0
Slocawber Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
SOME in interrogative sentences
We read in grammars that SOME is used in affermative sentences
(except when it's about polite questions), whereas ANY is used in
negative and interrogative sentences.
Please consider the following:
'Why do some people think wiretapping is a bad idea?'
It's an interrogative sentence, but SOME is used.
I understand the situation is different from:
There aren't any apples in the fridge. / I want some apples.
Still I can't explain where the difference lies.
Can you help me? Thank you.
(except when it's about polite questions), whereas ANY is used in
negative and interrogative sentences.
Please consider the following:
'Why do some people think wiretapping is a bad idea?'
It's an interrogative sentence, but SOME is used.
I understand the situation is different from:
There aren't any apples in the fridge. / I want some apples.
Still I can't explain where the difference lies.
Can you help me? Thank you.
Top answer
'It's an interrogative sentence, but SOME is used. Because the speaker's opinion is that some people do. That is a common reason for using 'some' in questions: Would you like some coffee?
- 'It's an interrogative sentence, but SOME is used.
- Because the speaker's opinion is that some people do.
- That is a common reason for using 'some' in questions: Would you like some coffee?
- What are some reasons for the war in the Middle East?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
slocawber'Why do some people think wiretapping is a bad idea?'It's an interrogative sentence, but SOME is used.Because the speaker's opinion is that some people do. That is a common reason for using 'some' in questions:
Would you like some coffee?
What are some reasons for the war in the Middle East?
00
That's interesting. So it depends on what the speaker thinks.
When one asks: Are there ANY reasons for that war in Africa? one is
also saying that he/she is not aware of any real reason for that.
Is it so? Thank you.
When one asks: Are there ANY reasons for that war in Africa? one is
also saying that he/she is not aware of any real reason for that.
Is it so? Thank you.
00
slocawber So it depends on what the speaker thinks.Right.
slocawberWhen one asks: Are there ANY reasons for that war in Africa? one is also saying that he/she is not aware of any real reason for that.Or at least that the speaker is admitting the possibility of no reasons existing.
0
Related Questions