Can you hear something/anything? I think someone is coming here.

[phoebemia]

Can you hear _________? I think someone is coming here.

A. something B. anything

Which one is better? What's the difference between A and B if used in this sentence?

 

[Sunshine_duo]

Just to share a general principle from my practice:

something - for sentences affirmative,
anything - for sentences interrogative, and negative

Edited and added on 23rd Oct 2022 by Sunshine_duo: Please note, I (Sunshine_duo) is not a teacher.

 

[jutfrank]

The second sentence makes it clear that the answer the test writer wants is A. The speaker is referring to a specific sound in her mind.

 

[5jj]

something - for sentences affirmative,
anything - for sentences interrogative, and negative

That is often not true. As Michael Lewis explains in The English Verb (1985, LTP)

Some is used if the idea is restricted or limited in some way.
Any is used if the idea is unrestricted or unlimited.
Any applies to all or none; some applies to part.

The restriction may be a real one - There's some cheese in the fridge - or a psychological one existing only in the mind of the speaker - Would you like something to eat?

 

[Rover_KE]

Sunshine_duo, please read this extract from the forum rules:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly in your posts.