Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
The meaning of the words any and some is “algunos/as”, but we use any in questions and negative sentences, and some in positive sentences. For example, we say:
| ~ «Are there any books on the table?», «Yes, there are some books on the table» |
| ~ «Are there any books on the floor?», «No, there aren’t any books on the floor». |
We use any in a non-specific question, when the number is not important. For example:
~ «Are there año books on the table?», «Yes, there are some books on the table”, o “No, there are not año books on the table»
If the number is important, we use “How many” and there is a specific answer: “one”, “two”, “three”. etc., o “none”.
Both anybody and somebody mean “alguien”. We use anybody in questions and negative sentences, and somebody in positive sentences. For example, we say:
| ~ «Is there Anybody sitting here?” “Yes, there is somebody sitting here» |
| ~ «Is there Anybody sitting there?», «No, there is not Anybody sitting there» |
«Anybody» is non-specific and has a non-specific answer, whereas “who” is specific and has a specific answer: “Mrs. Smith», «Mr. Smith», etc., or «nobody».
Anything and Something both mean the same thing. We use anything in questions and negative sentences, and we use something in positive sentences. For example, we say:
| ~ «Have I got anything in my right hand?» «Yes, you have got something in your right hand» |
| ~ «Have I got anything in my left hand?» «No, you have not got anything in your left hand» |
Anything we use in a non-specific question, whereas “What?” is specific and has a specific answer: “a light», «a book», etc, or «nothing».
J. Crowley
Mamen has a degree in History from the University of Valladolid. Her passions include literature, cinema and opera. Mamen has worked as a Culture Technician, a Performing Arts programmer, in the field of archaeology, and she has also been involved in local development since she was very young.
She decided to change course a few years ago, when she settled in Barcelona to begin a new chapter of her professional life.
- September, an opportunity to learn English - 31 August, 2022
- How to Travel Comfortably and Confidently in English - 31 August, 2022
- How to start speaking English today - 1 July, 2022
Come and see our school and take a free level test
Free English resources
- Conditional Sentences
- The present Continuous
- Remember vs Remind
- Much, Many, Few, Little
- Tail Questions – Part II
Resources by levels