any

Used in questions, negatives, or conditions to ask about or express even a small difference.

• Do you feel any better?
• The journey wasn’t any shorter.
• If it gets any colder, we’ll go inside.

How to use it: any + comparative adjective/adverb (Can you walk any faster?); any different (Would a new chair feel any different?)

Similar words: at all

Common phrases: any better, any more, any different

Used mainly in negatives to mean to even a small degree.

• It doesn’t hurt any.
• Did the medicine help any?
• The noise didn’t bother her any.

Similar words: at all

Common phrases: help any, hurt any, sleep any

Used to ask about or deny even a small amount or number of something.

• Do you have any water?
• We haven’t got any eggs.
• Is there any milk left?

How to use it: any + plural or uncountable noun (Are there any clean cups?)

Similar words: some

Common phrases: any money, any questions, any food, any evidence

It does not matter which person or thing you choose.

• Choose any seat.
• You can call me any day.
• Any child can join the club.

Similar words: whichever, every

Common phrases: any day, any question, any seat

Used with a time word to say something is expected very soon, without an exact time.

• The bus could arrive any minute.
• We expect a reply any day now.
• The baby might wake up any moment.

How to use it: any + time word + now (She’ll be here any second now.)

Common phrases: any minute now, any day now, any moment

One or more people or things, without saying which or how many.

• Are there any left?
• These seats are free; choose any.
• I wanted some apples, but the shop didn’t have any.

How to use it: any of + plural noun/pronoun (Do you know any of these people?)

Similar words: some

Opposites: none

Common phrases: any of them, have any, choose any