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any

English translation: (no modifier needed)

20:57 Feb 25, 2012
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
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.
English term or phrase: any
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?
gilberto1
Selected answer:(no modifier needed)
Explanation:
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.
Selected response from:

Elizabeth Faracini
United States
Local time: 12:54
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +10(no modifier needed)
Elizabeth Faracini
4 +5don't use any here
Mel Willetts (X)
4 +2generally no "any" in positive
Yvonne Gallagher


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
don't use any here


Explanation:
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?"

Mel Willetts (X)
Sweden
Local time: 18:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SwedishSwedish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +10
(no modifier needed)


Explanation:
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.

Elizabeth Faracini
United States
Local time: 12:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
generally no "any" in positive


Explanation:
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

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 17:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 55

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Judith Hehir
0 min
  -> Thank you!
agree  Alison Sparks (X)
11 hrs
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