some
gb/sˈʌm/ us/sˈʌm/
A1
English
~ 100
Senses
0 senses
determiner
A1
quantity
1
an unspecified amount or number
Used to talk about an amount or number when you do not say exactly how much or how many.
Usage pattern:
some [plural noun/uncountable noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'some' with singular countable nouns, which is incorrect. It should be used with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
Synonyms
several (Implies more than two but not many; often more specific than 'some'.)
|
a few (Usually refers to a small number; 'some' can be larger or vaguer.)
Antonyms
no (Indicates the complete absence of something, opposite of having some amount.)
|
all (Indicates the total amount, opposite of only part or an unspecified portion.)
Collocations
some people
|some time
|some water
|some money
|some friends
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I have some questions about the project.
- Can you lend me some money until Friday?
- There are some apples in the fridge if you're hungry.
- She bought some new clothes for the trip.
- We need some time to think about it.
Learner examples
- I have some books on my desk.
- There is some milk in the fridge.
- She wants some water.
- We need some help with this work.
- He has some friends in London.
pronoun
A1
quantity
2
an unspecified number or amount
Used to talk about people or things when you do not say exactly how many, and it is clear from context.
Usage pattern:
some (of) [noun phrase/pronoun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'some' as a pronoun with 'someone' or 'something', which refer to a person or thing rather than a quantity.
Synonyms
several (Implies more than two but not many; 'some' can be vaguer.)
Antonyms
none (Indicates zero quantity, opposite of having some amount.)
Collocations
some of them
|some were missing
|some have left
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Some of the students are absent today.
- I like these shirts; I'll take some.
- We had many ideas, but some were better than others.
- Some have already left for the airport.
- I read some of the book last night.
Learner examples
- Some of the apples are bad.
- I will take some.
- Some are red and some are green.
- Some of my friends are here.
- Some were late for class.
adverb
informal
B2
relation
3
to a certain extent
A little bit; not completely but partly.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this informal adverb form in contexts where 'a bit' or 'rather' would sound more natural.
Synonyms
rather ('Rather' is more formal and may express opinion politely.)
|
slightly ('Slightly' usually refers to a small degree, often less vague than 'some'.)
Antonyms
completely (Indicates total extent, opposite of partial extent.)
Collocations
some better
|some different
|some easier
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie was some better than I expected.
- I'm feeling some tired after the long trip.
- The plan is some different from what we discussed.
- Prices have gone up some in recent months.
Learner examples
- I am some tired today.
- The test is some easy for me.
- It is some cold outside.
- She is some happy with her new job.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
remarkable or impressive
Used to say something is very good, big, or surprising in an informal way.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this literally and misunderstand that it means 'very' rather than just 'a little'. Context is important.
Synonyms
remarkable ('Remarkable' is more formal and less colloquial.)
|
impressive ('Impressive' is neutral and lacks the humorous tone of 'some' in this use.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Indicates something normal and unremarkable, opposite of remarkable.)
Collocations
some party
|some story
|some view
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That was some party last night!
- You've got some nerve talking to me like that.
- It was some storm—we couldn't see a thing.
- She's got some talent for singing.
Learner examples
- It was some game yesterday.
- That is some cake!
- He has some car!
- You have some ideas!
Grammar
Dictionary form
some
IPA
GB/sˈʌm/
US/sˈʌm/
Syllables & stress
some (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (some)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: some
- Comparative: somer
- Superlative: somest
Word family
Forms
somer
adjective
somest
adjective
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
someplace
adverb B1
Expressions
and then some
1/ˈænd ðˈɛn sˈʌm/
fixed phrase
informal
and even more than that
Used to say that there is even more than was said before.
Examples
- He met all our expectations and then some.
- The climb was as hard as they said—and then some.
in some ways
1/ˈɪn sˈʌm wˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
in certain respects only
In certain ways but not in every way.
Examples
- In some ways, living alone is easier, but in others, it can be lonely.
- The new system is better in some ways but worse in others.
quite some time
1/kwˈaɪt sˈʌm tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
a long time
A long period of time.
Examples
- It’s been quite some time since we last met.
- This project will take quite some time to finish.
some of the time
1/sˈʌm əv ðə tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
partly during a period of time
Happening during part of a period but not all of it.
Examples
- I work from home some of the time and at the office the rest.
- We only see each other some of the time due to our schedules.
to some extent
1/tə sˈʌm ɪkstˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
partly but not completely true
Used to say that something is partly true but not completely.
Examples
- To some extent, I think you're right.
- The plan worked, to some extent, but not perfectly.
to some extent
2/tə sˈʌm ɪkstˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
partly but not completely true
Partly true or real, but not completely.
Examples
- I agree with you to some extent.
- The plan worked, to some extent.