I can't think of any..

[Ashraful Haque]

I've heard people say 'I can't think of any.' But I'm not exactly sure when to use this. For example:

"I can't think of any solution."
"I can't think of any other players who could do that."
"I can't think of any reason why he was killed."

Do we use it when we are trying to figure out a solution/answer but can't? And does it also imply that at the moment I can't but may be later I'll be able come up with a solution/answer?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've heard people say 'I can't think of any.' But I'm not exactly sure when to use this. For example:

"I can't think of any solution."
"I can't think of any other players who could do that."
"I can't think of any reason why he was killed."

Do we use it when we are trying to figure out a solution/answer but can't?

Yes. It's more emphatic than "I can't think of a solution."

And does it also imply that at the moment I can't but maybe later I'll be able come up with a solution/answer?

No.

There are other uses of any. You can look them up.

 

[jutfrank]

Do we use it when we are trying to figure out a solution/answer but can't?

Get clear in your mind the differences between a and any and one.

Can you think of a solution?
No, I can't think of one.

Can you think of any solutions?
No, I can't think of any.

And does it also imply that at the moment I can't but may be later I'll be able come up with a solution/answer?

If we want to make it clear that we might find an answer later, we can say:

I can't think of one right now.
I can't think of a ... right now.
I can't think of any [...] right now.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

If someone says "Please help me make an excuse." Should I say "I cant thing of any" or 'one?'

 

[GoesStation]

If someone says "Please help me [STRIKE]make[/STRIKE] come up with an excuse," should I say I can't think of "any" or "one"?

Use "one".

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I've made up two scenarios by myself. Please let me know if I understand the phrase.

A: What are you going to say if Mr. Smith asks why I left early.
B: Don't worry I'll think of something.

X: What did you say when Mr. Smith asked why I left early.
Y: I couldn't think of anything. So stayed quiet.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've made up two scenarios by myself. Please let me know if I understand the phrase.

A: What are you going to say if Mr. Smith asks why I left early?
B: Don't worry. I'll think of something.

X: What did you say when Mr. Smith asked why I left early?
Y: I couldn't think of anything, so I kept quiet.

You used something and anything correctly.

Was that your question?

 

[Ashraful Haque]

You used something and anything correctly.

Was that your question?

Yes. That and if I've used 'think of' correctly.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes. That and if I've used 'think of' correctly.

You have.