Some and Any
Positive · Negative · Questions · any = it doesn’t matter which · somebody/anybody — Complete Guide
Some et Any
Affirmatif · Négatif · Questions · any = peu importe lequel · somebody/anybody — Guide Complet
Know exactly when to use some (positive) vs any (negative/questions), master somebody/something/somewhere vs anybody/anything/anywhere, and discover the special uses of any.
Sachez exactement quand utiliser some (affirmatif) vs any (négatif/questions), maîtrisez somebody/something/somewhere vs anybody/anything/anywhere, et découvrez les emplois spéciaux de any.
The general rule is simple: use some in positive sentences and any in negative sentences and most questions. But English has several important exceptions and special uses — especially any meaning “it doesn’t matter which”. This unit covers all five key rules with compound forms (somebody, anybody, something, anything, somewhere, anywhere).
La règle générale est simple : utilisez some dans les phrases affirmatives et any dans les phrases négatives et la plupart des questions. Mais l’anglais comporte plusieurs exceptions — notamment any avec le sens de “peu importe lequel”. Cette unité couvre les cinq règles clés avec les formes composées (somebody, anybody, something, anything, somewhere, anywhere).
some (positive) vs any (negative) — The Core Rule
some (affirmatif) vs any (négatif) — La Règle Fondamentale
Use some (and somebody/someone/something) in positive sentences. Use any (and anybody/anyone/anything) in negative sentences.
Utilisez some (et somebody/someone/something) dans les phrases affirmatives. Utilisez any (et anybody/anyone/anything) dans les phrases négatives.
SOME — positive sentences
SOME — phrases affirmatives
ANY — negative sentences
ANY — phrases négatives
some and any in Questions — Key Distinctions
some et any dans les Questions — Distinctions Clés
Both some and any can be used in questions — but the meaning differs. Use some when you know or expect something exists, or when offering/requesting. Use any when you genuinely don’t know.
On peut utiliser some et any dans les questions — mais le sens diffère. Utilisez some quand vous savez ou espérez que quelque chose existe, ou pour offrir/demander. Utilisez any quand vous ne savez vraiment pas.
Are you waiting for somebody? (I think you are)(je pense que oui)
Would you like something to eat? (there is food available)(il y a de la nourriture disponible)
any in questions — genuinely uncertain:vraiment incertain :
Do you have any luggage? (maybe you do, maybe not)(peut-être, peut-être pas)
Is there anybody in the house? (maybe, maybe not)(peut-être, peut-être pas)
if + any — Conditional Meaning
if + any — Sens Conditionnel
You can use if + any. Some sentences also have the idea of “if” even without the word “if”.
On peut utiliser if + any. Certaines phrases ont aussi l’idée de “if” même sans ce mot.
If anyone has questions, I’ll answer them.
I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused. (= if I have caused any trouble)(= si j’ai causé des problèmes)
The police want to speak to anyone who saw the accident. (= if there is anyone)(= s’il y a quelqu’un)
any = “it doesn’t matter which/what/who” — Free Choice
any = “peu importe lequel/quoi/qui” — Choix Libre
We also use any with the meaning “it doesn’t matter which”. This is a positive meaning — not negative.
On utilise aussi any avec le sens “peu importe lequel”. C’est un sens positif — pas négatif.
Come and see me any time you want.
We forgot to lock the door. Anybody could have come in.
A: I’m hungry. B: What would you like? A: Anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)(= peu importe quoi)
somebody/anyone are Singular — but use they/them/their
somebody/anyone sont Singuliers — mais on utilise they/them/their
Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone are grammatically singular. BUT in everyday English we use they/them/their after them (not he/she/his/her) to avoid specifying gender.
Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone sont grammaticalement singuliers. MAIS dans l’anglais courant, on utilise they/them/their après eux pour éviter de préciser le genre.
Someone has forgotten their umbrella. (NOT his or her umbrella)(PAS his or her umbrella)
If anybody wants to leave early, they can. (NOT he or she can)(PAS he or she can)
Put in some or any.
Complétez avec some ou any.
Complete with some- or any- + -body / -thing / -where.
Complétez avec some- ou any- + -body / -thing / -where.
Complete using any + noun OR anybody / anything / anywhere. (Free-choice meaning)
Complétez avec any + nom OU anybody / anything / anywhere. (Sens de choix libre)
Example: ‘Which bus?’ → Any bus. They all go to the centre.
Exemple : ‘Which bus?’ → Any bus. They all go to the centre.
Choose the correct option: some, any, something, anything, somebody, or anybody.
Choisissez la bonne option : some, any, something, anything, somebody, ou anybody.
Frequently Asked Questions — some and any
Questions fréquentes — some et any
Use some when you believe or expect the answer is yes, or when offering/requesting: Would you like some tea? (you have tea ready). Use any for genuine uncertainty: Do you have any luggage? (you don’t know).
Utilisez some quand vous croyez ou espérez que la réponse est oui, ou pour offrir/demander. Utilisez any pour une vraie incertitude : Do you have any luggage?
Yes — in two cases. First, any = “it doesn’t matter which”: You can take any bus. Second, after words with a negative meaning: She left without any money. · Hardly anyone came.
Oui — dans deux cas. Premièrement, any = “peu importe lequel”. Deuxièmement, après des mots à sens négatif : She left without any money. · Hardly anyone came.
Something = positive sentences: I want something to eat. Anything = negative/questions: I don’t want anything. Also: Anything = “it doesn’t matter what”: A: What do you want? B: Anything. I don’t mind.
Something = phrases affirmatives. Anything = négatif/questions. Aussi : Anything = peu importe quoi.
In modern English, they/them/their is used after somebody/someone/anybody/anyone to avoid specifying gender. This is standard: Someone left their bag on the seat.
En anglais moderne, they/them/their est utilisé après somebody/someone/anybody/anyone pour éviter de préciser le genre.
Somewhere = positive sentences: Let’s go somewhere warm. Anywhere = negative/questions or free-choice: I didn’t go anywhere. · We can meet anywhere — I don’t mind.
Somewhere = phrases affirmatives. Anywhere = négatif/questions ou choix libre.
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