Anyone vs. Someone

any anyone assertive pro-forms indefinite pronouns non-assertive pro-forms some someone

'Anyone' and 'someone' are both indefinite pronouns that refer to an unidentified person. But despite their similarities, are they identical?

"Anyone" vs. "Someone" in the English Grammar

Main Difference in Meaning

We can use 'someone' and 'anyone' interchangeably. However, they are not quite the same when it comes to meaning.

'Anyone'

'Anyone' as a pronoun means any person.
For example, imagine you would like help from a person, and you do not care who that person is, in this case, you can ask for help from anyone.

Anyone who's a fan of fantasy books should read this book.

'Someone'

'Someone' as a pronoun means some person. As opposed to 'anyone,' 'someone' is a little more specific. However, keep in mind that it still is some person 'of unspecified or indefinite identity'.

We need someone to teach us English grammar.

Main Difference in Statements

In a question, both can be used, but 'any' is usually used in negative statements, 'some' is used in affirmative statements.

Negative	Affirmative
I didn't know anyone who is British.	I know someone who is British.
She doesn't need anyone to help her.	She needs someone to help her.

Main Difference in Questions

'Someone' is more specific. When we use 'someone' in a question, we are subtly implying that we are sure there is a person responding to our question.

But 'anyone' is more general. It means we are asking a question without particularly expecting an answer.

Is anyone here?

In the first sentence, we do not assume someone will answer us. We're pretty sure there's no one there.

Is someone here?

In the second sentence, we somehow are implying that we suspect somebody might be there.

Let us look at another example:

Has someone touched my food?

Here, you actually mean at least one person has touched your food.

Has anyone touched my food?

This is a general question you ask a group of people, without any implications or hints.

Bottom Line

When you want to talk about a specific person, but you still do not wish to say whom, instead of 'anyone', you should use 'someone', because it is more specific.

I'm going out with someone.

Here, you cannot say 'I'm going out with anyone', because you are going out with a specific person.

Comments

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