18 Synonyms for Some Of: Several, Certain & More

Synonyms for “some of” include phrases like a few of, several of, a number of, part of, certain of, and a portion of. Each option works in slightly different contexts—a few of suggests a small quantity, while several of indicates more.

For example, instead of writing “Some of the students arrived late,” you could say “Several of the students arrived late.” Using the right synonym helps vary your writing, making it clearer and more precise.

Definition of “Some Of”

The phrase “some of” is a partitive construction in English, indicating an unspecified quantity or number from a larger group or whole. It implies that only a portion, not all, of the group is being referred to.

“Some of” functions as a determiner, specifying a particular subset of a noun. It is typically followed by a definite noun phrase (e.g., “some of the books”) or a pronoun (e.g., “some of them”).

The core function of “some of” is to express indefiniteness about the exact quantity being referenced. It’s a versatile phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but its frequent use can sometimes lead to monotony in writing.

Therefore, understanding and utilizing its synonyms is essential for achieving greater linguistic precision and stylistic variation.

To fully grasp the concept, consider these key aspects:

Quantity: Indicates a portion, but the exact amount is not specified.
Specificity: Usually followed by a definite noun phrase (with “the”) or a pronoun.
Context: Suitable for various contexts, but synonyms can offer greater nuance.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of “some of” is relatively straightforward, but understanding its components is crucial for using it correctly and for identifying suitable synonyms. The basic structure is:

Some + of + the/possessive adjective + noun (plural or uncountable)

Some + of + pronoun (them, us, you)

Let’s break down each element:

Some: This is the quantifier, indicating an unspecified amount.
Of: This preposition connects the quantifier to the larger group.
The/Possessive Adjective: “The” specifies a particular group already known to the speaker and listener. A possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) indicates ownership or association.
Noun (plural or uncountable): The noun represents the larger group from which “some” is taken. It must be plural for countable nouns (e.g., books, students) and uncountable for mass nouns (e.g., water, information).
Pronoun: A pronoun replaces the noun phrase, referring back to a previously mentioned group (e.g., “some of them” refers to “some of the students”).

Understanding this structure helps in recognizing how synonyms can be substituted while maintaining grammatical correctness. The key is to find words or phrases that can replace “some” while still fitting into the “of + noun/pronoun” structure or adapting the sentence to accommodate a different structure.

Types of Synonyms for Some Of

Synonyms for “some of” can be categorized based on the type of quantity or proportion they express. Here are some key categories:

Quantifiers

Quantifiers are words or phrases that indicate quantity. They can be used to replace “some of” when you want to be more specific about the amount.

Examples include:

Many of: Indicates a large number.
Several of: Indicates more than two, but not a large number.
A few of: Indicates a small number.
A number of: Indicates several.
A majority of: Indicates more than half.
A couple of: Indicates two.

Fractions and Percentages

Fractions and percentages provide a more precise way to express a portion of a whole. They can replace “some of” when you have specific numerical information.

Half of: Indicates 50%.
A quarter of: Indicates 25%.
One-third of: Indicates approximately 33.3%.
20% of: Indicates 20%.
75% of: Indicates 75%.

Proportions

Proportions express the relationship between two quantities. They can be used to replace “some of” when you want to emphasize the relative amount.

A large proportion of: Indicates a significant amount.
A small proportion of: Indicates a minimal amount.
A significant portion of: Indicates a notable amount.
A considerable number of: Indicates a substantial amount.

Vague Terms

Vague terms are less precise than other categories but can be useful when you don’t have or don’t want to provide specific numbers.

A bit of: Indicates a small amount (usually for uncountable nouns).
Lots of: Indicates a large amount.
Plenty of: Indicates an abundance.
A good deal of: Indicates a significant amount (usually for uncountable nouns).

Examples

To illustrate the use of these synonyms, let’s look at examples categorized by the types discussed above.

Quantifiers Examples

The table below shows examples using quantifiers as synonyms for “some of.”

Original Sentence (Using “Some Of”)	Synonym Sentence (Using Quantifiers)
Some of the students were late to class.	Many of the students were late to class.
Some of the books on the shelf are old.	Several of the books on the shelf are old.
Some of the information was incorrect.	A little of the information was incorrect.
Some of the guests enjoyed the party.	A few of the guests enjoyed the party.
Some of the employees received a bonus.	A number of the employees received a bonus.
Some of the voters supported the candidate.	A majority of the voters supported the candidate.
Some of the apples were rotten.	A couple of the apples were rotten.
Some of the houses were damaged in the storm.	Several of the houses were damaged in the storm.
Some of the children were playing in the park.	Many of the children were playing in the park.
Some of the cake was eaten.	A little of the cake was eaten.
Some of the emails were unread.	A number of the emails were unread.
Some of the members attended the meeting.	A few of the members attended the meeting.
Some of the songs were popular.	Many of the songs were popular.
Some of the milk spilled.	A little of the milk spilled.
Some of the questions were difficult.	Several of the questions were difficult.
Some of the plants died.	A few of the plants died.
Some of the money was spent.	A little of the money was spent.
Some of the paintings were sold.	Several of the paintings were sold.
Some of the food was delicious.	Much of the food was delicious.
Some of the clothes were new.	Many of the clothes were new.
Some of us went to the concert.	Several of us went to the concert.
Some of the birds flew away.	A few of the birds flew away.
Some of the juice was left.	A little of the juice was left.
Some of the ideas were innovative.	Several of the ideas were innovative.
Some of the bread was stale.	A bit of the bread was stale.
Some of the suggestions were helpful.	Many of the suggestions were helpful.
Some of the information is confidential.	Much of the information is confidential.

Fractions and Percentages Examples

The table below shows examples using fractions and percentages as synonyms for “some of.”

Original Sentence (Using “Some Of”)	Synonym Sentence (Using Fractions/Percentages)
Some of the pie was eaten.	Half of the pie was eaten.
Some of the land is used for farming.	A quarter of the land is used for farming.
Some of the project is complete.	One-third of the project is complete.
Some of the students failed the test.	20% of the students failed the test.
Some of the work is finished.	75% of the work is finished.
Some of the money was spent.	Half of the money was spent.
Some of the population lives in cities.	A quarter of the population lives in cities.
Some of the task is done.	One-third of the task is done.
Some of the attendees were late.	25% of the attendees were late.
Some of the job is complete.	80% of the job is complete.
Some of the apples were rotten.	Half of the apples were rotten.
Some of the water evaporated.	A quarter of the water evaporated.
Some of the report is finished.	One-third of the report is finished.
Some of the participants withdrew.	10% of the participants withdrew.
Some of the project is completed.	90% of the project is completed.
Some of the cake was eaten.	Half of the cake was eaten.
Some of the territory is forested.	A quarter of the territory is forested.
Some of the book is read.	One-third of the book is read.
Some of the workers are absent.	5% of the workers are absent.
Some of the construction is done.	95% of the construction is done.
Some of them were happy.	Half of them were happy.
Some of the effort paid off.	99% of the effort paid off.
Some of the plan went well.	25% of the plan went well.
Some of the land is arable.	One-third of the land is arable.
Some of the group were tired.	1% of the group were tired.

Proportions Examples

The table below shows examples using proportions as synonyms for “some of.”

Original Sentence (Using “Some Of”)	Synonym Sentence (Using Proportions)
Some of the students are from overseas.	A large proportion of the students are from overseas.
Some of the budget was allocated to marketing.	A significant portion of the budget was allocated to marketing.
Some of the research is still ongoing.	A considerable amount of the research is still ongoing.
Some of the feedback was negative.	A small proportion of the feedback was negative.
Some of the employees are satisfied.	A significant proportion of the employees are satisfied.
Some of the resources were wasted.	A large proportion of the resources were wasted.
Some of the profits were reinvested.	A significant portion of the profits were reinvested.
Some of the time was spent waiting.	A considerable amount of the time was spent waiting.
Some of the issues were resolved.	A significant number of the issues were resolved.
Some of the suggestions were ignored.	A large proportion of the suggestions were ignored.
Some of the attendees were late.	A small proportion of the attendees were late.
Some of the efforts were successful.	A considerable number of the efforts were successful.
Some of the data was analyzed.	A significant portion of the data was analyzed.
Some of the products were recalled.	A large proportion of the products were recalled.
Some of the complaints were justified.	A small proportion of the complaints were justified.
Some of the energy was wasted.	A large proportion of the energy was wasted.
Some of the comments were positive.	A significant number of the comments were positive.
Some of the tasks were completed.	A large proportion of the tasks were completed.
Some of the water was polluted.	A significant portion of the water was polluted.
Some of the attempts were successful.	A considerable number of the attempts were successful.
Some of them were chosen.	A large proportion of them were chosen.
Some of the projects were delayed.	A significant number of the projects were delayed.
Some of the food was spoiled.	A large proportion of the food was spoiled.
Some of the results were unexpected.	A considerable number of the results were unexpected.
Some of the trees were damaged.	A large proportion of the trees were damaged.
Some of the expenses were covered.	A significant portion of the expenses were covered.

Vague Terms Examples

The table below shows examples using vague terms as synonyms for “some of.”

Original Sentence (Using “Some Of”)	Synonym Sentence (Using Vague Terms)
Some of the sugar is needed for the recipe.	A bit of sugar is needed for the recipe.
Some of the people attended the conference.	Lots of people attended the conference.
Some of the food was left over.	Plenty of food was left over.
Some of the time was spent relaxing.	A good deal of time was spent relaxing.
Some of the money was missing.	A bit of the money was missing.
Some of the books were interesting.	Lots of books were interesting.
Some of the help was appreciated.	Plenty of help was appreciated.
Some of the effort was required.	A good deal of effort was required.
Some of the information was useful.	A good deal of information was useful.
Some of the toys were broken.	Lots of the toys were broken.
Some of the rain fell.	A bit of the rain fell.
Some of the opportunities arose.	Lots of the opportunities arose.
Some of the sunshine appeared.	Plenty of sunshine appeared.
Some of the energy was released.	A good deal of energy was released.
Some of the salt was used.	A bit of the salt was used.
Some of the ideas were implemented.	Lots of the ideas were implemented.
Some of the support was provided.	Plenty of support was provided.
Some of the work was completed.	A good deal of work was completed.
Some of the tea was spilled.	A bit of the tea was spilled.
Some of the flowers bloomed.	Lots of the flowers bloomed.
Some of them laughed.	Plenty of them laughed.
Some of the advice was helpful.	A good deal of advice was helpful.
Some of the dust settled.	A bit of the dust settled.
Some of the questions were answered.	Lots of the questions were answered.

Usage Rules

When substituting “some of” with its synonyms, it’s essential to consider the following usage rules:

Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: Use “many of,” “several of,” “a few of,” and “a number of” with countable nouns. Use “much of,” “a little of,” and “a good deal of” with uncountable nouns.
Specificity: Fractions and percentages require precise numerical information. Proportions are suitable when you want to emphasize the relative amount without specifying exact numbers.
Formality: “Lots of” and “plenty of” are generally more informal than “a significant proportion of” or “a considerable number of.”
Pronoun Usage: When using pronouns, ensure the pronoun agrees in number with the original noun. For example, “Some of the students are happy” can become “Several of them are happy.”
Contextual Appropriateness: Choose synonyms that fit the overall tone and style of your writing or speech.

Keep in mind that the choice of synonym can significantly impact the meaning and emphasis of your sentence. Therefore, careful consideration is crucial.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using synonyms for “some of”:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Much of the students were late.	Many of the students were late.	“Much of” is used with uncountable nouns, while “many of” is used with countable nouns.
A few of water was spilled.	A little of the water was spilled.	“A few of” is used with countable nouns, while “a little of” is used with uncountable nouns.
Half of them is happy.	Half of them are happy.	Ensure verb agreement with the pronoun. “Them” is plural, so the verb should be “are.”
A number of information was incorrect.	A number of pieces of information were incorrect.	“Information” is uncountable, so you can’t directly use “a number of”. You can rephrase or use “Some of the information”.
Plenty of the student was absent.	Plenty of the students were absent.	“Plenty of” must be followed by a plural noun in this context.
Significant portion of them likes it.	A significant portion of them like it.	Ensure verb agreement with the pronoun. “Them” is plural, so the verb should be “like.”
A little of books are old.	A few of the books are old.	“A little of” is used with uncountable nouns, while “a few of” is used with countable nouns.
Many of water was wasted.	Much of the water was wasted.	“Many of” is used with countable nouns, while “much of” is used with uncountable nouns.
Several of money is missing.	Some of the money is missing.	“Money” is uncountable, so “several of” isn’t appropriate.
A large proportion of student was late.	A large proportion of students were late.	“Student” should be plural and verb should agree with students.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate synonym for “some of.”

__________ the students passed the exam.
__________ the water was polluted.
__________ the books are missing.
__________ the time was wasted.
__________ the employees received a bonus.
__________ them were happy.
__________ the cake was eaten.
__________ the land is fertile.
__________ the attendees were late.
__________ the project is complete.

Answer Key:

Many of
Some of
A few of
A good deal of
Several of
Half of
A bit of
A quarter of
A small proportion of
90% of

Exercise 2: Sentence Rewriting

Rewrite the following sentences using a synonym for “some of.”

Some of the information was useful.
Some of the apples were rotten.
Some of the workers are on strike.
Some of the money was stolen.
Some of the houses were damaged.
Some of the questions were difficult.
Some of the energy was wasted.
Some of the students are from overseas.
Some of the pie was eaten.
Some of the suggestions were helpful.

Answer Key: (Possible answers – other variations may also be correct)

A good deal of the information was useful.
A few of the apples were rotten.
A number of the workers are on strike.
A bit of the money was stolen.
Several of the houses were damaged.
Many of the questions were difficult.
A large proportion of the energy was wasted.
A large proportion of the students are from overseas.
Half of the pie was eaten.
Several of the suggestions were helpful.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Much of the students were absent.
A few of water was spilled.
Half of them is sad.
A number of information was incorrect.
Plenty of the student was late.
Significant portion of them likes pizza.
A little of books are old.
Many of water was wasted.
Several of money is missing.
A large proportion of student was late.

Answer Key:

Many of the students were absent.
A little of the water was spilled.
Half of them are sad.
Some of the information was incorrect.
Plenty of the students were late.
A significant portion of them like pizza.
A few of the books are old.
Much of the water was wasted.
Some of the money is missing.
A large proportion of students were late.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, consider the nuances of using these synonyms in more complex sentence structures. For example, in formal writing, using a combination of synonyms can add depth and sophistication.

You might combine “a significant proportion of” with a specific percentage to provide both a general sense and a precise figure. For instance, “A significant proportion of the budget, approximately 60%, was allocated to research and development.”

Additionally, explore the use of these synonyms in different registers of English. While “lots of” and “plenty of” are common in everyday conversation, they might be less suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Understanding these subtle differences will allow you to tailor your language to suit the specific audience and purpose.

Furthermore, investigate the use of these synonyms in idiomatic expressions and collocations. Certain synonyms might be more naturally paired with specific nouns or verbs.

For example, “a good deal of effort” is a common collocation, while “a large proportion of effort” might sound less natural. Pay attention to these patterns to enhance the fluency and naturalness of your English.

FAQ

Is “some of” always necessary?

No, sometimes you can omit “of” if it’s followed by a pronoun. For example, “Some of us” can become “Some us,” especially in informal contexts. However, this is less common and can sound awkward in formal writing.

Can I use “some” without “of”?

Yes, “some” can be used directly as a determiner before a noun without “of,” but it has a slightly different meaning. “Some books” means “a few books” or “certain books,” while “some of the books” refers to a specific group of books.

What’s the difference between “a few of” and “few of”?

“A few of” indicates a small but positive number, while “few of” indicates a small and often insufficient number. For example, “A few of the students passed” suggests that some students succeeded, while “Few of the students passed” suggests that almost no one succeeded.

How do I choose the right synonym for “some of”?

Consider the context, the level of precision required, and the formality of the situation. If you have specific numerical data, use fractions or percentages. If you want to emphasize the relative amount, use proportions. If you need a less precise term, use vague quantifiers like “lots of” or “a bit of.”

Can I use these synonyms with singular nouns?

No, most of these synonyms are used with plural or uncountable nouns. For singular nouns, you would need to rephrase the sentence. For example, instead of “Some of the apple is rotten,” you could say “Part of the apple is rotten.”

Are there any regional differences in the use of these synonyms?

While the core meanings are generally consistent, some regional variations might exist in terms of frequency and idiomatic usage. Pay attention to how native speakers use these synonyms in your specific region of interest.

Is it better to avoid using “some of” altogether?

Not necessarily. “Some of” is a perfectly acceptable phrase, but overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. By mastering its synonyms, you can add variety and nuance to your language.

What is the most formal synonym for “some of”?

Synonyms like “a significant proportion of” or “a considerable number of” are generally considered more formal than “lots of” or “plenty of”. Choose the one that best fits the tone and style of your writing.

Conclusion

Mastering synonyms for “some of” is a valuable skill for anyone seeking to improve their English proficiency. By understanding the nuances of quantifiers, fractions, percentages, proportions, and vague terms, you can express yourself more precisely and effectively.

This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of these synonyms, along with examples, usage rules, and practice exercises to help you solidify your understanding.

Remember to consider the context, level of precision, and formality of the situation when choosing a synonym. Regular practice and attention to detail will help you develop a strong command of these expressions, allowing you to communicate with greater confidence and clarity.

Keep practicing, and you’ll find your English becoming more sophisticated and engaging.