TKG English Learner's Dictionary

any

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

anypronoun

American /ˈɛn.i/ British /ˈen.i/ The first syllable is stressed. American English uses the fuller vowel ɛ; British English often uses the slightly closer vowel written e here.
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. in questions and negativesused alone, in place of a noun, in a question or a negative sentence for an amount or number that is not stated

    Any as a pronoun stands for a noun already clear from context: Do you need help? I don't need any. Like the determiner, it usually replaces some once a sentence becomes a question or a negative, though an offer or a request often keeps some even in question form: Would you like some?

    Collocations

    phrase not any, hardly any

    Compare any (any directly before a noun: any questions, compared with the pronoun use standing alone: I don't have any); some

  2. no matter whichused without a following noun to mean it does not matter which one of a group

    This use offers a free choice among a group already mentioned. It can stand alone or be followed by of and the group named.

    Collocations

    phrase any of

Usage

Any directly before a noun is a determiner: any questions — a separate entry. As a pronoun, any is not directly followed by a noun; it stands on its own, or is followed by of: any of the questions, I don't have any.

Common mistakes

Have you got some? Have you got any?
In an ordinary question about an unstated amount, any is the normal choice; some is more usual in a positive statement or a request such as would you like some?

See also any (any directly before a noun: any questions)

anydeterminer

American /ˈɛn.i/ British /ˈen.i/ The first syllable is stressed, rhyming with hen and pen.
very commondefining vocabulary

Any points to an unstated amount in a question or a negative statement, or to a free choice among every member of a group.

  1. in questions and negativesused before a plural or uncountable noun in a question or a negative sentence for an amount or number that is not stated

    Any usually takes the place of some once a sentence becomes a question or a negative: I have some time becomes Do you have any time? and I don't have any time. It is also used after words with a negative idea, such as without and hardly: I left without any money. An offer or a request keeps some even though it looks like a question; the usage note below explains this and other exceptions.

    Collocations

    phrase hardly any

    Compare some (some is used instead in an ordinary positive statement, and in an offer or a request); either; no; whatever; any

  2. no matter whichused before a noun to mean it does not matter which person, thing, or amount is chosen

    This any offers a completely free choice: take any seat means every seat is equally fine. It is common in a positive statement and also possible in a question: Any doctor here can help you.

    Collocations

    phrase any time, any day

Word family

Choosing between any · some

Some is the normal choice in a positive statement, an offer, or a request: I have some free time; Would you like some cake? Any usually takes its place in a question or a negative statement: Do you have any free time? I don't have any free time. In a positive statement, any means it makes no difference which one: Sit in any chair.

Usage

Any is the more usual choice after if in a real condition when the amount is still unknown (If you need any help, let me know); some is also possible there when the speaker already assumes there is something to give (If you need some help, let me know). In an offer or a request, some is usually kept even though the sentence looks like a question: Would you like some coffee? When any stands alone, without a noun (I don't have any), it is a pronoun and has its own entry: any (pronoun).

Common mistakes

I want any coffee. I want some coffee.
Any is not the normal choice in an ordinary positive statement about an amount; use some.
Have you some questions? Do you have any questions?
In a real question, any takes the place of some.
I didn't see some problem with the plan. I didn't see any problem with the plan.
After a negative, any is used, not some.

See also any (any standing alone, without a noun: I don't have any)

For translators

Meaning across languages Any marks an unstated amount in a question or negative, and a free choice in a positive statement; many languages use one word for both, or none at all.
Grammar trap Any usually shifts in from some when a sentence becomes a question or a negative: I need some help becomes Do you need any help? and I don't need any help. Some exceptions, such as offers and requests, keep some.