AEE 2687: Learn English Anywhere, Anytime, With Anyone

This is an all-ers English podcast episode 2687 learn English anywhere anytime with anyone Welcome to the all-years English podcast downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on Nexion not perfection with your American host Michelle Kaplan the New York radio girl and Aubrey Carter the Isles Whiz coming to you from Arizona and New York City USA To get real-time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized Vocabulary list try the all-years English app for iOS in Android start your seven-day free trial at all your's English calm forward slash app On today's episode Aubrey and Michelle answer a listener question about the word any find out eight ways We use this word today to enhance your conversations in English Sometimes English learners think their problem is vocabulary, but often the issue is something deeper It's hesitation you pause to translate you pause to check grammar You pause to search for the perfect word those small pauses add up and interrupt the natural flow of conversation You can respond with ease without Constantly analyzing every sentence our free two-minute fluency quiz will show you your current level and what skills You need to improve go to all ears English calm slash fluency score. That's all ears English calm slash F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E Hello, Michelle, how are you? I am good Aubrey Aubrey. Do you have any plans this weekend? Yes, we're getting together with some very good friends that we don't see very often They live here in town, but they're so busy She's an attorney an adoption attorney actually and they travel a ton and they're just so busy So we don't see them nearly as often as we'd like and we're getting together with them So I'm excited. We'll go to dinner. What about you any fun plans? Do I have any fun plans? Good question. Oh, yes. My family is coming to town So yes, we are gonna do some fun things. I'm sure and Go maybe explore the area. I'm gonna show them around to go to some restaurants. Yeah, so it should be fun Well, you'll notice that we both said any when we're asking about plans This is the most often we'll say any fun plans. Do you have any fun plans? We got a great question about this word any We use it so many ways in English. We're gonna dive into this today Do you want to read the question for us Michelle? Sure, so this question came to us on a YouTube It's from bio-domy 1893 and this listener says hello after the eight different ways to use some in English Episode I would be interested in eight different ways to use any in English any is far more difficult For me. Thank you. Great question. Yes So yeah, we did do an episode in April of 2025 If you want to listen to the episode about some it was episode 23 87 eight different ways to use some in English So check that out That's a really good to think about these two words Right together because they can get confusing. Yeah, and we do use them both so many different ways They have so many functions in English, right? So I'm excited to dive into this But guys be sure to hit follow wherever you listen to the podcast both on YouTube, right? We have the all yours English YouTube channel if you like to watch the podcast on video and also the podcast Wherever you find your podcasts just search all yours English and hit follow and let's dive in here, Michelle We have eight different ways to use any that we're going to share today and the first is Questions just like Michelle and I both asked any fun plans this weekend We use any this way to check someone's availability or to ask about plans Yes, exactly And yeah, you'll notice like we yeah, we could say do you have any right fun plans But in a in a kind of more casual way. Oh any fun plans Yeah, we chop that off, right? Do you have any fun plans this weekend? We'll just say any fun plans or even Yep, if I were to ask you like do you have any peanut butter if I'm like borrowing something from you Then we could also just be like any peanut butter over there, right? It was just cut off the first of the question So yeah, it's neutral open ended and you don't know the answer right you when you ask me any fun plans You don't know right Which is often what differentiates it from some right? I might say like oh Do you have some peanut butter? It's like I know that you have some I'm asking for some really but any Does employ imply more often that we don't know I'm asking if you have any of something. Yeah, yes Yes, so here's an example Do you have any free time today? So sometimes we can chop off the beginning, but not always we could do a whole follow-up of that probably right? And then is there any coffee left you could for sure any coffee left or Do you have any questions, right? And you could also just be like any question any questions. Yeah Great so yeah questions and then the second way is any plus noun As a negative so meaning zero or none so for example Okay, it emphasizes that the amount is zero there There's none right so for example. I don't have any money Exactly or she didn't give me any advice exactly so if you think about the difference between saying I don't have money Or she didn't give me advice adding any here Emphasizes like absolutely none none at all. Yeah, that's an interesting use where we'll use it to emphasize Yes, yes, then what's the third way? All right? No the third is when there's no restriction like it doesn't matter which one It could be any of something you're giving someone sort of an open choice for example pick any seat They're all the same. So you're saying any one of these doesn't matter which one Uh-huh, or you can call me at any time Yeah, you might say that if if your friend is going through a hard time and you're saying oh you can call me at any time Like I will always be there for you right? So it doesn't matter which time or I'm free any day So I might say if I'm trying to make plans with a friend. Oh, I'm I'm free any day this week next week It's a little busier. Yes, and this again emphasizes that it doesn't matter anyone because you could say like call me sometime Or I'll be free someday very different meaning right with any we're wanting to emphasize that any day would work any time Would work. Yes, right Let's move on to the fourth way. It is any plus comparatives So this actually strengthens the comparisons a little bit. So for example, this isn't any better than before Or are you feeling any stronger today? So yeah, that's a great way to emphasize you could just say this isn't better than before But when we add that any it gives emphasis, right? This really isn't any better That's right. Okay. What about number five? Aubrey all right five we follow any with either longer or Further, so this means something was happening before but is not going to continue and it's comparing the past Situation to the present. So for example, she can't stay here any longer or I don't want to discuss this any further Yeah, and so this is a fun way that we use any to shit just to share that something is not going to happen any longer Yes, and something important to note is that the word any more is often used in the same way But it becomes one word. So for example, she doesn't work here anymore or I don't talk to him anymore Exactly, it replaces either any longer any further will just replace that with any more one word Have you ever listened to native speakers and thought I understand the words, but I still feel slightly lost That's because real English conversations include more than vocabulary. There's speed. There's connected speech There are cultural references and casual phrases your brain has to process all of this in real-time If conversations sometimes feel overwhelming It may simply mean you're ready for the next level of training Find out your exact level with our quick free fluency quiz. Go to allersenglish.com/fluencyscore That's allersenglish.com slash F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E. (upbeat music) All right, number six, if any. So this is interesting. This usually comes at the end of a sentence. It's an add-on, and it suggests that the amount may be zero, and it's interesting how we use it to soften a statement. It sort of sounds cautious, right? - Yeah, it does. It does sound a little cautious, right? So for example, there were very few mistakes if any. So we could have just cut it off. We don't need to add if any. It's just kind of an add-on, like we said. Or he showed little interest if any. - Yeah, when I add this, it's more that, I'm sort of hedging my bets. I'm saying, I think there wasn't very much of this. And as I finished my statement, I realized that your lay have been none. And so I'm almost correct. - I was just gonna say that, right? 'Cause you can either say, like, there were very few mistakes. In fact, I don't think there were any that's so long, instead we'll just add if any. And that clarifies that actually there may have been none, but I'm saying it in very few words. - Right, and this is kind of a very stream of consciousness thing to add. It's like, in the moment, you're like, oh, if any, right? It's something very real time. I have a lot of those in English because we do think as we speak, right? We don't always know the end of what we're about to say. And so we're adjusting as we go. And this is a little chunk that we have to add on that means a lot of words, right? That impact there might be none. - Yeah, exactly. So that one's, I like this one. It's very interesting. So here's the seventh. Not plus any plus noun. And this emphasizes the point. So this is used for showing surprise or disbelief or attitude. What else, Aubrey? - Yeah, it highlights that something is not typical or maybe special. It's really casual. It's very native. We do this a lot. So for example, I might say that wasn't any kind of apology, right? And there are multiple ways to do this. I could just say like that was not an apology, but we'll use any this way in the same, instead of like emphasizing not, we'll use any to emphasize that there was none at all. - Right. Or this isn't any ordinary restaurant, right? So you're just, yeah, emphasizing this is a really special place, right? It means the same as this is no ordinary restaurant. It's sort of another way of saying that. This isn't any, this isn't just any ordinary restaurant or he's not just any kind of leader. And then you're gonna specify like, what makes him exception? - Yes. You'll probably add something on. Like, oh, he's a caring leader. He's that right? Something like that. - All right, number eight, are we ready? This is a lot of ways to use it. - Oh, I know, this is a lot, guys. Okay, we got it. - Number eight is indefinite pronouns. So that's anyone, anything, anywhere. So we're combining it here with another word to create a new meaning. And these all become one word. They're written together as one word. And they're gonna refer to an unspecified person, thing, or place. Yes. And yeah, these are used all the time in conversation. So very, very useful. You'll hear them, you'll use them. So for example, I didn't see anyone. - Exactly, or asking, right? Did you see anyone? And this, it's interesting how it leaves it open to, we're not asking about specific people, right? Or do you want anything to eat? - And this is very open. I'm not talking about specific foods, anything at all. - Or this is interesting, because even on my notes, it looks like it wants to correct it to somewhere. I don't know if you see that on this. - Yes, so this is interesting. - Yeah, so let's go anywhere quiet. If you're saying this on its own, you probably would say, let's go somewhere quiet. But when it's a response to something, we would say this. So I can kind of see why by itself, our notes is one and correct itself. So if someone says like, where do you want to go? You could totally say anywhere quiet. You're saying I don't care where, doesn't matter, just as long as it's someplace quiet, any place quiet. - Yeah, this is a very conversational, might not be completely correct on, when you're typing it and I'm curious, Michelle, I find myself saying any place, which might be more about my regional dialect. I know it's not grammatically incorrect, but do you hear that a lot? Someone's saying any place instead of anywhere. I'd be like, let's go any place quiet. Where do you want to go? Any place? - Yeah, I would say it's more anywhere, at least where I am. - Interesting, I'm curious. - But any place is kind of cute. I like it too, and I'm realizing I think where I'm from, we say that even more. So you're going to hear it neither wrong. I'm sure they're both in the dictionary. This is all about regional dialects and the different words that people are used to hearing and used to using. - Yes, exactly. All right, so should we do a role play and mix this all up? - Yes, you and our friends, we are talking about a mutual friend, Mark. Mark hasn't reached out or contacted us in some time, how dare he. - Oh, how Mark, I'll start us out, ready? Do you have any idea what's going on with Mark lately? - No, I haven't heard anything from him. - Me neither, he hasn't responded to any of my texts. - He answered some of my texts recently, but he isn't really sharing much, so it doesn't make me feel any better. He definitely seems more distant than usual. - Yeah, at this point, I'd take any explanation, honestly, I'm getting a little worried. - Same, do you think there's any chance he's just busy? - Maybe, I'm just not sure. - Yeah, if there's any issue, I wish he'd just say it. - Yeah, so we used a bunch of them here, and it didn't feel this is one of those things where it doesn't feel strange to have any so many times in one conversation, we use it a lot. I'm sure you guys hear it a lot. It's just a matter of knowing. - It's a functional word, right? It's not, I think that's why. - It's not a content word, and so we squeeze it in everywhere for all of these different purposes. - Yeah, yeah, exactly. So you said, do you have any idea what's going on with Mark lately? So again, that's a question, and you could remove that whole for the first three words, right? You could just say, any idea what's going on with Mark, and we often will do that. They're not needed, they're sort of implied the rest of the sentence. - I would say it does make it a little bit more casual if I'm thinking about the difference, don't you think? - Yeah, a little bit, right? It's very conversational. You might have-- - Very cheap. - Those words in, if you're presenting or talking at work or with someone you've just met for the first time, but among friends, I would almost always drop it and just be like, "Hey, any idea what's up with Mark?" - Yep, great. And then I said, no, I haven't heard anything from him. So this means I haven't gotten any texts or phone calls, right? I haven't heard from him at all. I could say, I haven't heard anything from him. - And then he hasn't responded to any of my texts. - Yeah, so he's not a single one. - Yes. - Yeah, that definitely implies you've sent more than one, right? We wouldn't say this if we had only sent one text. This means you've sent multiple and he hasn't responded to any of them. - Yep. - And then I said, "Oh, that doesn't make me feel any better." Yeah, so this is a great way to emphasize, like, not at all. - And then I'd take any explanation. Okay, so any one of anything he wants to give me, a possible explanation someone could give you for totally, like, never talking to you. You're like, "I'll take it." I just, at this point, I'm worried, is he okay? I need proof of life, right? And then, do you think there's any chance he's just busy? And this is a chunk we use a lot, you know? We'll say, like, any chance you're free later, any chance you think there's just busy. And this is kind of a chunk we use together, yeah. - Yes. And then I said, "If there's any issue, I wish he'd just say it." - Yeah, so this is about, like, if he has a problem with me and that's why he's not texting me, I wish he'd let me know, right? Any issue, I don't mind, just tell me so that I know what's going on. - Yes, exactly. So, take away for today. So any is a really flexible word, as you can tell, there are so many different ways to use it. And then, of course, there's anything, anyone, anywhere. And it helps you sound more natural and avoid being too direct. - That's the kind of thing. - So it's really helpful for showing openness or doubt, even, or just adding emphasis to something. So there are many different ways we went over eight today. If you have any further questions about these, 'cause we know it's a lot, you know, right in and say, oh, I was, can you share more examples of this one? Or I was a little confused by this one. So we're happy to continue talking about this because it is really a lot of information. - Especially like some versus any is tricky. So if you listen to that first episode, eight ways to use some compared to this, I think they'll help you to realize when, when we use some, when we use any. And then just being observant, as you're taking in English, when you're listening to podcasts and TV shows, notice, when they're using any and when they're using some. And we also want to share a fun episode that we just recorded recently. If you missed it, scroll up and check out 2688. Come in Guns Blazing with these English idioms. There's a lot of idioms that we use in English. Oh, you know what? That's actually the next episode. That's a little prequel for what you're going to hear from Lindsay and I tomorrow. Very exciting. Also, thanks Michelle. Fun episode and I will see you next time. All right. Bye, everybody. Thanks guys and thanks to our listener for that great question. Yes. Thank you. Bye-bye. Bye. Thanks for listening to all ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two-minute quiz. Go to all earsenglish.com/fluencyscore. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. 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