Sunday, September 16, 2018

word usage - When to use "some" instead of "a"



You were just having some dream.



and




You were just having a dream.



Are both correct? What is the difference, if any?



Answer



Yes, both are correct.


In your first example some is being used in an informal way.


There are two plausible interpretations for some.


The first possibility is that some means the dream is remarkable in some way (meaning 6 in the above link). It takes the place of a and adds this extra meaning to the sentence.


So




You were just having some dream!



Is pretty much the same as saying



You were just having a remarkable dream!



When you use some in this way, you must put emphasis on it.


Another example could be:



That is an apple.




vs



That is some apple!



Where the apple could for example be tastier than normal.


Some, used in this way, indicates that some attribute of the thing is surprisingly different to normal.


The other possibility is that some means a but in a dismissive way (meaning 2. in the link I provide).


So




You were just having some dream.



Could be interpreted as



You were just having a dream, don't worry about it.



or



You were just having a dream, it is of no importance.




Another example would be:



A- Who is that on stage?


B- Oh, just some roadie.



Because B doesn't think the roadie is of interest.


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