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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Something/anything

When would you use each one?

Can I get you something to eat?
Can I get you anything to eat?
  

Top answer

to eat ", " something " is used. Anonymous Can I get you something to drink / eat? " is very common.

  • to eat ", " something " is used.
  • Anonymous Can I get you something to drink / eat?
  • " is very common.
  • Here are few common usages with some and any Would you like something to drink/ eat ?
  • No thank you, I don't want a nything (not something ) Do you have any / some sugar I can borrow?
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6 Answers
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When you end your question with " ....to eat ", " something " is used.
AnonymousCan I get you something to drink / eat?
But, " can I get you anything ?" is very common.
Here are few common usages with some and any

Would you like
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AnonymousCan I get you something to eat?
Can I get you anything to eat?
According to some, there is a tendency to ask questions with some, someone, something, etc., when the speaker is positively disposed toward the content of the proposition, and any, anyone, anything when the speaker is neutral or negative.

In the first example at
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CalifJimLikewise, supposedly, the speaker who asks Do you have some money? is more likely to believe (or hope) that the listener has some money than the speaker who asks Do you have any money?

I'm not sure everyone agrees with this, but I have read it as an explanation of the difference, and it seems plausible to me that it applies in many cases if not universall
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I know both are grammatical, I was just interested in how people use them. Many thanks.
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I agree with CJ, too, and it has nothing to do with 'to eat' at the end of the sentence; that is irrelevant.
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Something also seems more specific and personable or special, whereas anything seems more general. However, this whole idea depends on context. Is it you dear wife offering anything or a neutral waitress?

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