我们知道,some通常用于肯定句,any则用于否定句或疑问句.但随着学习的深入,我们发现,情况并不完全如此,上述说法只能算是对some和any用法的一个不太准确和完整的概括.由于some和any是英语中比较常用的词,我们有必要对其用法作出较完善的归纳.
一、some和any作为形容词或代词,可以用来说明或代替复数名词或不可数名词,表示不定量,意为“一些”,其区别是：对其所说明或代替的名词持肯定态度时,用some；持非肯定（否定或疑问）态度时,用any.
在以下句子中使用some：
1.肯定句（包括肯定的陈述句和祈使句以及反意疑问句中肯定的陈述部分）.如：
There are some new books on the teacher's desk.
We have a lot of sugar.Take some with you,please.
He bought some bread,didn't he?
2.持肯定态度的一般疑问句.如：
Are there some stamps in that drawer?
Didn't she give you some money?
3.表示请求或建议的一般疑问句,通常都希望得到对方肯定的答复,所以也用some.如：
May I ask you some questions?
Would you like some tea?
4.特殊疑问句及选择疑问句.因为特殊疑问句和选择疑问句并不对some所说明或代替的名词表示疑问.如：
Where can I get some buttons?
Do you have some pens or pencils?
在以下句子中使用ANY：
1.否定句（包括否定的陈述句和祈使句以及反意疑问句中否定的陈述部分）.如：
I can't give you any help now.
Do not make any noise.
There weren't any trees here,were there?
2.含有除not以外的其他否定词或否定结构的句子.如：
Jim hardly makes any mistakes in his homework.
He went to London without any money in his pocket.
She was too poor to buy any new clothes.
3.一般疑问句（持肯定态度的除外）.如：
Did she buy any tomatoes yesterday?
I want some paper.Do you have any?
4.条件状语从句.如：
If you are looking for any ink,you can find it on my desk.
If there are any good apples there,get me two kilos,please.
因为条件句“如果……”表达的也是不肯定的态度.所以,如果说话者持肯定的态度或期待得到肯定的答复时,则可以用some.如：
Bring me two pieces of paper if you have some.
5.whether/if（是否）引导的名词从句.如：
It is still unknown whether they have found any proof.
He asked if he could drink any cool water.
二、some还可表示“某些”或用在单数名词前表示“某一个”.any则可用于表示“任何一些”或“（至少3个中）任何一个”,二者均可用于肯定或非肯定的句子中.如：
I don't like some of them.
He is working at some place in the north.
Any criminal(s) will be punished.
You can take any of these.
三、some和any也可作为副词,用于比较级前,表示程度,意为“稍许,几分”,用法与其作形容词或代词表示“一些”时基本相同.如：
He feels some better now.
She was so tired that she could not go any further.
some还可以用在数字之前,意为“大约”.如：
He is some forty years old.
四、由some-和any-构成的复合不定代词和不定副词,其用法区别多与some和any相同.如：
Something is wrong with her eyes.
There is not anybody in this room.
Have you seen it anywhere?
Haven't you forgotten something?（持肯定态度）