"Some" instead of "a"

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Is it wrong to use "some" instead of "a" in my sentence?

"Can I ask you some question?"

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

When "some" is being used to express "more than one", it should be used with the plural.

Can I ask you some questions?

("Some" can mean "unspecified", and can be used with the singular. For example, "I was followed home by some weird guy the other night".)

 

[Rachel Adams]

When "some" is being used to express "more than one", it should be used with the plural.

Can I ask you some questions?

("Some" can mean "unspecified", and can be used with the singular. For example, "I was followed home by some weird guy the other night".)

Can it be used to refer to an unspecified question in my sentence?

 

[teechar]

Stick with Rover's advice. "Can I ask you a question?" is much more natural and common.

 

[emsr2d2]

Can it be used to refer to an unspecified question in my sentence?

In your sentence, no. It could be used in a context where perhaps you didn't hear (or, rather, listen to) a question properly.

Teacher to student: What is one hundred divided by six?
Student (daydreaming in class): (Silence)
Teacher: Come on, Rachel. What's the answer?
You: To what?
Teacher: To my question.
You: What question?
Teacher: Oh, for goodness' sake. What did I say to you thirty seconds ago?
You: Um, I don't know. I guess you asked me some question or other but I wasn't really listening!
Teacher: Oh, that's just great. I've had enough. Get yourself off to the principal's office!

 

[teechar]

Consider also, for example:
I'm a bit hazy about that conversation, but I seem to remember that he asked me some question about nutrition.
Here, "some" suggests uncertainty about the nature/details of the question.

 

[Yankee]

In your sentence, no. It could be used in a context where perhaps you didn't hear (or, rather, listen to) a question properly.

Teacher to student: What is one hundred divided by six?
Student (daydreaming in class): (Silence)
Teacher: Come on, Rachel. What's the answer?
You: To what?
Teacher: To my question.
You: What question?
Teacher: Oh, for goodness' sake. What did I say to you thirty seconds ago?
You: Um, I don't know. I guess you asked me some question or other but I wasn't really listening!
Teacher: Oh, that's just great. I've had enough. Get yourself off to the principal's office!

Hmm. A new sitcom in the making?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Can it be used to refer to an unspecified question in my sentence?

No. Rover is always right.

 

[Rover_KE]

... except when I'm not.