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Teleostomi Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

The issue concerning "it" or "one"

(1) If you see any interesting book, buy it for me.

(2) If you see any interesting book, buy one for me.

(3) If you see any interesting books, buy one for me.[correct]

(4) If you see any interesting books, buy some for me.[correct]

(5) If you see any interesting books, buy them for me.

I think (3) and (4) are without question correct. What about the rest?
  

Top answer

1&2 need books to be plural. If you see any bookS. 1 could be rewritten as If you see an interesting book, buy it for me .

— BarbaraPA

  • 1&2 need books to be plural.
  • If you see any bookS.
  • 1 could be rewritten as If you see an interesting book, buy it for me .
  • 5 is okay - but you're telling the person to buy all the interesting books he sees.
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11 Answers
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1&2 need books to be plural. If you see any bookS.

1 could be rewritten as If you see an interesting book, buy it for me.

5 is okay - but you're telling the person to buy all the interesting books he sees.
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They are all possible except 2, which needs books:

If you see any interesting books, buy one for me.

The first one, though possible, is not idiomatic. We are more likely to say:

If you see an interesting book, buy it for me.

CJ
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Isn't there a contradiction here?
an (unspecific) interesting book, buy it (specific) for me.
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Hi,

Isn't there a contradiction here?
an (unspecific) interesting book, buy it (specific) for me.

It's like saying 'A man walked into the room. He sat down.' Are you OK with this example?

Best wishes, Clive
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This is not directed to anyone particular but can you kindly tell me whether they are correct?

1. If you see some interesting book, buy it for me.

2. If you see some interesting book, buy one for me.

3. If you see some interesting books, buy one for me.

4. If you see some interestng books, buy some for me.

5. If you see some interesting books, buy them
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BelieverThis is not directed to anyone particular but can you kindly tell me whether they are correct?

1. If you see AN interesting book, buy it for me.

2. If you see some interesting bookS, buy one for me. (the same as #3)

3. If you see some interesting books, buy one for me.

4.
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I think many people would say that some could mean one in informal English or it at least has some acceptance with the meaning of such.

If you across some interesting book, let me know.

Is the underlined part right grammatically?
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BelieverI think many people would say that some could mean one in informal English or with the meaning of such.

If you across some interesting book, let me know.

Is the underlined part right grammatically?

The undenrlined part is not necessary. "It at least has some acceptance" is just fine. As a matter of fa
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Oh, I get your meaning about "some."

What did you wear? Oh, just some old dress. So, yes, it can be used that way informally, but it doesn't really work in the sentence you gave. If you said "I was just reading some book I found on the used book shelf," that's fine, but you use it that way for something you already have identified, not non-specifically.
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it at least has some acceptance with the meaning of such.
No. You want ... some acceptance with that meaning.
Possibly ... some acceptance with such a meaning. (But this one sounds more elaborate than necessary.)

CJ
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