some:  One Way to Quantify a Noun

Welcome to today's lesson, as we continue in our chapter about noun and pronouns.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar, also in our Library.

After you complete the activities and when you are ready to check your answers, go to our "Answer Key" shelf located in "Our Library".

the quantifier some

 

Today we are focusing on one common way to quantify a noun: the quantifier some.

You can use the quantifier some with count and noncount nouns when you do not wish to make reference to a specific quantity or number of units.

The Quantifier some as an Adjective

 

You can use the quantifier some as an adjective.

Count Nouns:

  • We brought some hot drinks along.

  • I heard some frightening sounds coming from the trees.

Noncount Nouns:

  • We brought some food along.

  • I put the envelope and the stamp in some water.

  • Did you hear that loud bang? Boy, that was some sound!

  • He gave me some good advice.

The Quantifier some as a Pronoun

 

You can use the quantifier some as a pronoun, as in the following sentence:

  • For some who move from one country to another, it's easy to adjust to a new educational system. For others, it's not.

Be a Grammar Geek!

 The adjective some is used in each practice sentence below.  How well can you distinguish between a count noun and a noncount noun?

The adjective some is used in each sentence below. What is the noun it describes? Circle the noun or noun phrase it describes. Beneath that noun, write C for count noun and NC for noncount noun.  If the word some is used as a pronoun, write " pronoun".

Example: The sofa bed was near some garbage cans.
                                                             count noun
1.  On some days we watched TV and read books.

2.  We have some fun with our friends.

3.  I took some medicine and went to sleep.

4.  Some people struggle and some don't. Some are poor and some have money.

You will find the answers in our "Answer Key".

Next... Pronouns

 

Please continue with our next lesson: Pronouns:  Subject and Demonstrative Pronouns

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