EnglishMain Dictionary
some determiner
Universal Words
, pronoun, adverb
determiner
1 used with uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns to mean 'an amount of' or 'a number of', when the amount or number is not given:
There's still some wine in the bottle. * Have some more vegetables.
HELPNOTE In negative sentences and questions any is usually used instead of 'some': I don't want any more vegetables. * Is there any wine left? However, some is used in questions that expect a positive reply: Would you like some milk in your coffee? * Didn't you borrow some books of mine?
2 used to refer to certain members of a group or certain types of a thing, but not all of them:
Some people find this more difficult than others. * Some people never seem to put on weight while others are always on a diet. * I like some modern music (= but not all of it).
3 a large number or amount of sth:
It was with some surprise that I heard the news. * We've known each other for some years now. * We're going to be working together for some time (= a long time).
4 a small amount or number of sth:
There is some hope that things will improve.
5 used with singular countable nouns to refer to a person, place, thing or time that is not known or not identified:
There must be some mistake. * He's in some kind of trouble. * She won a competition in some newspaper or other. * I'll see you again some time, I'm sure.
6 sth:
That was some party! * Some expert you are! You know even less than me.
pronoun sth(
1 used to refer to an amount of sth or a number of people or things when the amount or number is not given:
Some disapprove of the idea. * You'll find some in the drawer. * Here are some of our suggestions.
HELPNOTE In negative sentences and questions any is usually used instead of 'some': I don't want any. * Do you have any of the larger ones? However, some is used in questions that expect a positive reply: Would you like some? * Weren't you looking for some of those?
2 a part of the whole number or amount being considered:
All these students are good, but some work harder than others. * Some of the music was weird.
IDIOMS
...and then some )informal( and a lot more than that:
We got our money's worth and then some.
adverb
1 used before numbers to mean 'approximately':
Some thirty people attended the funeral.
2 )AmE, informal( to some degree:
He needs feeding up some. * 'Are you finding the work any easier?' 'Some.'