Anywhere vs. any place

What does anywhere mean?

Anywhere is an adverb which means in, to, or at any place. Anywhere can be used to indicate an indefinite location. Without a negative, anywhere is often used for emphasis or to indicate a range.

For example:

·      She could have travelled anywhere in the country but she went home to see her family (without a negative)

·      She estimated the burglar could have been anywhere from twenty to thirty years old (indicating a range)

·      She could not find her purse anywhere (with a negative)

What does any place mean?

Any place means any location.

For example:

·      The café was so busy there wasn’t any place for them to sit.

What’s the difference between anywhere and any place?

Anywhere means in, to or at any place and can be used to indicate an indefinite location, while any place has a narrower meaning of any location.

For example:

·      We could have chosen to eat anywhere in this town but we chose the one place without any place for us to sit.