How can the traditional classroom rule for "some and any"?

English as a Second Language What do you want to talk about?
1

How can the traditional classroom rule for “some and any” account for examples such as these?

Anything you can do I can do better.
Come round any time.

2

What would you call the “traditional classroom rule”, M?

Something like this?

  1. “Some” – positive statements; polite questions.
  2. “Any” – all other questions; negative statements.

MrP

3

I know of no other. Do you?

4

What about this, as a general rule of thumb:

  1. Some X: X is limited or restricted in some way.
  2. Any X: X is unlimited or unrestricted.
  3. Any X: applies to all.
  4. Some X: applies to a part.

?

MrP

5

I’d prefer:

  1. Some X: X is limited or restricted in some way.
  2. Any X: X is unlimited or unrestricted.
  3. Any X: applies to all or none.
  4. Some X: applies to a part.

Nice to know you’ve been listening though.

6

That’s interesting. What would be an example where it applied to “none”?

MrP

7

I don’t like any of Britney’s songs.

8

The “none” in that example derives from the “not” in “don’t”:

¬ any

MrP

9

I think not.

“I don’t like some/any of your posts.”

10
  1. I like any of your posts. (Each one is wonderful.)
  2. I like some of your posts. (A few are wonderful.)

Cf.

  1. I don’t like any of your posts. (Each one is not wonderful.)
  2. I don’t like some of your posts. (Some are not wonderful.)

It’s just the “not” from “don’t”, old thing. Nothing special.

MrP

11

It’s just the interpretation thing, old bore.

12

And would your definition apply to all derivations of “some” and “any” (“anyone”, “somebody”, etc.)?

MrP

13

I don’t know. Shall we test it?

14

Let’s see:

  1. This could be done by somebody. (At least one person is able to do it, i.e. a part of a whole.)

  2. This could be done by anybody. (No restrictions; all in the group could do it.)

What do you think?

MrP

15

Sounds fine. Next?

16

Is that the whole story, M? Or is there something that we’re missing?

MrP

17

Are you looking for a general rule, or more? Do you want to go beyond the basic semantic meaning of those words?

18

That depends. Will we still have to go on searching for another 20 years?

MrP

19

Well, it took 200 years to get beyond some hard-nosed, poorly thought out, grammar rules. Are you short of time?

20

What would be an example of a hard-nosed, poorly thought-out grammar rule from 200 years ago?

MrP