Discussion
In the sentence below, a part is printed in bold. Choose the alternative that best replaces it. If no improvement is needed, choose ‘No correction required’.
Very few people, if any, believe that story today.
Answer: A
Correct answer: No correction required
The sentence is correct as printed. If any is a fixed parenthetical expression meaning if there are any at all, and it follows naturally from the negative-leaning very few. The construction relies on any being the word used in negative and interrogative contexts, while some is used in affirmative ones: I have some money against I do not have any money and do you have any money? Since very few is negative in force, any is the correct partner. The exception to that rule is worth knowing: some is used in questions that expect the answer yes or that offer something, as in would you like some tea? Note also the distinction between few and a few. Few means hardly any and is negative; a few means some and is positive. Very few people believe it and a few people still believe it say almost opposite things.
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