Have you got some/any coffee?

Status
Not open for further replies.

dewedfrost

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2015
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
"Have you got some/any coffee?"
Hello! Can you help me, please?
Which is the correct option between some and any in this question?
It's from a short dialogue:
A: "Have you got some/any coffee?"
B: " have a little. Would you like it?"
There's no more context given.
I can't make up my mind...What would you suggest? Thanks a lot beforehand!
 
Last edited:
A: Have you got any coffee?
B: I have a little. Would you like some?
 
Your first, fifth and sixth sentences, I believe, should be in quotes, or italicised. They are your example sentences.
 
A: Have you got any coffee?
B: I have a little. Would you like some?
Jutfranck, I'd like to ask you if you think that "Would you like it?" sounds odd or innatural. If I mean that I would like to give you all the coffee I have (not only some), could "Would you like it?" be acceptable?
As a matter of fact, I first thought of "some" - as you suggest (Would you like some?). It's a little translation from Italian and the Italian text says word by word "Do you want it?"; I know that literal translation is not always the best way to translate. Thank you once again!
 
You can say, "Would you like it?" if you're referring to all the coffee. But it seems a bit rude to take a person's complete coffee supply! I can't think of many contexts where you'd say that. What scenario do you have in mind?
 
Jutfranck, I'd like to ask you if you think that "Would you like it?" sounds odd or innatural.
Would you like it? is unlikely as a response to Have you got any coffee?

But it would be an appropriate response to Have you got the coffee? Maybe I've just got home from a grocery shopping trip with my wife and we are unpacking the bags.

A: Have you got the coffee?
B: Yes. Would you like it?

Here, both the coffee and it refer to the whole pack, not just a portion.

I know that literal translation is not always the best way to translate.

Correct!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top