Do you have (any) pens?

[Sitifan]

1. Do you have any pens? Yes, I have some pens.
2. Do you have pens? Yes, I have pens.
What's the difference between #1 and #2?
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[Haihao]

I feel there are different differences these two expressions would make in different contexts. I also feel the basic difference is the 1st could imply the asker wants to borrow one if the listener has some whereas the 2nd is less emphasized on this implication.

[Jamie (K)]

#1 and #2 are functionally more or less the same, and you could ask them in the same situations. However, I think that in #1 the person asking the question may have some doubt as to whether the other person has pens.

For example, in a food store you might ask, "Do you have any pens?" because it's not unusual for food stores to carry pens also, but it's not a sure thing. Besides it not being certain, there might not be much of a selection, and you may have to take ANY kind of pens they have.

In a drugstore, or a stationery shop, you might ask, "Do you have pens?" because you're relatively sure they'll have them. In that situation it's the same as asking, "Where are your pens?" With the "any" missing, there might be an expectation that the other person (the store clerk, etc.) will have a larger selection of pens to choose from.

However, I think you could use either of those sentences in place of the other one, and in any situation.

[Haihao]

Could "Do you have any pens?" be a little more polite than the other?

[Sitifan]

1. Do you have any pens?
3. Do you have some pens?
What's the difference in meaning between #1 and #3?
_________________
Thank you very much for your reply.

[Haihao]

1. Do you have any pens? -> The questioner has no idea whether the questionee has any pens or not.

3. Do you have some pens? -> The questioner has some expectation that the questionee has some pens although he/she is not sure.

[Jamie (K)]

1. Do you have any pens? -> The questioner probably has no idea whether the questionee has any pens or not.

3. Do you have some pens? -> The questioner probably has some expectation that the questionee has some pens although he/she is not sure.

And functionally the two questions are identical.