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ESL forum >
Ask for help > HELP PLEASE
HELP PLEASE
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vcjr
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HELP PLEASE
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I�ve got a doubt. I found a sentence online about SOME and ANY that puzzled me. Here it is: COULD YOU CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY-SOME CALLS ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE? The site says that the answer is ANY,. It sounds ANY to me, but according to the rules, it should be SOME as it is a clear REQUEST. Can anyone help me on this matter? Thanks a lot.
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3 Jun 2019
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Stasia06
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Both are possible. Some means that one presumes a certain number of messages whereas any would mean that you�re not sure that there are ANY!! |
4 Jun 2019
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yanogator
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In this sentence, if you use "some", it implies that you would be surprised if there weren�t any messages. For example, if you have been away for a week, you might make the request using "some". However, even in this situation, I think a native speaker would more likely use "any", Usually, though, you have no expectations, so "any" is the correct choice in most situations. I think you�re confused about the specific rule you refer to. In sentences like "Would you bring me some grapes?" and "Could I have some coffee?", the request is for the item. In your sentence, the request is to check, which is a different situation. Bruce |
4 Jun 2019
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vcjr
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Thanks a lot for your enlightening posts. |
4 Jun 2019
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