English Teaching Methodologies 2009 Blog

1,What is the difference between the 2 sentences?
“some” and “any” are similar in the meaning.
“some” means “a number of people or things, or an amount of something, when the exact number or amount is not stated.”(from The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary)
“any” means “the smallest amount or number.”(from The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary)
But, their usage is [...]

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“Some” is used in affirmative sentence. And “any” is used in negative sentence and question.
For example, “There are some strange animals in the zoo.” “Are there any strange animals…?”
When I explain the difference to my students, I can say,
“some” や”any” は不定の数や量をさし、日本語では訳されないことが多い。ただし、通例 “some” は肯定文、 ”any” は疑問文や否定文で使われる。

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1） Some is used in the affirmative sentence. And any is used in  negative sentence and interrogative.
2）　There’s some coffee in the pot.  /  Threre isn’t any coffee in the pot.
3）　およその量を表し時に用いるが、肯定文のときはsome、否定文・疑問文のときはanyと使い分ける。この原則は他にもsomething/someone, anything/anyone のときにも適用される。

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1.What is the difference between the sentences?
“Some” is used in an affirmative sentence and “any” is used in a negative or interrogative it.
So, “any” is used with “not”  or “?”.
2.Can you think of other examples which would show the difference?
There are some people on the bus./There aren’t any people on the bus.
3. How could you explain the [...]

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1. The difference between the 2 sentences is whether a affirmative sentence or a negative sentence. “Some” is used in a affirmative sentence but in negative and interrogative sentence, “some” changes into “any”. And more one important thing about “any” is “not…any” means “no” : it means strong negation.
2. Other examples which would show the [...]

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