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8 answers
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Can I use "some" as a synonym of "very"?

I heard some used unusually a few times. Based on context, I figured that the meaning of some in that sentences was very. However, I'm not sure. Can I really use some as a synonym of very? Here are ...
Sergey's user avatar
  • 389
8 votes
2 answers
3k views

some dozen, some thousand

Some [number] [plural noun] means "approximately [number] [plural noun]". For example: Some seven speakers preceded me, so no one listened to my speech. = About seven speakers preceded me, ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 3,975
7 votes
2 answers
122k views

"Any information" or "some information" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: “Any” or “some” in various questions? I'm trying to figure out which is correct, or if both are correct. From what I understand (and I may be wrong, so please correct me)... "...
Dr. Cool's user avatar
  • 171
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Explain something: anything [closed]

Any seems synonymous with some in some examples, such as "Is anyone home?". And any seems synonymous with every in some examples below, and definitely not in others. On the internet I encountered a ...
Michael Hardy's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
120 views

"Are there...?" with and without the word "any" [closed]

I am wondering about the usage of the word "any" with the construction "Are there...?". Does it makes any difference if I ask Are there any books on the shelf? or Are there ...
Irina's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
3 answers
13k views

"Any" or "some" in various questions?

I'm wondering why I always hear "some" in questions, although according to English grammar there should always be "any". At least the one I'm looking at uses "some". For example: Why are some ...
lisak's user avatar
  • 811
4 votes
1 answer
248 views

Does the word "some" mean the same group of things or not?

In the sentence: Joe's been chasing women ever since he was young. Why would the addition of the word some mean the same group women? Can it mean that Joe has been chasing different groups of women? ...
Zelin's user avatar
  • 43
3 votes
2 answers
13k views

what does it mean, when a girl tells a guy, "sounds like a catch"

After you mentioned the good qualities of another female, and desire to have a female like such.
zeek's user avatar
  • 49
2 votes
3 answers
24k views

Anybody or somebody? Don't or doesn't?

I'm trying to write this parable: Just as knowledge alone of a language doesn't make somebody a poet... Questions: Does one write "doesn't" or "don't"? From what I know of grammar, I would go ...
dsign's user avatar
  • 232
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

"Some" with singular or plural in the mentioned context?

One of the meanings of "some" is: an unspecified amount or number of. Example: "I made some money running errands" (Source) So, can I use "some" with a noun that might be singular or plural? For ...
Sasan's user avatar
  • 3,462
2 votes
1 answer
4k views

Should I use either or any in this sentence?

So, I want to ask the students to contact me if they are interested in topics A and B. Which one is better? Please contact me if you are interested in any of the following topics: ... or Please ...
Ali Alavi's user avatar
  • 131
2 votes
1 answer
367 views

Some + Countable Noun: True Only When Plural?

Assume there are multiple books on a shelf. At least one book is red. At least one book is blue. Sentence in dispute: Some of the books are red. Is this sentence false if only one book is red? ...
curious-proofreader's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
52k views

How to know when to use "someone" or "anyone"?

I am trying to write a grammar rule that will be able to identify when to use someone or anyone, and I got confused. I couldn't find any clear way to do this. For instance, "anyone can do it" is ...
Chibueze Opata's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
3k views

Central determiners "some" and "any" used with singular count nouns

I couldn't comment on Irene's post here, so I decided to make a topic. I'd like to know whether this phrase: "I can give you any book that's left" is grammatically right since "some" and "any" are ...
user1384991's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
456 views

Complete negation or partial? "I don't think anybody X" [duplicate]

"I don't think anybody saw it coming." I assume that this sentence means that the speaker thinks nobody saw it coming, but can't this pattern "I don't think anybody X" be took as "I think that not ...
key_asdfg's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
109 views

Some with negatives

Some with negatives. I don't want some guy coming in here and asking me questions. I don't want any guy coming in here and asking me questions. Number 1, I know I have this before. Number 2 sounds ...
Gary Moore's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Usage of "some" with a singular noun [closed]

Is it correct to say "This verb cannot be used in this sentence. You can look it up in some dictionary" I'm interested in "dictionary", should we say "dictionary"or "dictionaries" since we have "some"...
issa power's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
72 views

Is this phrase used anywhere in real world "too startled to say something"

I got this question in one of my mock tests for an exam. Click on the image to enlarge She was too startled at first saying something, but finally she blurted out the truth. The website correctly ...
xax's user avatar
  • 153
1 vote
1 answer
988 views

When "any" (whatever) is followed by a countable noun, does the noun need to be plural?

This is an extract from a formal certificate written by a non-native English speaker. This certification is issued to the bearer for any possible uses. Is it correct? Personally, I think it should ...
Makara Nou's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
12k views

How can SOMEONE or How can ANYONE?

I've learned that we use "someone" when in affirmative sentence and "anyone" when in negative or question sentence. Altough, I saw a lot of results in google for the sentence "how can ANYONE". So ...
alansiqueira27's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
7k views

Is "Have you some water?" a grammatically correct sentence? [duplicate]

I believe it same as saying "Do you have some water?" Is it?
dushyanth's user avatar
  • 125
0 votes
3 answers
108 views

How to ask a question and correctly tell its logic in the following case?

My question is about logic in English. (In my native language (it's Russian) the logical words used in this case may differ, I'm not sure.) Available variants of the question are: How to list all ...
whyer's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

Using "some" to describe units of time

"some minutes, some years, some seconds" are grammatically incorrect. But "a few minutes, a few years, a few seconds" works. I'm trying to teach a non-native speaker this nuance but "it just sounds ...
nebulon's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
95 views

Can "any" be used in non-negated statements such as "There is any + N"?

This may be weird to ask, but seldomly I hear people come up with these statements: There is any problem This additional wheel would cause any problem Is this grammatically wrong? In these ...
Silver's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
1 answer
121 views

Any person is contagious, or Any people are contagious

Which is more correct? If both are correct, do they mean the same thing? Is there a shift in emphasis? I wonder if any person is contagious I wonder if any people are contagious
John Henckel's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
25k views

"I'll let you know once I have any" vs. "once I have some"

I have no questions so far but I will let you know once I have any. Is this grammatical, or should it be "... once I have some" instead?
user318574's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
12 views

Should we say 'some of the ones' instead of 'some of ones'? [migrated]

I have not found the second on the internet. Should we only use the first phrase? Context is: the human is choosing goods in the shop and the seller asks about what items the person wants to buy and ...
Wisdom Butcher's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
54 views

Meaning of Anyone [closed]

Could anyone help me? If I say : Will you stay with me if I speak to anyone? Anyone means : whatever who (sorry I can say otherwise) I mean "anyone" like : Anyone can work here, it will go! Thanks :...
Companion S9's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

when to use 'any' or 'some' in a question?

Could anyone explain the usage of any or some in a question? It seems to me there must be a subtle difference. I know 'any' should be used in a question e.g. 'Do you need any help?' But I've also ...
David's user avatar
  • 67
0 votes
2 answers
703 views

Have you been cooking something? or Have you been cooking anything? [duplicate]

"There is a strange smell here. Have you been cooking something?" Is something correct here? As far as I know we must use any in negative and interrogative sentences...
Yelena Rekida's user avatar