Do you have any candy? May I have some?
some and any are words used when the exact amount is not important. I never think about when to use one or the other. I just use what sounds correct. After some research, I find that there are rules.
some is used in positive sentences
I have some gold coins.
any can be used in positive sentences when used as it doesn’t matter which:
Here are the gold coins. You can have any one you want.
any is used in positive sentences following never, hardly or without:
We never have any gold coins.
We hardly have any gold coins left.
We now find ourselves without any gold coins.
any is used in negative sentences:
I do not have any gold coins.
any can be used in a positive sentence when the sense of it is negative
I refused to give them any gold coins. (I did not give them any gold coins.)
any is used in questions:
Do you have any gold coins?
some is used in questions where we hope the answer is “yes”:
Did grandpa give you some of his gold coins?
some is used in questions when offering or requesting
Could I have some of those gold coins, please?
By the way, the title of this post fits these rules:
Do you have any candy? (Used in a question.)
May I have some? (Used in a question that is requesting.)
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