would you like any more cake?

[Tara2]

Hi
We use "some" in questions when we offer or ask for things, why is "any" used in the sentence below, not "some"?
"would you like any more cake?"

 

[jutfrank]

We use both some and any in offer questions like this. They are basically the same but I think there is a small difference in the effects that they can have. The following could be one way to explain the difference:

Would you like some more cake?

You might say this if you are holding the cake in front of the person as an offer. It's very easy to accept the offer.

Would you like any more cake?

You might say this if the cake is not in your hand. Maybe it's not even in the same room. It might be slightly easier for the person to refuse the offer.

Please note that this is only a possible difference. The meaning that we want to give when we say things comes largely from the context and from the way we say things, not just from the choice of words.

 

[Tara2]

We use both some and any in offer questions like this. They are basically the same but I think there is a small difference in the effects that they can have. The following could be one way to explain the difference:

Would you like some more cake?

You might say this if you are holding the cake in front of the person as an offer. It's very easy to accept the offer.

Would you like any more cake?

You might say this if the cake is not in your hand. Maybe it's not even in the same room. It might be slightly easier for the person to refuse the offer.

Please note that this is only a possible difference. The meaning that we want to give when we say things comes largely from the context and from the way we say things, not just from the choice of words.

Can you explain all the differences?

 

[jutfrank]

Can you explain all the differences?

No. Read my last paragraph again.