Some/any

Status
Not open for further replies.

Rachel Adams

Key Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Georgia
Current Location
Georgia
Hello.

Can I omit "some" and "any" in my sentences? Will they sound natural?

1."I bought some mushrooms."

2. "I bought some milk."

3. "We have some milk in the fridge."

4. "I have books about Irish history."

5. "I didn't buy any mushrooms."

6. "I didn't buy any milk."

7. "We don't have any milk in the fridge."

8. "I don't have any books about Irish history."
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
All the food-related ones would be OK without "some/any". I find the ones about books unnatural.
 

PeterCW

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2020
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
If spoken there are subtle differences in meaning when using "some" depending on which word you stress.

"I bought some mushrooms" means that you bought mushrooms.

"I bought some mushrooms" means that the quantity is be less than the person you are speaking to may be expecting.
 

Rachel Adams

Key Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Georgia
Current Location
Georgia
"I bought some mushrooms."

"I bought some mushrooms."


Some is pronounced /səm/ in the first sentence and /sʌm/ in the second in BrE.

Is it because stressed/strong forms are pronounced clearly? I am asking about /sʌm/. Do verbs also have strong forms?
 

Charlie Bernstein

VIP Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Is it because stressed/strong forms are pronounced clearly? I am asking about /sʌm/. Do verbs also have strong forms?
In American English, we don't change a word's pronunciation when we stress it. We pronounce some the same way, whether it's stressed or not.
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
In American English, we don't change a word's pronunciation when we stress it. We pronounce some the same way, whether it's stressed or not.
That's not right. Other vowels tend to become schwas in the unstressed pronunciation.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top