anything or something to eatAnything/Something usageUsing the verb 'have' instead of the verb 'eat'A way of saying debased food?ask for~ / ask someone to give ~The difference between 'TALK' and 'SAY'Less-serious-sounding word than 'problem'Way + (complete sentence / incomplete sentence)Can we invent English words based on similar usage? Ex, “can you eat a mouse” or “.. eat mouse”?Which word to describe a person who agrees with anything?“Plenty” with “much/easy/long/etc.”why is this sentence wrong? “I really don’t like this meal. whatever money in the world wouldn’t get me to eat it.”

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anything or something to eat


Anything/Something usageUsing the verb 'have' instead of the verb 'eat'A way of saying debased food?ask for~ / ask someone to give ~The difference between 'TALK' and 'SAY'Less-serious-sounding word than 'problem'Way + (complete sentence / incomplete sentence)Can we invent English words based on similar usage? Ex, “can you eat a mouse” or “.. eat mouse”?Which word to describe a person who agrees with anything?“Plenty” with “much/easy/long/etc.”why is this sentence wrong? “I really don’t like this meal. whatever money in the world wouldn’t get me to eat it.”













5
















I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




I think "anything" fits here best.



I think in this way she is really hungry and can eat anything right now. In other words, she exaggerates that she is so hungry she could even eat worms.



Am I right?










share|improve this question
























  • It's spelled "right", fyi

    – Kat
    yesterday















5
















I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




I think "anything" fits here best.



I think in this way she is really hungry and can eat anything right now. In other words, she exaggerates that she is so hungry she could even eat worms.



Am I right?










share|improve this question
























  • It's spelled "right", fyi

    – Kat
    yesterday













5












5








5


1







I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




I think "anything" fits here best.



I think in this way she is really hungry and can eat anything right now. In other words, she exaggerates that she is so hungry she could even eat worms.



Am I right?










share|improve this question

















I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




I think "anything" fits here best.



I think in this way she is really hungry and can eat anything right now. In other words, she exaggerates that she is so hungry she could even eat worms.



Am I right?







word-usage






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited yesterday









fred2

3,815724




3,815724










asked yesterday









Sultan ZhumatayevSultan Zhumatayev

333




333












  • It's spelled "right", fyi

    – Kat
    yesterday

















  • It's spelled "right", fyi

    – Kat
    yesterday
















It's spelled "right", fyi

– Kat
yesterday





It's spelled "right", fyi

– Kat
yesterday










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















7














The formal rule is this: something is declarative and anything is interrogative or negative. Then, there's usage. Also, this is not the entire story on something, anything and nothing, which are similar to some, any, and none in usage.



  • He wants something to eat right now.


  • Does he want anything to eat right now?

  • He doesn't want anything to eat right now.

However, you can also use something in the interrogative:

- Does he want something to eat right now?



Then, there's negative interrogative:



  • Doesn't he want something or anything to eat right now?

What is not used is: He wants [declarative] anything to eat right now. The declarative has to be something. Unless you are mean:



I want (just) anything at all to eat. That's how hungry I am.



All the above fits with the verb: I'd like.






share|improve this answer






























    3














    With the verb "like", "something" sounds better, because the person expresses a preference.



    • I'd like something sweet to eat.


    • I'd like something hot to eat.


    "anything" would tend to be used with modal verbs "can" or "could" expressing capability or possibility to convey the idea that any kind of food would be welcome:



    • I'm so hungry I could have anything to eat (no matter what).





    share|improve this answer


















    • 1





      The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

      – Lambie
      yesterday


















    1















    I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




    • I'd really like anything to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

    This would be correct English but unusual usage.

    If said then exaggerated emphasis would usually be placed on "anything" to make the point that this is hyperbole (exaggeration intended for emphasis).



    • I'd really like something to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

    This would be a normal statement. The point is clear enough for most cases.
    Placing heavy emphasis on "really" would achieve much the same result as in the first example.



    • I'd really like something to eat right now. I could eat a horse!

    The expression "I could eat a horse " is a very "time honoured" one which is in common usage and which conveys your point well.






    share|improve this answer























    • anything is really anything at all....

      – Lambie
      13 hours ago


















    1














    The other answers address the main question.



    However, it is more usual to say:




    I'd really like to eat something right now.




    ("to eat" before "something")






    share|improve this answer






















      Your Answer








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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      7














      The formal rule is this: something is declarative and anything is interrogative or negative. Then, there's usage. Also, this is not the entire story on something, anything and nothing, which are similar to some, any, and none in usage.



      • He wants something to eat right now.


      • Does he want anything to eat right now?

      • He doesn't want anything to eat right now.

      However, you can also use something in the interrogative:

      - Does he want something to eat right now?



      Then, there's negative interrogative:



      • Doesn't he want something or anything to eat right now?

      What is not used is: He wants [declarative] anything to eat right now. The declarative has to be something. Unless you are mean:



      I want (just) anything at all to eat. That's how hungry I am.



      All the above fits with the verb: I'd like.






      share|improve this answer



























        7














        The formal rule is this: something is declarative and anything is interrogative or negative. Then, there's usage. Also, this is not the entire story on something, anything and nothing, which are similar to some, any, and none in usage.



        • He wants something to eat right now.


        • Does he want anything to eat right now?

        • He doesn't want anything to eat right now.

        However, you can also use something in the interrogative:

        - Does he want something to eat right now?



        Then, there's negative interrogative:



        • Doesn't he want something or anything to eat right now?

        What is not used is: He wants [declarative] anything to eat right now. The declarative has to be something. Unless you are mean:



        I want (just) anything at all to eat. That's how hungry I am.



        All the above fits with the verb: I'd like.






        share|improve this answer

























          7












          7








          7







          The formal rule is this: something is declarative and anything is interrogative or negative. Then, there's usage. Also, this is not the entire story on something, anything and nothing, which are similar to some, any, and none in usage.



          • He wants something to eat right now.


          • Does he want anything to eat right now?

          • He doesn't want anything to eat right now.

          However, you can also use something in the interrogative:

          - Does he want something to eat right now?



          Then, there's negative interrogative:



          • Doesn't he want something or anything to eat right now?

          What is not used is: He wants [declarative] anything to eat right now. The declarative has to be something. Unless you are mean:



          I want (just) anything at all to eat. That's how hungry I am.



          All the above fits with the verb: I'd like.






          share|improve this answer













          The formal rule is this: something is declarative and anything is interrogative or negative. Then, there's usage. Also, this is not the entire story on something, anything and nothing, which are similar to some, any, and none in usage.



          • He wants something to eat right now.


          • Does he want anything to eat right now?

          • He doesn't want anything to eat right now.

          However, you can also use something in the interrogative:

          - Does he want something to eat right now?



          Then, there's negative interrogative:



          • Doesn't he want something or anything to eat right now?

          What is not used is: He wants [declarative] anything to eat right now. The declarative has to be something. Unless you are mean:



          I want (just) anything at all to eat. That's how hungry I am.



          All the above fits with the verb: I'd like.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered yesterday









          LambieLambie

          16.6k1438




          16.6k1438























              3














              With the verb "like", "something" sounds better, because the person expresses a preference.



              • I'd like something sweet to eat.


              • I'd like something hot to eat.


              "anything" would tend to be used with modal verbs "can" or "could" expressing capability or possibility to convey the idea that any kind of food would be welcome:



              • I'm so hungry I could have anything to eat (no matter what).





              share|improve this answer


















              • 1





                The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

                – Lambie
                yesterday















              3














              With the verb "like", "something" sounds better, because the person expresses a preference.



              • I'd like something sweet to eat.


              • I'd like something hot to eat.


              "anything" would tend to be used with modal verbs "can" or "could" expressing capability or possibility to convey the idea that any kind of food would be welcome:



              • I'm so hungry I could have anything to eat (no matter what).





              share|improve this answer


















              • 1





                The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

                – Lambie
                yesterday













              3












              3








              3







              With the verb "like", "something" sounds better, because the person expresses a preference.



              • I'd like something sweet to eat.


              • I'd like something hot to eat.


              "anything" would tend to be used with modal verbs "can" or "could" expressing capability or possibility to convey the idea that any kind of food would be welcome:



              • I'm so hungry I could have anything to eat (no matter what).





              share|improve this answer













              With the verb "like", "something" sounds better, because the person expresses a preference.



              • I'd like something sweet to eat.


              • I'd like something hot to eat.


              "anything" would tend to be used with modal verbs "can" or "could" expressing capability or possibility to convey the idea that any kind of food would be welcome:



              • I'm so hungry I could have anything to eat (no matter what).






              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered yesterday









              GustavsonGustavson

              3,074312




              3,074312







              • 1





                The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

                – Lambie
                yesterday












              • 1





                The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

                – Lambie
                yesterday







              1




              1





              The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

              – Lambie
              yesterday





              The last one is a bit iffy: I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

              – Lambie
              yesterday











              1















              I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




              • I'd really like anything to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be correct English but unusual usage.

              If said then exaggerated emphasis would usually be placed on "anything" to make the point that this is hyperbole (exaggeration intended for emphasis).



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be a normal statement. The point is clear enough for most cases.
              Placing heavy emphasis on "really" would achieve much the same result as in the first example.



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I could eat a horse!

              The expression "I could eat a horse " is a very "time honoured" one which is in common usage and which conveys your point well.






              share|improve this answer























              • anything is really anything at all....

                – Lambie
                13 hours ago















              1















              I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




              • I'd really like anything to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be correct English but unusual usage.

              If said then exaggerated emphasis would usually be placed on "anything" to make the point that this is hyperbole (exaggeration intended for emphasis).



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be a normal statement. The point is clear enough for most cases.
              Placing heavy emphasis on "really" would achieve much the same result as in the first example.



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I could eat a horse!

              The expression "I could eat a horse " is a very "time honoured" one which is in common usage and which conveys your point well.






              share|improve this answer























              • anything is really anything at all....

                – Lambie
                13 hours ago













              1












              1








              1








              I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




              • I'd really like anything to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be correct English but unusual usage.

              If said then exaggerated emphasis would usually be placed on "anything" to make the point that this is hyperbole (exaggeration intended for emphasis).



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be a normal statement. The point is clear enough for most cases.
              Placing heavy emphasis on "really" would achieve much the same result as in the first example.



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I could eat a horse!

              The expression "I could eat a horse " is a very "time honoured" one which is in common usage and which conveys your point well.






              share|improve this answer














              I'd really like ______ to eat right now. I'm really hungry!




              • I'd really like anything to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be correct English but unusual usage.

              If said then exaggerated emphasis would usually be placed on "anything" to make the point that this is hyperbole (exaggeration intended for emphasis).



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I'm really hungry!

              This would be a normal statement. The point is clear enough for most cases.
              Placing heavy emphasis on "really" would achieve much the same result as in the first example.



              • I'd really like something to eat right now. I could eat a horse!

              The expression "I could eat a horse " is a very "time honoured" one which is in common usage and which conveys your point well.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 19 hours ago









              Russell McMahonRussell McMahon

              32415




              32415












              • anything is really anything at all....

                – Lambie
                13 hours ago

















              • anything is really anything at all....

                – Lambie
                13 hours ago
















              anything is really anything at all....

              – Lambie
              13 hours ago





              anything is really anything at all....

              – Lambie
              13 hours ago











              1














              The other answers address the main question.



              However, it is more usual to say:




              I'd really like to eat something right now.




              ("to eat" before "something")






              share|improve this answer



























                1














                The other answers address the main question.



                However, it is more usual to say:




                I'd really like to eat something right now.




                ("to eat" before "something")






                share|improve this answer

























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  The other answers address the main question.



                  However, it is more usual to say:




                  I'd really like to eat something right now.




                  ("to eat" before "something")






                  share|improve this answer













                  The other answers address the main question.



                  However, it is more usual to say:




                  I'd really like to eat something right now.




                  ("to eat" before "something")







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 19 hours ago









                  virolinovirolino

                  2,4051427




                  2,4051427



























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