SOME
Smooth. smu:0/ [adj] use this about skin or fur that is soft and pleasant to touch: Her skin was as smooth as silk.
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a few /з tju:/ [quantifierI a small number of people, things, facts etc: "Are there any chocolates left?" "Only a few." I They went to China a few years ago. I We know a few people who work in advertising. I There are a few problems I'd like to discuss with you.
A\ Don't confuse a few (=a small number) and few (^almost none): She has few friends (^almost no friends). I She has a few friends (=some friends).
see also
i
LITTLE/NOT MUCH
A
some, but not a large number
some /s<?m; strong SAnv [determineг/ pronoun] a number of people or things, but not a large number use this when you are not saying exactly what the number is: There were some children playing in the street. I "Do you have any tools?" "Yes, there should be some in the back of the car." some more/some other Tve got some more pictures of her upstairs. I There are some other reasons besides those I have mentioned.
ix Don't use some in negative sentences. Use any Don't say 'I don't have some cigarettes'. Say I don't have any cigarettes
SOME
look here for ... some but not many some but not much some but not all
t LOT
FEW
AMOUNT/
A In questions, you can use either some or any: Do you want any chips7 I Do you want some chips? But use some especially when you think that the other person will answer 'yes'.
on
plained about the noise from the party, f Tve been to Japan several times.
A
Don't confuse a few (=a small number) and a little (-a small amount). A few is only used with plural nouns.
Several 'several [quantifier] more than a few people or things, but not a large number: The President visited several states his tour. I Several people corn-
a number of ,/э плтЬэг nv/ formal severaclass="underline" A number of people said they had seen the gunman earlier in the day. I We have received a number of complaints about last night's television programme.
a series of /э 'si,?ri:z nv/ several things of the same kind that happen one after the other: There has been a series of robberies in the area recently. I We are planning a series of concerts to raise money for charity.
some, but not a large amount
Some /s«?m; strong s\mj [determiner/ pronoun] an amount of something, but not a large amount - use this when you are not saying exactly what the amount is: Can I borrow some money, Dad? I / need some time to think about what you've said. I uWe've run out of milk." "Do you want me to go and get some?" some more Would you like some more meat?
Don't use some in negative sentences. Use any. Don't say 'I don't have some money'. Say I don't have any money
As, Jn questions, you can use either some or any: Do you want some wine? i Do you want any wine? But use some especially when you think that the other person will answer 'yes'.
a certain amount of /э ,s*rtn o'maont
dv a fairly large amount - use this to talk about people s feelings, abilities etc. not to talk about things: a job that required a certain amount of intelligence and skill I A certain amount of stress is unavoidable in daily life.
some, but not all
some/some of SAm. 'sAm ov/ [quantifier] some but not all of a number or amount: Some students only come here because they want to have fun. I "Have you met Jack's friends?' "Some of them." I I've already spent some of the money, f Some trees lose their leaves in the autumn: others remain green all through the winter.
a few of /э fju: nv [quantifier] a few but not all of a number of people or things: I'm going to the club with a few of my friends.
OFTEN
When you see НИ, go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section
several oj/'sev^l nv/[quantiser] several but not all of a number of people or things.- Several of us are going on a trip to France. I Seuera/ of the islands have beautiful beaches
SOMETIMES
ALWAYS
see also
^ Si
USUALLY NEVER
sometimes /sAiritaimz/ [adu] on some occasions, but not always: Sometimes I drive to work and sometimes I walk. I Traffic noise is somefimes о problem. I The journey takes about an hour,; sometimes even longer
Don't forget the 's' at the end of
sometimes
occasionally /a'keivrwli, [adu] use this
to talk about something that only happens a few times, and does not happen often: Occasionally we go out to restaurants, but mostly we eat at home. very occasionally (=not at all often) He lives in Australia now, so we only see him very occasionally. occasional [adj only before nounl happening a few times, but not at ail often: Prisoners are allowed occasional visits from their relatives.
You can also say the occasional ... when you mean an occasional Apart
from the occasional Christmas card, we never heard from her again.
now and then/every now and
tken /пао and '6en, ,evri паи and 'den/ sometimes, but not regularly: Now and then she would look up from her work and smile at him. 1 You see stories like this in the newspapers every now and then.
Jrom time to time /fram ,taim 1э taim
sometimes, but not regularly and not often: This is the kind of problem that we all have from time to time. I Tax rates may vary from time to time.
Qthe odd /ai 'odl-'aid/ [adj only before noun] the odd drink/game/occasion/ weekend etc especially spoken a few drinks, games etc at various times, but not often and not regularly. Jim and I have the odd drink together. I We get the odd complaint from customers, but mostly they're very satisfied.
Qoff and on/on and off /of and on,
on and 'of/ especially spokln for short periods, but not continuously or regularly, over a long period of time: We've been going out together for five years, off and on. I I worked in bars on and off for two years before I decided to go back to college.
A
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SOMETIMES
can be /'каем bi:/ sometimes - use this to talk about what may happen in a particular situation: These dogs can be quite aggressive if they are not well trained. 1 She can be really stubborn once she has made up her mind about something.