

They are used the same way as some and any.

Talking about people: somebody - anybody = someone - anyone

I didn't know anyone at the meeting. I had to ask someone to find the hotel.

Talking about things: something - anything

We don't have anything to eat. He saw something in his garden.

Talking about places: somewhere - anywhere

We didn't go anywhere last weekend. They stayed somewhere near Manchester.