1.221 The general way: other determiners

'Some' is usually used to indicate that there is a quantity of something or that there are a number of things or people, without being precise. It is therefore used with uncount nouns and plural count nouns.

'Some' is usually used in affirmative statements.

• There is some evidence that the system works.
• There's some chocolate cake over there.
• I had some good ideas.
• Some people expect rapid economic development.

'Some' can be used in questions, when we expect the answer to be 'yes'.

• Could you give me some examples?
• Would you like some coffee?

'Some' is also used to mean quite a large amount or number. For example, in 'I did not meet her again for some years', 'some' means almost the same as 'several' or 'many'.

• You will be unable to restart the car for some time.
• It took some years for Dan to realize the truth.

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You can also use 'some' in front of numbers, in slightly more literary English, to show that you are not being totally accurate.

• I was some fifteen miles by sea from the nearest village.
• ...an animal weighing some five tons.

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When you want to emphasize that you do not know the identity of a person or thing, or you think their identity is not important, you can use 'some' with a singular count noun, instead of 'a' or 'an'.

• Most staff members will spend a few weeks in some developing country.
• Supposing you had some eccentric who came and offered you a thousand pounds.