ESL Inventory

A, An, Some, and Any: Examples & Exercises

We use a, an, some, and any before nouns.

  • A and an are used with singular countable nouns.
  • Some and any are used with plural nouns and uncountable nouns.
A, an, some, and any infographic by ESL Inventory explaining the use of articles and quantifiers with singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns. Includes examples with apples, plates, and chocolate to help ESL learners choose the correct determiner.
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WordUseExample
aSingular countable noun before a consonant sounda dog
anSingular countable noun before a vowel soundan apple
somePlural or uncountable nouns in positive sentencessome books, some water
anyPlural or uncountable nouns in questions and negativesany books, any water
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Examples in a Dialogue: a, an, some, and any

Anna: Do we have a shopping list?
Ben: Yes, I have a list.
Anna: Do we need any milk?
Ben: Yes, we need some milk. We also need a loaf of bread.
Anna: Do we need any fruit?
Ben: Yes, we need an apple for my smoothie.
Anna: Just one apple?
Ben: No, let’s buy some apples . Let’s buy a bag of oranges too.
Anna: Do we need any coffee?
Ben: Yes, we need some coffee.
Anna: Do we have any sugar?
Ben: No, we have some sugar at home.
Anna: Okay! I think we have everything now.
Ben: Great! Let’s go to the supermarket.

A, An, Some, and Any Exercises

EXERCISE: a, an, some, any – Is it correct?

Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect.

1 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

We bought some bread.

2 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

She has an umbrella.

3 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

There is a avocado in the fridge.

4 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

They ate some rice for dinner.

5 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

There isn’t any milk.

6 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

Do you have any questions?

7 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

I need a pencil.

8 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

I don’t have some money.

9 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

There is a apple on the table.

10 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

He wants an sandwich.

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EXERCISE: a, an, some, any – Complete the sentence

Complete the sentence with the correct word:

1 / 10

We need ___ water for the plants.

2 / 10

There is ___ egg in the fridge.

3 / 10

He is ___ actor.

4 / 10

I have ___ orange in my bag.

5 / 10

Do you have ___ brothers or sisters?

6 / 10

I bought ___ cheese and ___ tomatoes.

7 / 10

There isn’t ___ sugar in the kitchen.

8 / 10

We don’t have ___ clean plates.

9 / 10

She wants ___ new phone.

10 / 10

Can I have ___ coffee, please?

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