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Mehranyazdi1980
May I have some tea? Or May I have any tea? Which one is correct ?
It is grammar that we should use any in questions . But why we could use some in question? In upper statements.
Jul 19, 2012 5:53 AM
Answers · 2
1
There's some interesting meanings in the two sentences you posted.
"May I have some tea?" is a polite way to ask for tea, true, but the connotation means "may I have some of the tea you're having?"
If you instead said, "May I have any tea?" you seem to imply that you don't expect to get the tea your host drinks, but instead some other tea available -- probably cheaper and lower quality. Asking for "any tea" would be expected if you were an unwelcomed, or unexpected guest.
July 19, 2012
1
Mehranyazdi1980,
We tend to use "some" instead of "any" when we expect a positive answer to the questions we are asking or when we are offering or requesting something that is already there.
May I have some tea?... instead of... May I have any tea?
Would you like some tea?
July 19, 2012
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Mehranyazdi1980
Language Skills
English, Persian (Farsi)
Learning Language
English
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