some - any - a little - a few

Some-any-a little- a few are used to express quantity, to say or ask if you have a quantity of something or not.


Some is used in affirmative sentences, and also when asking for or offering something.

Any is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

A few is used with countable nouns :

a few apples.

A little is used with uncountable nouns : a little cheese.



Affirmative

There are some apples.

(We don't know how many, but the bowl is not empty)

We can also say : There are a few apples, i.e. not many, a small number.

There is a little cheese

Negative

There aren't any apples (The bowl is empty)

There aren't many apples

There isn't much cheese.


Interrogative

Are there any apples? (We want to know if the bowl contains apples)

Are there many apples?

Is there much cheese?


N.B. Asking and Offering : Can I have/would you like some coffee?

from: Learn English Today