some과 any에 관한 분석

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the semantic boundaries of "some and any", to identify the meaning of some in comparison with any, and to propose new suggestion for the proper use of "some and any". According to Eckersley and Eckersley (1963), traditional grammarians, some is used in assertive (affirmative, declarative) sentences and any in non-assertive (negative, interrogative, and conditional) sentences. It totally depends on the pattern of sentences. This suggestion has been widely accepted in school grammars. But lots of materials shows that some can appear where any is said to be used and any also can appear where some is said to be used. So the traditional some-any rule is worthless and needs to be revised. Therefore, this study carried out a research on the distribution of "some and any" from textbooks (high school English Ⅱ), newspapers, research papers, and novel. The data gathered from each genre are classified by the two criteria of genre and the pattern of sentences. And then, on the basis of theoretical background, the data are analyzed in company with specific examples given from those 4 genres. As a result of this research, it is found that "some and any" have their own meanings and their inherent meanings determine the semantic boundary of "some and any". Some appears in assertive sentences and any appears in non-assertive sentences according to the meaning of sentences. Also some is used to talk about a specific but unspecified person or thing, any is used to refer to non-specific, unspecified things. And some can be used in factual contexts, and any can be used in conjectural or hypothetical contexts. Some, the realis marker, appears when the existence of a set member is presupposed. On the other hand, any, the irrealis marker, appears when the existence of a set member is not presupposed. Through these findings, I suggest that the selection of "some and any" depends on the meaning of the sentences and the discourse. Furthermore teachers should provide the students with various authentic learning materials rather than the textbooks which offer limited use of "some and any". It may be helpful to understand the meaning and usage of "some and any".