someone

Everyday

1. Someone means a person, but we do not say who. tree →
2. «Someone» can also mean an important person: she wants to be someone. tree →
3. (casual) «Someone» is used to hint at a person everybody knows: «Someone ate my chips» means I know it was you. tree →
4. (casual, sarcastic) «Someone's grumpy» or «someone's in a mood» teases a person who is right there. tree →
5. (formal) «A person», «an individual» and «a party» are stiff words: «an unidentified individual», «a third party». tree →

In the lessons

In maths a word of the story only; look at the verb (took, gave, bought). Safety: if someone you don't know asks you to go with them, say no and tell an adult. Everyday: someone else, someone special. In casual talk «someone» is often a pointed hint or a tease. In the exam voice: «an individual purchases 4 pens». Phrases: «someone else», «someone or other», «be someone».

Examples

• Someone took 3 cookies from the jar. tree →
• Someone gave her $5. tree →
• If someone buys 4 pens, how much do they pay? tree →
• Someone left 2 books on the desk. tree →
• Someone is knocking at the door. tree →
• Ask someone for help if you are lost. tree →
• Is someone sitting here? tree →
• She wanted someone else to go first. tree →
• someone ate 3 of my 8 chips and i know it was u (casual) tree →
• Ooh, someone's in a mood today. (casual, teasing) tree →
• Someone's gonna get a smack if they touch my bike. (rough threat) tree →
• An individual purchases 4 pens at 30 cents per pen; compute the total expenditure. (formal exam) tree →
• “Because someone has eaten my feet.” tree →

Note

Takes a singular verb: someone is. Same as «somebody». Questions often use «anyone». No clue of its own; look at the verb (took, gave, bought). Trap: «someone's» = someone is, or belonging to someone («someone's bag»). Sarcasm: «someone's grumpy» means you are grumpy. Formal «an individual» = someone. Safety: someone you don't know online may not be who they say.