Anything or Something

Question

what is the difference between asking 'anything else' and asking 'something else'?

Answer 1

Anything: More general. (A waiter asks an open-ended question: "Do you need anything?")

Something: A specific thing. (A friend asks: "Can I get you something to drink?")

In certain situations, people may use "anything else" when they are being sarcastic or are frustrated. For example:

-Annie does not want the food her mom cooked for dinner, so she asks, "Mom, can I have something else to eat?" (This request sounds more polite).

-Annie does not want the food her mom cooked for dinner, so she says, "Mom, can I have anything else to eat?" (This sounds rude because she is asking for anything BUT the food provided).

Answer 2

There is no practical difference between these two questions. Use whichever one sounds better to you.