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#2 (permalink) Tue Oct 12, 2004 21:47 pm Some, any, little and a little |
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Dear Imran,
Many thanks for your interesting question. As a rule we use any in questions and negative statements while we use some in positive sentences.
We use a little sentences with a positive and little with a negative meaning.
For example:
There is a little sugar in my cup. There is only little hope (not much) to win the race.
This is a very simplified explanation as there are more possible options.
Let us know if you any further questions. Regards Torsten _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10059 Location: EU
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#3 (permalink) Sat Feb 05, 2005 13:05 pm Question |
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| we can say: would you like some coffee? why we can not say: do you want some sugar in your coffe? |
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Gary Guest
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#4 (permalink) Sat Feb 05, 2005 16:26 pm Some |
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It's really a question of quantity. When you ask: Do you want some coffee? - it is the main drink as also tea/chocolate/beer. But when you ask: Do you want any sugar? you are talking about a small amount because obviously it is a smaller quantity than the coffee.
Hope this helps _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story In Order |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Wed Apr 13, 2005 15:35 pm The use of some/any |
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| I understand your explanation about the quantity, however Do you want any sugar?is still an offer and some is more usual in offers than any. So I do not think some is a wrong answer to this question. |
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edgar Guest
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#6 (permalink) Wed Apr 13, 2005 15:41 pm Some any |
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This is not really an offer. To ask the question: Do you want some sugar? sounds very strange to me because it suggests to me that sugar is the alternative to the coffee whereas the sugar is merely a part of the drink. _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story A spring in your step |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#7 (permalink) Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:24 pm Some, any, little and a little |
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Don't know if this might be of any help, but I've come across the following saying:
We use "some" in questions when we want to encourage people to say "yes" or we want to appear especially polite.
I think this question is pretty -neutral- because we don't expect people to say yes (in fact, we don't know if he / she wants sugar in her tea at all)
Have you got any brothers or sisters ? seems to be neutral too, we don't expect a certain answer |
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Michael New Member
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Leonding, Austria
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#8 (permalink) Thu May 12, 2005 6:29 am Some, any, little and a little |
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If you were to rephrase the question, i.e Do you want ......... sugar in your coffee? ( I would use some ) Rephrase to Would you like some sugar in your coffee? Would be more correct than Would you like any sugar in you coffee! And When you ask some sugar the person would reply yes, no , or 1 or 2 spoon / cubes …. Etc And when you ask any sugar the reply would be yes or no , which would need to be followed with the next question How much . So though I don’t think “any” is wrong in this context, "Some sugar" is more appropriate! |
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Rohit Guest
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#9 (permalink) Sun Jun 26, 2005 3:32 am Sugar? |
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Neither "some" nor "any" contribute to the sentence. "Would you like sugar in your coffe?" is the correct answer, though the correct answer is not provided as a choice.
So much for multiple-choice and language mavens, eh?
May I suggest that the teachers here refer to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style? I'll quote, if I may-- "Eliminate unnecessary words! Eliminate unnecessary words! Eliminate unnecessary words!" |
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Jonmark Guest
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#10 (permalink) Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:05 am Some/any |
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As the creator of the 300+ tests, I feel I must speak up for multiple choice questions. What exactly do you mean by so much for multiple choice ...? On the particular point I suggested any as the answer to indicate that there is sugar here and the person is being asked whether they want any of it. _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Word Story: Weather |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#11 (permalink) Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:50 am Sugar? |
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| Jonmark wrote: |
"Would you like sugar in your coffe?" is the correct answer, though the correct answer is not provided as a choice.
So much for multiple-choice and language mavens, eh?
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Wouldn't it be more correct to say 'a correct answer'. It is certainly not the only one. Just because a word could be eliminated, it does not mean that using it is incorrect. |
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Tdol New Member
Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Phnom Penh
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#12 (permalink) Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:39 am This is great! |
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| This is great! I have fun while learning. Thank you, very much! |
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Nikola Yordanov Guest
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#13 (permalink) Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:13 am some or any |
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Please activate Javascript and Adobe Flash for view MP3 player | 24 views |
Hi Guys! This is my opinion on this..In Grammar Tests, it's best to follow rules and apply them if one wants to get a good score..in ordinary conversations on the other hand, "Do you want some sugar in your coffee?" is comprehensible..  |
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T.Ruth New Member

Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Baguio City, Philippines
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#14 (permalink) Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:24 am Some any |
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| Alan wrote: |
| This is not really an offer. To ask the question: Do you want some sugar? sounds very strange to me because it suggests to me that sugar is the alternative to the coffee whereas the sugar is merely a part of the drink. |
I do not think sugar is an alternative as the sentence clearly states that sugar is being offered with the coffee. I believe the correct answer is 'some sugar'.
If somebody asks me if I want 'any' sugar, I would assume that there are many types of sugar and I have to pick one of the types. |
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Khetu New Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 9
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#15 (permalink) Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:18 am Some, any, little and a little |
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| As Allen and T.Ruth suggest, it is better to learn grammar first and then use proper English in one's tests and written papers. Use one's own preferred constructions in local conversations. If you were too grammatical among your business associates and friends, you would lose them. best of luck, nanucbe. |
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Nanucbe I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 132 Location: USA
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| Meaning of idiom 'in one's birthday suit' | Idiom: he was down on his luck |