ANY: Do you have some pencils? vs. Do you have any pencil(s)?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Which is correct?

Do you have some pencils?
Do you have any pencils?
Do you have any pencil?

Thanks…

2

Hi planetypus

  1. Do you have some pencils?
  2. Do you have any pencils?
  3. Do you have any pencil?

The second sentence is standard and also the most typical. It’s a straighforward, neutral question.

The first sentence might be used if, for example, the person asking the question is expecting the response to be ‘yes’ (and also expecting there to be more than one pencil).

The third sentence might be used in the same sense as “Do you have any pencil whatsoever?” / “Do you have any pencil at all – no matter what kind?” / “Don’t you have even one single pencil?”

Amy

3

Amy,

Thanks a lot for giving the distinction.

4

If you’re asking the question with the aim of borrowing a pencil, you might say this:

“Do you have a pencil?” or “Do you have a pencil I could borrow?”

5

Searching Google for the terms:

“Do you have any” = 15+Million hits
“Do you have some” = 198+ Million hits

Language is always changing…

Dennis