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The difference between some/any and no article

Use with uncountable and plural nouns​

Uncountable and plural nouns can often be used either with some/any or with no article. There is not always a great difference of meaning.

  • We need (some) cheese.
  • I didn’t buy (any) eggs.

Some is used especially in affirmative sentences; any is more common in questions and negatives (for details, (see here).

some/any or no article?​

We prefer some/any when we are thinking about limited but rather indefinite numbers or quantities – when we don’t know, care or say exactly how much/many. We prefer no article when we are thinking about unlimited numbers or quantities, or not thinking about numbers/quantities at all. Compare:

  • We’ve planted some roses in the garden. (A limited number; the speaker doesn’t say how many.)
    I like roses. (No idea of number.)
  • We got talking to some students. (A limited number.)
    Our next-door neighbours are students. (The main idea is classification, not number.)
  • I’ve just bought some books on computing. (A limited number.)
    There were books on the desk, on the floor, on the chairs, … (A large number.)
  • Would you like some more rice? (An indefinite amount – as much as the listener wants.)
    We need rice, sugar, eggs, butter, beer, and toilet paper. (The speaker is thinking just of the things that need to be bought, not of the amounts.)
  • Is there any water in the fridge? (The speaker wants a limited amount.)
    Is there water on the moon? (The interest is in the existence of water, not the amount.)
  • This heating system hardly uses any oil. (The interest is in the amount.)
    This heating system doesn’t use oil. (The interest is in the type of fuel, not the amount.)

We do not use some/any when it is clear exactly how much/many we are talking about. Compare:

  • You’ve got some great books.
  • You’ve got pretty toes. (A definite number – ten. You’ve got some pretty toes would suggest that the speaker is not making clear how many of them are pretty – perhaps six or seven!)
note

For full details of the uses of some, (see here); for any, (see here).