TKG English Learner's Dictionary

some

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

somepronoun

American /sʌm/ British /sʌm/ Some is normally said with a clear, strong vowel in this use, since it carries the main meaning of the phrase on its own.
very commondefining vocabulary

Some stands for an unstated amount of something, or for certain members of a group, without saying exactly how much or which ones.

  1. an unstated amountan amount or number of something, not stated exactly, often part of a larger amount already mentioned

    Some stands alone, without a following noun, when the thing it refers to is already clear from what was just said: I need money — do you have some? It is often followed by of: some of the cake.

    Collocations

    phrase some of, some more, have some

    Antonyms none

    Compare any (any takes the place of some in most questions and negatives)

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap Like the determiner, the pronoun some shifts to any in questions and negatives (do you have any?), except in offers and requests, where some is kept (would you like some?).

  2. certain ones, not allan unnamed number of people or things among a larger group, but not all of them

    This use is often balanced against others or the rest: some agree, others do not.

    Collocations

    phrase some ... others, some of us, some of them

    For translators (sense 2)

    Meaning across languages Some as a pronoun keeps the same split as the determiner: an unstated amount (I'll have some) and certain members of a group (some agree, some don't); many languages need two different words for these.

Word family

Common mistakes

I don't have some. I don't have any.
After a negative, some standing alone is usually replaced by any, just like the determiner.
Give me some of cake. Give me some of the cake.
Some of needs the, a possessive, or a pronoun after it, not a bare noun.

somedeterminer

American /sʌm/ British /sʌm/ also /səm/ the weak form used before a noun for an amount: some milk, some people Before a plural or uncountable noun that names an amount, some is usually weak, səm. It is strong, sʌm, when it means an unknown one or not all, and when it is stressed or stands alone.
very commondefining vocabulary

Some picks out an amount, a part, or a member of a group without saying exactly which or how much.

  1. an amountused before a plural or uncountable noun for an amount or number that is not stated or not important

    Some is usually used in positive sentences: I have some questions. In ordinary questions and negatives, any usually takes its place: Do you have any questions? I do not have any. Some is kept in an offer or a request, when a yes is expected: Would you like some tea? Could I have some water?, and in a negative or a question about a particular, expected amount: don't you want some help?

    Collocations

    phrase some more, some other, some people, some money, some help, some time

    Antonyms no

    Compare any (any takes the place of some in most questions and negatives)

  2. an unknown oneused before a singular noun for a person or thing that you do not know or do not name

    This some is stressed, sʌm. It often suggests that the speaker does not know or does not care who or what: some fool parked across our gate. Some ... or other makes the vagueness stronger: some book or other.

    Collocations

    phrase some day, some other time, some kind of, some sort of, some way or other

  3. not allused before a plural or uncountable noun for part of a group or amount, but not all of it

    Some is stressed here, and it is often followed by others or the rest: Some people like it hot; others do not.

    Collocations

    phrase some ... others, some ... the rest

  4. a fairly large amountused before a noun for a fairly large amount, distance, or length of time

    Collocations

    phrase for some time, some distance, some years ago, to some extent, quite some time

  5. admiring or ironicused before a noun to say that someone or something is very good, or, in words that sound like praise, very bad

    The word is stressed. Whether it praises or mocks depends on the tone of voice and the situation.

    informal

    Collocations

    phrase some friend you are, some game

Word family

Choosing between some · any

Some usually goes in positive statements and in offers and requests: I have some money; would you like some cake?, but can also appear in a question or a negative about a particular, expected amount: don't you want some help? Any goes in ordinary questions and negatives: do you have any money? I do not have any money. In a positive statement, any means it does not matter which: take any seat.

Common mistakes

I don't have some money. I don't have any money.
After not, an unstated amount usually takes any, not some; some returns for a particular or contrastive amount: I don't want some of it, I want all of it.
Do you have some brothers or sisters? Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A question that really asks takes any; some is kept for an offer or a request, or when you expect the answer yes: Would you like some tea?
some of people some people
Some of is used only before a determiner such as the, this, my, your, his, her, its, our, or their, before a possessive noun phrase, or before a pronoun: some of the people, some of Kim's friends, some of them.

For translators

Meaning across languages The amount sense (some milk) and the unknown-one sense (some man called) are often different words in other languages, and the first often has no translation at all: I need some milk is simply I need milk.
Grammar trap Some marks an unstated amount and usually shifts to any in ordinary questions and negatives, a change many languages do not make: I have some money; do you have any money? Some returns in a negative or a question about a particular, expected amount. Before the, my, this, or a pronoun, use some of: some of my friends.
Pronunciation trap Weak səm for the amount sense (some milk, some people); strong sʌm when some means an unknown one or not all, and when it is stressed or stands alone.