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Feb 25, 2012 20:57
12 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term

any

Non-PRO English Other Linguistics Thank you all. What about the following sentences? (1) It's not true that he did any/some work on Sunday. (2) It's not true that if you ask him, he'll do any/some work on Sunday. (3) It's not true that he'll do any/some work on Sunday, if you ask him.
Should I say "It is not true that if John buys this car, he’ll have some problems with it" or
"It is not true that if John buys this car, he’ll have any problems with it"? If both are possible, what is the difference in meaning or use?
Responses
5 +10 (no modifier needed)
4 +5 don't use any here
4 +2 generally no "any" in positive
Change log

Feb 26, 2012 07:51: Jim Tucker (X) changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Feb 26, 2012 13:44: gilberto1 changed "Field (write-in)" from "(none)" to "Thanks for the answers given up to now. I agree that the sentence was not well chosen for the use of some/any in this type of sentence. What about the following ones? (1) It\'s not true that he did any/some work during the holidays. "

Feb 26, 2012 13:55: gilberto1 changed "Field (write-in)" from "Thanks for the answers given up to now. I agree that the sentence was not well chosen for the use of some/any in this type of sentence. What about the following ones? (1) It\'s not true that he did any/some work during the holidays. " to "Thank you all. What about the following sentences? (1) It\'s not true that he did any/some work on Sunday. (2) It\'s not true that if you ask him, he\'ll do any/some work on Sunday. (3) It\'s not true that he\'ll do any/some work on Sunday, if you ask him."

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Lindsay Spratt, JaneTranslates, Jim Tucker (X)

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Discussion

B D Finch Feb 27, 2012:
Sense? It would make sense for somebody to give an opinion that "If John buys this car, he’ll have problems with it." The speaker might know or strongly suspect that there is something wrong with the car. However, the opposite opinion is not at all sensible as to say that John would not have problems with the car involves making a negative prediction about the future.
Sheila Wilson Feb 26, 2012:
Wereen? Sorry, Sunday evening is not the time to focus the brain :-). You might do better to look at the bottom of the screen.
Sheila Wilson Feb 26, 2012:
Editors' changes Not entirely sure how these work, but if you look at the bottom of the wereen you'll find supplementary questions from the Asker. In answer, I'd say that in each case, the part of the sentence concerned (the clause concerned) is in the affirmative. "Some" is correct.

Responses

+10
46 mins
Selected

(no modifier needed)

I would not put any modifier in this sentence, i.e., "It is not true that if John buys this car, he’ll have problems with it" or, as an alternative, "It is not true that John will have problems with this car if he buys it".
I agree with Melinda's explanation of the difference between "some" and "any". However, I do not think you should use "some" either.
With no modifier, as I've suggested, you are referring to problems in general.
Peer comment(s):
agree Veronika McLaren : what timing!
2 mins
Indeed! For some reason I saw your comment after I'd posted.
agree Judith Hehir
9 mins
Thank you
agree Charles Davis : I quite agree. "Any" is ungrammatical and "some" is unidiomatic.
36 mins
Thanks
agree Lara Barnett
1 hr
agree Trudy Peters
2 hrs
agree Lindsay Spratt
3 hrs
agree JaneTranslates
3 hrs
agree Jenna Porter-Jacek
5 hrs
agree Sheila Wilson
22 hrs
agree eski
1 day 1 hr
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+5
19 mins

don't use any here

any should only be used with a negative, so "I'm sure John won't have any problems" but never "John will have any problems" (some problems). In a question you could use either, so "Will John have any problems? Will JOhn have some problems?"
Peer comment(s):
agree Jack Doughty
21 mins
thanks
agree Veronika McLaren : no article needed for "problems"
27 mins
thanks
agree Judith Hehir
35 mins
thanks
agree Lara Barnett
2 hrs
thanks
agree Sheila Wilson : I think a non-native is safer using "any" for questions other than offers ("can I have some...; would you like some...?), but Veronika is right - no article needed in this context
22 hrs
thanks
Something went wrong...
+2
54 mins

generally no "any" in positive

see this rule explained here

http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/rules/some.htm

both sentences you give as examples look a bit strange. I'd rewrite them as something like:

It's not true that John will have problems if he buys this car

or
it's true that John will have no problems if he buys this car
or
it's unlikely that John will have any problems if he buys this car



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2012-02-25 21:54:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I see another answer has been posted. I also meant to say that I disagree with Melinda's use of "some" in the question form. See rule above
Peer comment(s):
agree Judith Hehir
0 min
Thank you!
agree Alison Sparks (X)
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
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