- pronunciation:
- suhm
- parts of speech:
- adjective, pronoun, adverb
- features:
- Note, Homophone Note
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
If you say you have some pencils, we understand that you have more than one pencil, but we don't know exactly how many. We also understand that the number of pencils is not really important. If you say you need some paper, we don't know exactly how much you need, but we understand that you need an amount of it.
Lily was happy that she found some good books at the library yesterday.I had some soup for lunch, and I had some crackers with it.Max's mom asked him and his friend if they wanted some ice cream. |
| definition 2: |
When we say "some man," we are talking about a man that we don't know or a man whose name we are not telling right now.
Some girl came to our house today. She wanted to sell us candy.I asked my sister who gave her that big valentine, and she said it was from some boy in her class.Some dog followed us home today. It was a nice dog, and it seemed to be lost. |
| related words: |
several |
|
|
| part of speech: |
pronoun |
| definition: |
If there are twenty kids in your class and some of them are your friends, it means that a part of the class are your friends. If your brothers are having popcorn and they give you some, it means that they give you part of the popcorn that they are having.
Some of the kids in my class walk to school, but most of them ride the buses.I was having cereal for breakfast and then my dad decided to have some too.I like some of the movies that my sister likes, but not all of them. |
| related words: |
couple, many |
|
|
| part of speech: |
adverb |
| definition 1: |
"Some" sometimes mean "around" or "about." If a bus ticket costs some fifty dollars, it means it costs around fifty dollars.
The car still went for some forty miles before it ran out of gas. |
| definition 2: |
(informal) If we say that it rained some, we mean that it rained an amount that is between a little and a lot.
I watch TV some, but not a lot.Angela practices the piano some, but not everyday. |
some or any?
We use
any in negative sentences about quantity and in questions about quantity.
Some is not usually used in negative sentences, but can be used in questions if we think that the answer is likely to be yes. We also use
some when we offer something to someone in order to encourage that person to say yes.
Compare:
- Do you have any candy?
- I don't have any candy with me now.
- I do have some candy at home.
- Would you like some coffee?
The words
some and
sum (the result of adding) sound alike but have different meanings.