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Navitasan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Some/certain amount

A says: I spilled milk on the table.
B says:
1) There is a little on your shirt too.
2) There is some on your shirt too.
3) There is a certain amount on your shirt too.

If '1' is true, would '2' and '3' be true as well?

I think 'some' and 'a certain amount' cover the whole range from 'a little' to 'a lot'. So I think, logically speaking, if '1' is true, the other two are true as well, although they don't have the exact same meaning.

I guess '3' is a bit too formal for such a conversation.

Gratefully,
Navi.
  

Top answer

I'd say you are right. You could use any specific or general measure of quantity in the sentence, 'a drop', 'a splash', 'a dribble', 'a spoonful', '350 millilitres', 'half a cup', etc etc. Some are a lot more likely than others!

— Vic Z

  • I'd say you are right.
  • You could use any specific or general measure of quantity in the sentence, 'a drop', 'a splash', 'a dribble', 'a spoonful', '350 millilitres', 'half a cup', etc etc.
  • Some are a lot more likely than others!
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3 Answers
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I'd say you are right. You could use any specific or general measure of quantity in the sentence, 'a drop', 'a splash', 'a dribble', 'a spoonful', '350 millilitres', 'half a cup', etc etc. Some are a lot more likely than others!
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Remember that "true" and "grammatically correct" are different things.
Also remember that "grammatically correct" and "natural English" are often not the same.

I'd say "Yeah, you got some on your shirt, too."
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Thank you very much, Vic and Barbara,

Yes, I deliberately used the word 'true'. In an almost logical sense.

Respectfully,
Navi.
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