Meaning & use
any vs every
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrasetechnical
A comparison of two determiners: 'any' means one or more without restriction, while 'every' means all members of a group.
Grammar: 'Any' is common in questions and negatives; 'every' is common in positive statements about all members.
Patterns
- any + singular or plural noun
- every + singular noun
- any of + plural noun
- every one of + plural noun
Do you have any questions? (You may have none, one, or many.)
Every student in the class passed the exam. (All of them, one by one.)
There aren't any cookies left, but every cake is still here.
phrasefixed phrasetechnical
A teaching topic explaining that 'any' focuses on an open choice, while 'every' focuses on completeness.
Grammar: Used as a heading or study topic in grammar books and classrooms.
Patterns
- the difference between any and every
- any vs every in questions
Today's lesson is on 'any vs every' in questions.
The worksheet explains 'any vs every' with clear examples.
Common combinations
- any questions
- Are there any questions?
- every student
- Every student received a book.
- any of them
- I don't know any of them.
- every one of us
- Every one of us was tired.
Word family
Commonly confused: any vs every or some?
any vs every vs some
'Some' is used in positive statements and offers; 'any' is used in questions and negatives. 'Every' is different again: it means all.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
In negative sentences, 'any' is the correct determiner. 'Some' is used in positive statements, and 'every' does not fit uncountable 'money' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “any vs every”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.