Some and Any – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Read the conversation between two roommates on the phone. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about the food in their kitchen.
1 “Hi! I’m checking the fridge right now. We have ______ milk left for our coffee.”
(a) any
(b) some
(c) a
2 “However, we don’t have ______ eggs for tomorrow’s breakfast.”
(a) some
(b) an
(c) any
3 “Do we need to buy ______ bread at the bakery?”
(a) any
(b) a
(c) some
4 “I looked everywhere in the fridge, but there isn’t ______ cheese.”
(a) some
(b) any
(c) none
5 “On a positive note, I can see ______ apples on the kitchen table.”
(a) an
(b) any
(c) some
6 “For dinner, there are ______ carrots in the vegetable drawer to make soup.”
(a) some
(b) much
(c) any
7 “But we haven’t got ______ orange juice for the party tonight.”
(a) many
(b) some
(c) any
8 “Are there ______ tomatoes in the basket to make a salad?”
(a) any
(b) a
(c) some
9 “Don’t worry about the main dish, we still have ______ rice in the cupboard.”
(a) any
(b) some
(c) a
10 “I can’t find ______ butter for the pancakes, though. The box is empty!”
(a) no
(b) some
(c) any
11 “Is there ______ water in that large bottle near the window?”
(a) some
(b) any
(c) a
12 “I bought ______ chicken yesterday, so it’s in the freezer.”
(a) a few
(b) any
(c) some
13 “Oh no, the dishwasher is full and there aren’t ______ clean plates ready to use!”
(a) any
(b) a
(c) some
14 “I am going to buy ______ snacks on my way home from work.”
(a) some
(b) any
(c) an
15 “Since you are going to the store, can you bring ______ sugar, please?”
(a) any
(b) a
(c) some
16 “It’s crazy, we never have ______ fresh fruit in this house when I want it!”
(a) any
(b) some
(c) no
17 “Let’s bake a cake together later. Luckily, we still have ______ flour.”
(a) any
(b) some
(c) an
18 “Did you remember to buy ______ meat at the butcher’s this morning?”
(a) some
(b) a
(c) any
19 “Would you like ______ chocolate ice cream for dessert tonight?”
(a) a
(b) some
(c) any
20 “We have a lot of vegetables, but there isn’t ______ fruit left at all.”
(a) any
(b) some
(c) no
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) some
Explanation: “Some” is used in positive (affirmative) sentences with uncountable nouns like “milk”. Option (a) is a common mistake as “any” is not used in basic affirmative sentences. Option (c) is a grammatical error because “milk” is uncountable, so we cannot use the singular article “a”.
2 (c) any
Explanation: “Any” is the correct choice for negative sentences. Option (a) is a common mistake because students often forget to switch “some” to “any” when making a sentence negative. Option (b) is grammatically incorrect because “eggs” is plural, so we cannot use “an”.
3 (a) any
Explanation: In standard questions, we use “any” to ask if something exists. Option (c) is incorrect because “some” is generally reserved for positive statements (or offers/requests). Option (b) is wrong because “bread” is uncountable.
4 (b) any
Explanation: This is a negative sentence (“isn’t”), which requires “any”. Option (a) is the common mistake of using “some” in a negative context. Option (c) “none” creates a double negative (“isn’t none”), which is grammatically incorrect in standard English.
5 (c) some
Explanation: This is a positive sentence, so “some” is used with the plural countable noun “apples”. Option (b) is incorrect in affirmative contexts. Option (a) is a basic error because “apples” is plural, so “an” cannot be used.
6 (a) some
Explanation: Used in a positive sentence with a plural noun (“carrots”). Option (c) is incorrect for affirmative sentences. Option (b) “much” is used for uncountable nouns, not plural countable nouns like carrots.
7 (c) any
Explanation: Used in a negative sentence (“haven’t got”). Option (b) is the common mistake of not changing “some” in the negative. Option (a) “many” is for countable nouns, but “juice” is uncountable.
8 (a) any
Explanation: This is a standard yes/no question, which requires “any”. Option (c) is incorrect for standard inquiries. Option (b) is a grammar error because “tomatoes” is plural.
9 (b) some
Explanation: A positive statement describing available inventory. Option (a) is wrong for affirmatives. Option (c) is wrong because “rice” is uncountable.
10 (c) any
Explanation: The verb is negative (“can’t find”), requiring “any”. Option (b) is the typical student mistake. Option (a) “no” creates a double negative (“can’t find no”), which is grammatically wrong.
11 (b) any
Explanation: A standard question about the existence of an item requires “any”. Option (a) is a common mistake for learners who overuse “some”. Option (c) is wrong because “water” is uncountable.
12 (c) some
Explanation: A positive sentence stating what was bought. Option (b) is incorrect for positive statements. Option (a) “a few” is only for countable nouns, but “chicken” (as meat) is uncountable here.
13 (a) any
Explanation: A negative sentence (“aren’t”). Option (c) is the common mistake. Option (b) is incorrect because “plates” is plural.
14 (a) some
Explanation: A positive intention/statement. Option (b) is wrong for affirmatives. Option (c) is a grammar error because “snacks” is plural.
15 (c) some
Explanation: Exception rule! Even though this is a question, it is a request. When we ask for something or offer something and expect the answer to be “yes”, we use “some”. Option (a) is the common mistake because students blindly apply the “any in questions” rule without recognizing the request. Option (b) is wrong because “sugar” is uncountable.
16 (a) any
Explanation: The word “never” makes the sentence negative in meaning, even though there is no “not”. Therefore, we must use “any”. Option (b) is a common trap because students don’t see “don’t/isn’t” and assume it’s affirmative. Option (c) creates a double negative.
17 (b) some
Explanation: A straightforward affirmative sentence. Option (a) is incorrect. Option (c) is wrong because “flour” is uncountable.
18 (c) any
Explanation: A standard question asking if an action occurred/if an item exists. Option (a) is the common mistake. Option (b) is grammatically incorrect because “meat” is uncountable.
19 (b) some
Explanation: Exception rule! This is an offer. When offering food or drinks (“Would you like…?”), we use “some” instead of “any”. Option (c) is a common mistake for students who only see the question mark. Option (a) is wrong because “ice cream” in this context is treated as uncountable.
20 (a) any
Explanation: The second clause is negative (“isn’t”), so “any” is required to show zero quantity. Option (b) is a common mistake. Option (c) “no” creates a double negative with “isn’t”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Use “SOME” in Positive (+) Sentences:
We use “some” when we have an unspecified amount of something.
Example: We have some milk. / There are some apples. - Use “ANY” in Negative (-) Sentences:
We use “any” when a sentence has “not” (don’t, isn’t, aren’t, haven’t) to show that the amount is zero. Watch out for words with negative meanings like “never”—they also take “any”!
Example: We don’t have any eggs. / We never buy any candy. - Use “ANY” in Standard Questions (?):
When asking if something exists in general, we use “any”.
Example: Do we have any bread? / Are there any carrots? - THE EXCEPTION (Offers & Requests):
Even though they end with a question mark (?), we use “SOME” when we are offering something to someone or asking for something (expecting a “yes”).
Offer: Would you like some water?
Request: Can I have some sugar, please?