Someis a determiner and a pronoun.
Someas a determiner
We usesomebefore nouns to refer to indefinite quantities. Although the quantity is not important or not defined, usingsomeimplies a limited quantity:
Can you get mesomemilk?(The quantity isn’t specified.Somesuggests a normal amount, not an unlimited amount. Compare:Can you get me five litres of milk?)
I’ve gotsomequestions for you.
There are elephants in Africa and Asia.(The number is not limited.)
Not:There are some elephants in Africa and Asia.
Someas a determiner has two forms: a weak form and a strong form. The forms have different meanings.
Weak formsome/səm/
We use the weak form ofsomein affirmative sentences and in questions (usually expecting the answer ‘yes’), when the quantity is indefinite or not important (we useanyin questions and negative sentences):
I’ve gotsome/səm/water.
Have you gotsomewater?(expecting the answeryes)
Have you gotanywater?(openyes-noquestion)
I haven’t gotanywater.(negative)
We use the weak form ofsomeonly with uncountable nouns and plural nouns:
I’m looking forsomeadvice.(+ uncountable noun)
Do you needsomehelp?(+ uncountable noun)
We need to makesomechanges to the programme.(+ plural noun)
There are a lot of advantages in doing the course online, but there aresomedisadvantages too.(+ plural noun)
We don’t use weak formsomewith singular countable nouns:
If you’re looking for a book to read, I can recommend ‘Animal Farm’.
Not:If you’re looking for some book to read…
Strong formsome/sʌm/
The strong form ofsomeis stressed. This form contrasts withothersorallorenough:
Why dosomepeople live longer than other people?(some, not others)
Someboys went to the front of the stage to get a better view. The rest of us couldn’t see a thing.(some, not all)
There weresomecakes left but not enough for everyone.(some, but not enough)
I’m not keen onsometypes of fish. I find plaice a bit tasteless.
We can use this strong form to refer to someone or something particular but unknown, especially with singular countable nouns:
There must besomeway of opening this printer!
Someidiot driver crashed into the back of me.
Somewith numbers
We use the strong form ofsomewith numbers. It can suggest an unexpectedly high amount:
Some£30 billion was needed to rebuild the hospital.
Some60% of the course is devoted to design.
See also:
Someandany
Determiners and any type of noun
Determiners and uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns
Leaving outsome
We don’t usesomewhen we are talking about things or people in general, when we have no idea of number or quantity:
Rats make good pets.(rats in general)
There weresomerats in the kitchen.(a number of rats)
Does your car run on petrol or diesel?(general)
I needsomepetrol.(specific petrol for my car)
We don’t usesomeforlarge or unlimited quantities and amounts:
The earthquake victims urgently need tents, blankets and water.
Not: …some tents, some blankets and some water.
See also:
A/anandthe
Determiners (the, my,some,this)
Someas a pronoun
We usesomeas a pronoun (i.e. without a noun following) when the noun is understood:
If you need any money, I’ll lend yousome.
French mustards are usually flavoured with spices.Somehave added sugar.Someare quite salty.
See also:
Determiners (the, my,some,this)
Pronouns
Some of
We usesomewithofbeforethe, demonstratives (this, that), pronouns (you, us) or possessives (my, your). We usesome ofto refer to a part of a whole:
I wasn’t sure aboutsome ofthe answers.
It was great to meetsome ofher friends and colleagues.
Not: …some her friends…
[from a TV news programme]
First a look atsome oftoday’s main stories in some more detail.
See also:
Determiners: position and order
More than one determiner
Some: typical errors
We don’t useweak formsomewith singular countable nouns:
In the reception area we found a brochure about the history of the house.
Not: …we found some brochure…
We usesome, notaoran, before uncountable nouns:
Do you needsomeovernight accommodation?
Not: …an overnight accommodation?
We don’t use weak formsomeon its own in negative statements. We useany:
A:Did you get the eggs?
B:No, there weren’tany.
Not:No, there weren’t some.
We don’t usesometo meana fewwhen we are referring to units of time:
I’m looking for someone to help me fora fewdays.
Not: …to help me for some days.
See also:
Determiners followed by pronouns