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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Any or some? In "if" clauses...
Hi,
I've got a big problem... What's the difference between #1 and #2 in each pair? Could you comment a little on these?
#1 - If any customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#2 - If some customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#1 - If any customer calls, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#2 - If some customer calls, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#1 - If anyone tries to cross the line, shoot.
#2 - If someone tries to cross the line, shoot.
#1 - If anyone told you that Bush was actually an evil robot from Jupiter, would you believe them?
#2 - If someone told you that Bush was actually an evil robot from Jupiter, would you believe them?
#1 - I wanted to know if you had any interesting books for me.
#2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me.
#1 - Question from "I read about it in some newspaper" ---> "Did you read about it in any newspaper?"
#2 - Question from "I read about it in some newspaper" ---> "Did you read about it in some newspaper?"
Thank you in advance. Sorry if there are too many examples, but I really don't know if "any" is mandatory in "if-clauses"...
I've got a big problem... What's the difference between #1 and #2 in each pair? Could you comment a little on these?
#1 - If any customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#2 - If some customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#1 - If any customer calls, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#2 - If some customer calls, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#1 - If anyone tries to cross the line, shoot.
#2 - If someone tries to cross the line, shoot.
#1 - If anyone told you that Bush was actually an evil robot from Jupiter, would you believe them?
#2 - If someone told you that Bush was actually an evil robot from Jupiter, would you believe them?
#1 - I wanted to know if you had any interesting books for me.
#2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me.
#1 - Question from "I read about it in some newspaper" ---> "Did you read about it in any newspaper?"
#2 - Question from "I read about it in some newspaper" ---> "Did you read about it in some newspaper?"
Thank you in advance. Sorry if there are too many examples, but I really don't know if "any" is mandatory in "if-clauses"...
Top answer
#1 - I wanted to know if you had any interesting books for me. if you have interesting books at all #2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me. if you have (one, but preferably) several interesting books
- #1 - I wanted to know if you had any interesting books for me.
- if you have interesting books at all #2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me.
- if you have (one, but preferably) several interesting books
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5 Answers
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#1 - I wanted to know if you had any interesting books for me.
if you have interesting books at all
#2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me.
if you have (one, but preferably) several interesting books
if you have interesting books at all
#2 - I wanted to know if you had some interesting books for me.
if you have (one, but preferably) several interesting books
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Hi,
thanks, but I still have so many doubts! In negative sentences, there's a difference between "some" and "any", and I know it (I don't have any money / I don't have any money). In questions, the difference is sometimes little, but I know it (Do you have any sisters? / Can I use some of yours?). But what about "if"? What's the difference, and how should I chose between "some" and "any" in i
thanks, but I still have so many doubts! In negative sentences, there's a difference between "some" and "any", and I know it (I don't have any money / I don't have any money). In questions, the difference is sometimes little, but I know it (Do you have any sisters? / Can I use some of yours?). But what about "if"? What's the difference, and how should I chose between "some" and "any" in i
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any is not mandatory in if clauses. It depends on the meaning you want. So sometimes some is better than any.
#1 - If any customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6. Usual. No matter who.
#2 - If some customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
#1 - If any customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6. Usual. No matter who.
#2 - If some customers call, tell them I'll be back tomorrow at 6.
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CalifJim
#1 - If anyone told you that Bush was actually an evil robot from Jupiter, would you believe them? Yes. Oops!
Sorry, it was beyond my control
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Jim, your answer was perfect, it was exaclty what I wanted. That post says a lot about the difference between "some" and "any"... It's much more clear now, thank you so much.
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