Some, Any, No and Compounds — English But Better

Some / Any No Special uses of any Compounds Exercises

Some and Any

Quantifier	Main use	Nouns	Example
some	Positive sentences	plural countable + uncountable	I have some* apples. · There's some water.*
some	Offers and requests (positive expected)	plural countable + uncountable	Would you like some* coffee? · Can I have some help?*
any	Negative sentences	plural countable + uncountable	I don't have any* money. · There isn't any time.*
any	Questions (neutral)	plural countable + uncountable	Is there any* milk? · Do you have any questions?*

No — zero quantity (positive verb + no)

No has the same meaning as not any, but it uses a positive verb and is more emphatic.

Example	Equivalent
There is no milk.	= There isn't any milk.
I have no idea.	= I don't have any idea.
There are no tickets left.	= There aren't any tickets left.

Special: "any" = it doesn't matter which

In positive sentences, any can mean "it doesn't matter which one" — whichever.

"You can take any bus — they all go to the centre."
"Come any day — I'm always free."
"I'll eat anything — I'm not fussy."

Compound forms: -body/-one, -thing, -where

Person	Thing	Place	Use
somebody / someone	something	somewhere	positive
anybody / anyone	anything	anywhere	negative & question (or "any" = doesn't matter)
nobody / no one	nothing	nowhere	= not anybody / anything / anywhere
everybody / everyone	everything	everywhere	= all people / things / places

Compounds are singular: Everyone/Nobody/Someone takes a singular verb: ✓ "Everyone is here." But informally, "their" is used to avoid he/she: "Someone left their bag."

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