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Radovan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
some(one), something, etc. in questions
Hi,
please, I generally find this information on indefinite pronouns. Use any, anyone, anything etc. in negative sentences and questions, use some, someone, something etc. in positive sentences. Also use some, someone, something etc in questions where you ask for something or offer something. And also in questions where we expect the answer to be "Yes". Yet, I come across a lot of questions where I think we neither ask for or offer something, nor expect positive answer, and they still use some, something etc. Any explanations for that?
Some examples:
Have you ever met someone from Africa? (Face2face Elementary)
Do I need some antibiotics? (Face2face Intermediate)
Thanks.
please, I generally find this information on indefinite pronouns. Use any, anyone, anything etc. in negative sentences and questions, use some, someone, something etc. in positive sentences. Also use some, someone, something etc in questions where you ask for something or offer something. And also in questions where we expect the answer to be "Yes". Yet, I come across a lot of questions where I think we neither ask for or offer something, nor expect positive answer, and they still use some, something etc. Any explanations for that?
Some examples:
Have you ever met someone from Africa? (Face2face Elementary)
Do I need some antibiotics? (Face2face Intermediate)
Thanks.
Top answer
radovan Use any, anyone, anything etc. in negative sentences and questions; use some, someone, something etc. in positive sentences.
- radovan Use any, anyone, anything etc.
- in negative sentences and questions; use some, someone, something etc.
- in positive sentences.
- That is the unmarked (standard) usage, yes.
- radovan Also use some, someone, something etc in questions where you ask for something or offer something.
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2 Answers
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radovan Use any, anyone, anything etc. in negative sentences and questions; use some, someone, something etc. in positive sentences.That is the unmarked (standard) usage, yes.
radovan Also use some, someone, something etc in questions where you ask for something or offer something.That may well hold true half the time, but
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Both some and any are used with indefinite refernce.
Some is used if the idea is restricted or limited in some way.
Any is used if the idea is unrestricted or unlimited.
Any applies
Some is used if the idea is restricted or limited in some way.
Any is used if the idea is unrestricted or unlimited.
Any applies
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