some
/sʌm/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌm] /sʌm/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌm] /ˈsəm for sense 2 without stress/ (ame, mw)
some — 限定詞
1. placed in front of a noun when you are not saying exactly how many or how much y
一些；若干
不特定數量或數目的
placed in front of a noun when you are not saying exactly how many or how much you mean, because the precise quantity is unknown or does not matter
Minh put some sugar in her coffee before stirring it.
Minh 在咖啡裡加了一些糖，然後攪拌了一下。
some + uncountable noun (sugar)
Can I borrow some money for the bus fare home?
我可以借一些錢搭公車回家嗎？
There were some cookies left on the kitchen table after the party.
派對結束後，廚房桌上還留了一些餅乾。
Abigail bought some apples at the morning market today.
Abigail 今天早上在早市買了一些蘋果。
I need some help carrying these heavy boxes upstairs.
我需要一些人幫忙把這些沉重的箱子搬上樓。
文法句型
some + uncountable noun
some + plural countable noun
用法筆記
In questions and negative statements, 'some' usually changes to 'any' in neutral contexts, but 'some' is kept when the speaker expects a 'yes' answer: 'Would you like some tea?' (offering politely).
常見錯誤
2. a considerable or impressive amount or number — used before nouns like 'time', '
不少；好多
數量相當大的
a considerable or impressive amount or number — used before nouns like 'time', 'distance', or 'years' to emphasise that the quantity is large
We waited for some time before the doctor finally came out.
我們等了好一會兒，醫生才終於出來。
some time = a long period
Daichi had to drive some distance to reach the nearest hospital.
Daichi 得開好一段路才能到最近的醫院。
some distance = a long way
That restaurant has been around for some years now and is very popular.
那家餐廳已經開了好幾年，現在非常受歡迎。
The team put in some effort to finish the project before the deadline.
團隊投入了不少心力，才在截止日前完成專案。
It took some courage for Folake to speak in front of so many people.
Folake 需要相當大的勇氣才能在這麼多人面前說話。
- a considerable amount of
more formal and explicit about the large quantity
- quite a lot of
informal and more direct about the amount
文法句型
some + [time/distance/effort] + noun
用法筆記
Commonly paired with nouns that imply length, duration, or degree: 'some time', 'some distance', 'some years'. The meaning of 'large' comes from the noun choice, not from 'some' alone.
常見錯誤
3. used with a singular countable noun to talk about a person, object, or location
某個
不指明特定對象的
used with a singular countable noun to talk about a person, object, or location that you cannot name, do not know, or consider unimportant
Some person kept calling and hanging up without saying a word.
有某個人一直打電話來又掛斷，一句話也沒說。
some + singular person = unknown identity
There must be some reason why the flight was cancelled so suddenly.
航班突然被取消，一定有什麼原因。
Asher met some woman at the conference who knew his old professor.
Asher 在會議上遇到某個女人，她認識他以前的老教授。
We need to find some way to solve this problem before Friday.
我們得想個辦法在星期五之前解決這個問題。
Reema mentioned some place in the mountains that she wanted to visit.
Reema 提到山裡的某個地方，說她想去看看。
- a certain
slightly more formal and implies the speaker does know the identity but chooses not to name it
- some kind of
adds extra uncertainty about the nature of the thing
文法句型
some + singular countable noun
用法筆記
Often implies that the speaker does not know the exact identity or thinks it is unimportant. Distinguished from determiner sense 1 because this sense is used with singular countable nouns only.
常見錯誤
4. placed at the start of a sentence in front of a noun to show you are annoyed or
算什麼
表示憤怒或不滿的修飾語
placed at the start of a sentence in front of a noun to show you are annoyed or disappointed with someone or something — you are often quoting a word that you then reject as inadequate or untrue
Some friend you are — you forgot my birthday completely!
你這算什麼朋友——你根本完全忘了我的生日！
informal disapproval: some + noun + you + verb
Some help that was — the instructions made everything worse than before.
那算什麼幫忙——說明書讓情況比之前更糟。
Some vacation this turned out to be — it rained every single day.
這算什麼假期——每天都下雨。
Some expert he is — he could not even answer a basic question about his field.
他算什麼專家——連自己領域的基本問題都回答不出來。
- what a
can express either positive or negative feeling, whereas 'some' in this sense is always negative
文法句型
some + noun + [subject + verb]!
用法筆記
Strongly sarcastic. The sentence structure is almost always 'Some + noun + subject + verb' followed by a clause or phrase that explains the disappointment. The noun typically names a role (friend, help, expert, vacation) that the speaker feels has been failed.
常見錯誤
5. placed in front of a noun in an exclamation to highlight that a person or thing
了不起
表達讚賞的口語用法
placed in front of a noun in an exclamation to highlight that a person or thing is remarkable or of very high quality
That was some party — the music and the food were absolutely amazing!
那場派對了不得——音樂和食物都棒極了！
informal praise: that was some + noun
Nellie gave some speech at the graduation ceremony last week.
Nellie 在上週的畢業典禮上發表了一場非常精彩的演講。
That is some car you have got there — how fast does it go?
你這輛車真了不起——它能跑多快？
Chiara is some cook — her pasta dish won first prize at the competition.
Chiara 的廚藝真了不起——她的義大利麵在比賽中得了第一名。
- quite a
similar meaning but less emphatic than 'some'
- one heck of a
very informal, same function as 'some' in this sense
文法句型
some + noun!
用法筆記
Distinguished from the ANGER sense (determiner/4) by context and tone. This sense has a positive, admiring tone and often appears with 'that is/was' rather than in sarcastic inverted structures.
常見錯誤
some — 代名詞
1. used in place of a full noun phrase to talk about a quantity when the exact numb
一些
指不特定數量的事物
used in place of a full noun phrase to talk about a quantity when the exact number or amount is not given or is not important
Ilan picked oranges from the tree in his yard and juiced some for breakfast.
Ilan 從後院的樹上摘了柳橙，榨了一些當早餐。
some replaces 'some oranges' after the noun is introduced
Gabriela baked cookies and gave some to her neighbors across the street.
Gabriela 烤了餅乾，把一些送給了對面的鄰居。
some replaces 'some cookies'
If you need paper for the printer, there is some in the desk drawer.
如果你需要影印紙，抽屜裡有一些。
The children asked for water and Minh poured some into each cup.
孩子們要水喝，Minh 就往每個杯子裡倒了一些。
Zayd bought apples at the market and shared some with his classmates.
Zayd 在市場買了蘋果，分了一些給他的同學。
- a part
more formal and exact, not a pronoun but a noun phrase
- none
zero amount: 'I have some, but she has none.'
文法句型
some of + noun phrase
some (standing alone)
用法筆記
Functions as the subject or object of a clause, replacing 'some + noun' when the noun is already known from context. Often followed by 'of' when specifying the group: 'some of the students'.
常見錯誤
2. certain members of a group but not all of them, especially used as a pronoun to
有些人
群體中的部分成員
certain members of a group but not all of them, especially used as a pronoun to refer to people without naming every individual
Some believe that exercising in the morning is best for your health.
有些人認為早上運動對健康最好。
some = some people, as subject
Some of the students passed the exam easily, while others found it hard.
有些學生輕鬆通過了考試，而其他學生則覺得很難。
Lauren agreed with the new plan, but some in the group did not.
Lauren 同意新計畫，但團隊中的有些人不同意。
Some say the old house on the hill is haunted, but nobody has proof.
有人說山上那棟老房子鬧鬼，但沒有人有證據。
- a few
implies a smaller number, not necessarily contrasting with 'all'
文法句型
some + of + group noun
some (as subject referring to people)
用法筆記
When used alone as a subject, 'some' almost always refers to people and means 'some people'. When a specific group is named, use 'some of + group'.
常見錯誤
some — 副詞
1. roughly or approximately — used when stating a number that is not exact
大約
用於數字前表示大概
roughly or approximately — used when stating a number that is not exact
There were some fifty people at the wedding ceremony last Saturday.
上週六的婚禮大約有五十人參加。
some + number for approximation
Camila earns some forty thousand dollars a year at her current job.
Camila 目前的工作年薪大約四萬美元。
The old building is some two hundred years old and badly needs repairs.
那棟老建築大約有兩百年歷史，急需修繕。
We walked some three miles along the beach before stopping for lunch.
我們沿著海灘走了大約三英里，才停下來吃午餐。
- approximately
more formal and less common in everyday speech
- about
the most common alternative, used in both formal and informal contexts
- roughly
informal, similar meaning
- exactly
precisely, without approximation
文法句型
some + number + noun
用法筆記
Always placed directly before the number. Cannot be used with exact, precise figures — it signals a deliberate round-off. More common in formal or written English than in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
2. to a small extent or degree; slightly
有點；稍微
程度輕微地
to a small extent or degree; slightly
I am feeling some better after taking the medicine this morning.
今天早上吃了藥之後，我覺得稍微好一點了。
some + comparative adjective (better)
The rain let up some in the afternoon, so we went for a short walk.
下午雨勢稍微小了一些，所以我們出去散了個步。
verb + some = slightly
Her French has improved some since she started taking weekly classes.
她開始每週上法語課之後，法語有一些進步。
The noise from the street died down some after the manager asked for quiet.
經理請大家安靜之後，街上的噪音稍微減弱了一些。
- a lot
to a great degree
文法句型
some + comparative adjective
verb + some
用法筆記
More common in American English than British English. In British English, 'a bit' or 'somewhat' are typically preferred. Often used with verbs of change (improve, let up, die down).