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What vs Any - What's the difference?

what | any |

As pronouns the difference between what and any

is that what is which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc while any is any thing(s) or person(s).

As adverbs the difference between what and any

is that what is in some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with while any is to even the slightest extent, at all.

As determiners the difference between what and any

is that what is which; which kind of while any is at least one; of at least one kind. One at all.

As an interjection what

is An expression of surprise or disbelief.

As a noun what

is something; thing; stuff.

what

English

(wikipedia what)

Pronoun

(English Pronouns)
  • (interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
  • (relative, nonstandard) That; which.
  • * 1902 , , (The Admirable Crichton) :
    • That’s her; that’s the thing what has stole his heart from me.
  • (relative) That which; those that; the thing that.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author=(Oliver Burkeman)
    • , volume=189, issue=2, page=48, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= The tao of tech , passage=The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast […, or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing",

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with .
  • Such.
  • (label) Why?
  • * (rfdate) (Chaucer)
    • What should I tell the answer of the knight?
  • * (rfdate) (John Milton)
    • But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates?
  • Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both…and.
  • * :
    • And as for on C good knyghtes I haue my self / but I fawte / l / for so many haue ben slayne in my dayes / and so Ladegreans delyuerd his doughter Gweneuer vnto Merlyn / and the table round with the C knyghtes / and so they rode fresshly with grete royalte / what' by water and ' what by land / tyl that they came nyghe vnto london

    Synonyms

    * such

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • * 1605 Wm. Shakespeare, King Lear
    • What , have his daughters brought him to this pass?
    What ! That’s amazing.
  • (British, colloquial, dated) Is that not true?
    • It’s a nice day, what'''?'' (sometimes repeated, e.g.: '''''What'''-'''what ? )

    Determiner

    (en determiner)
  • Which; which kind of.
    • What shirt are you going to wear?
    What time is it?
    What kind of car is that?
  • How much; how great (used in an exclamation).
    • What talent he has!
    What a talent!

    Derived terms

    * wat * what ho * whatness * what's what

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) something; thing; stuff
  • * Spenser
    • They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed / Such homely what as serves the simple clowne, / That doth despise the dainties of the towne

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 100 English basic words English interrogative pronouns English terms with homophones 1000 English basic words

    any

    English

    (wikipedia any)

    Alternative forms

    * anie (obsolete)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To even the slightest extent, at all.
    • I will not remain here any longer.
    If you get any taller, you'll start having to duck through doorways!
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 58:
    • I wasn't any too easy in my mind.

    Determiner

    (en determiner)
  • At least one; of at least one kind. One at all.
  • :
  • *Bible, (w) xi. 27
  • *:No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts,
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • No matter what kind.
  • :
  • *
  • *:This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}

    Derived terms

    * any and all * any old * any press is good press * any time * anybody * anyhow * anymore * anyone * anyplace * anyroad * anything * anytime * anyway * anywhen * anywhence * anywhere * anywhither * anywho * anywhom * in any case * just any

    See also

    * some

    Pronoun

    (head)
  • Any thing(s) or person(s).
    • Any may apply.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * * * English indefinite pronouns English pronouns 1000 English basic words ----