We say "Do any of you know this?" But "any" seems like "anyone" so what is the difference? Why do we say "Does anyone know it?" and "Do any of you know it?" Why do we do this? I am confused [STRIKE]what is[/STRIKE] about the difference between these two.
Please help.
If you're standing in front of a group of people and you want to know if any of those people know "this" (whatever "this" is), you can use either.
Teacher, to a class of 20 students: What's the simple past of "stand"?
(Silence from the students.)
Teacher: Come on! Does anyone know the answer?
Student (Paul): Is it "standed"?
Teacher: No, that's wrong. Do any of you know the correct answer?
Student (Maria): I think it's "stood".
Teacher: Well done, Maria. That's right.
As you can see, the teacher used both "Does anyone know ...?" and "Do any of you know ...?" They're both correct
in this scenario.
"Any of you" means "any of the people I'm addressing".