Page 241 - Basic English Usage

317
—
243 315
315 some: special uses

1 We can use some (with the strong pronunciation /sam/) to make a
contrast with others, all or enough.
Some people like the sea; others prefer the mountains.
Some of us were late, but we were all there by ten o'clock.
I've got some money, but not enough.
2 We can use some (/sam/) with a singular countable noun, to talk about an
unknown person or thing.
There must be some job | could do.
She's living in some village in Yorkshire.
We can use this structure to suggest that we are not interested in
somebody or something, or that we do not think much of somebody or
something.
Mary's gone to Australia to marry some sheep farmer or other.
| don't want to spend my life doing some boring littie office job.

316 some/any and no article

1 We use some and any when we are talking about fairly small numbers
or quantities. Compare:
Have you got any animals? (NOT Have-yer-get animals?)
Do you like animals? ( = all animals)

2 Some and any refer to uncertain, indefinite or unknown numbers or
quantities. Compare:
You've got some great pop records.
You've got beautiful toes.
(NOT Yetrve-getseme-beautifuHoes- This would mean an uncertain
number perhaps six or seven, perhaps more or less.)
—
Would you like some more beer?
(Not a definite amount — as much as the hearer wants.)
We need beer, sugar, eggs, butter, rice and toilet paper.
(The usual quantities — more definite.)

317 somebody and anybody, something and anything,
etc

The difference between somebody and anybody, someone and anyone,
somewhere and anywhere, something and anything is the same as the
difference between some and any. (See 314.) Most important, we use