Category: Class

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Generally, some is used in positive sentences while any is used in negative sentences.

Any is also used when the meaning in the sentence is negative.

They fired without any warning. (They didn’t give a warning before firing.)

She refuses to do anything. (She doesn’t do anything.)

Hardly anybody noticed the new signage. (Almost nobody noticed)

Some and any are both used in questions to talk about someone or something that you know exists

Are you waiting for somebody?

Do you know anybody here?

Some is used in questions to offer something or ask for things.

Would you like some coffee?

Can I have some money, please?

Any is used in most questions especially when you don’t know if that person or thing exists.

Do you have any equipment?

I can’t find my mobile phone. Has anybody seen it?

Any is often used after if.

If there are any questions, please raise your hands.

If anyone calls, tell them I’m out of the office.

Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.

Any is used if the idea of if is implied in the sentence.

We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this issue caused you. (if the issue caused any inconvenience).

Anyone who wishes to take on this project, please see me in my office. (if there is anyone)

Any can be used to mean “it doesn’t matter which”.

You can choose any color. They all look good on you anyway.

Which flight schedule should we book? – I don’t care. Any schedule is fine with me.

Compare: something and anything:

A: I’m bored. I want to do something.

B: What would you like to do?

A: It doesn’t matter. Anything. (=something, but it doesn’t matter what)

Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone are singular words.

Someone was asking for you earlier but you were out for lunch.

Across the world, when somebody becomes of age, they celebrate it with a big party.

There wasn’t anybody/anyone in the conference room.

However, use them/they/their after somebody/someone/anybody/anyone.

Someone left their laptop in the break room. (=his or her laptop)

If anybody wants to go home early, they can. (=he or she can)

Two of the most confusing words in the English language is ‘as’ and ‘like’. This is because both are used to compare actions or situations. However, it is important to note some significant differences.

USES OF ‘AS’

• to talk about job or function

I worked as a marketing specialist for 4 years after graduating from the university.
She used her credit card as a key to unlock her door.

• to make comparisons (as adjective as)

You always have to be as efficient as all your other colleagues.
It’s as good as it gets.

• to make comparisons (as conjunction followed by an independent clause)

Claire attended Harvard University, as her mother had before her.
He’s a talented musician, as most of his friends are.

USES OF ‘LIKE’

• preposition followed by a noun or a pronoun

She slept like a baby all night.
All of my friends are much like her.
His children talk just like their mother.

• to make comparisons (Like and As if/As though)

She looks as if she’s been to war.
They danced as though no one’s watching.
It looks like your bag handle’s going to break.

Some expressions that use ‘as’:

As you know, our boss is going to be on leave for two weeks.
They tried using the application as you suggested but the result still wasn’t good.
As we agreed, the team will be attending the training all week.
Our competitor’s proposal is the same as ours!

Some verbs cannot be used in the progressive tenses. They are called non-action verbs.
Non-action verbs often point to emotions, relationships, senses, or thoughts.

The most common non-action verbs are:

•adore – I adore those shoes!
•agree – She agrees with his thoughts on the story.
•appear – He appears to be sad.
•appreciate – I appreciated your help very much.
•astonish – We were astonished at how much she had aged.
•be – Who is he supposed to be?
•believe – Do you believe me now?
•belong – He doesn’t belong to this world.
•concern – This is an issue that should concern everyone.
•consist – The cake consists of raw eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.
•contain – Each large crate contains 12 boxes.
•cost – The trip will cost you $1000.
•deny – Did you deny your love for him?
•depend – We are depending on you.
•deserve – You deserve a holiday.
•detest – I detest any kind of cruelty.
•disagree – I disagree with you about that.
•dislike – I dislike the idea.
•doubt – He may come back tomorrow with the money, but I doubt it.
•equal – 16 ounces equals one pound.
•feel – I feel happy.
•fit – The refrigerator won’t fit in our kitchen.
•hate – Kelly hates her teacher.
•have – I have a problem.
•hear – Can you hear me?
•imagine – Can you imagine how it feels to be blind?
•impress – She impressed us with her sincerity.
•include – The hotel room charge includes breakfast.
•involve – The accident involved two cars and a truck.
•know – I know what you did.
•lack – If you lack anything, ask for it.
•like – I like you.
•loathe – I loathe doing housework.
•look – I look fat in the picture.
•love – I love shopping.
•matter – It doesn’t matter.
•mean – What do you mean?
•mind – I don’t mind.
•need – I don’t need my phone.
•owe – He owes her an apology.
•own – Their family owns this house.
•please – You can’t please me.
•possess – She possesses an unusual talent.
•prefer – I prefer coffee over tea.
•promise – I promise, I’m not lying.
•realize – Suddenly I realized (that) I was lost.
•recognize – I didn’t recognize you.
•remember – Do you remember me?
•resemble – You resemble your mother very closely.
•satisfy – I am not really satisfied with the job you did.
•see – Can you see what is happening?
•seem – You seem nervous.
•smell – Just smell this perfume!
•sound – You sound great!
•suppose – I suppose you’re right.
•surprise – The news surprised everyone.
•taste – The food tastes good.
•think – Everybody thinks she’s the best dancer.
•understand – I don’t understand you.
•want – I want to eat.
•weigh – I weigh 120 pounds.
•wish – I wish for a new car.