How to express 'some'

Question

Si tuviera un poco más dinero ahorraría (some)

If I had a little more money I would save some.

This is a sentence I posted on the 'word of the day' thread yesterday. What I am unsure about is how we correctly express the word 'some' in this instance.

I first though 'algunos' but that is clearly wrong. I then thought algün - but that is an adjective to describe a masculine noun, so again, wrong.

I am now thinking perhaps it would be:

Si tuviera un poco más dinero le ahorraría alguno

If I had a little more money I would save some (of it)

or just

Si tuviera un poco más dinero ahorraría alguno

If I had a little more money I would save some. (with alguno being a pronoun for 'money')

I am confused lol - and the more I read, the more confused I am getting :'(

Edit

After a bit more reading I'm now thinking perhaps:

Si tuviera un poco más dinero ahorraría unos

If I had a little more money I would save some.

First "thought" Billy, not though. Pesky fingers!! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 1

Billy

... you can use either 'algo' or alguno' ?

algo de : can only be used with uncountable nouns (as money, love, milk)

Necesito algo de cariño.

Tengo algo de dinero.

In these cases you can substitute the expression "algo de" by "un poco de".

We cannot use "algo de" nor "un poco de" with countable nouns:

Comí algo de manzanas

En primavera hay algo de flores

But, sometimes, algo can be used not as a synonym of "a little", but more like to express something indeterminate. The difference is: here, algo itself is the noun, not an adjective

Quiero comer algo (something)

Tengo algo que decirte (something)

When we are refering to countable nouns, and we want to express "a few", we use "algún /-os/ alguna/ -s"

Comí algunas manzanas / Comí un poco de manzanas

Tengo algún amigo / Tengo un poco de amigos/ Tengo alguno amigo

And, if there is no noun, then we will use the pronoun: alguno/-s/alguna/-s

¿Comiste manzanas? - Algunas. / Unas pocas / Algo / Sí, comí algo de manzanas

¿Tienes amigos? - Sí, tengo alguno. / Unos pocos/ Sí, tengo algún / Sí, tengo un poco de amigos

what a fantastic person you are! I think I might have to cancel my christmas drink tomorrow ;-) - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

Thanks for the lesson, Cogu! - MLucie, Dec 12, 2011

Great summary. - pesta, Dec 12, 2011

Awesome post, Cogumela! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 2

Hi, Billy!

Si tuviera un poco más de dinero, ahorraría algo

(note the preposition de I added, and the word algo. I also removed the pronoun "le", because there is no indirect object in the sentence)

This is more or less the same as:

Si tuviera algo más de dinero, ahorraría un poco

This is correct:

Si tuviera un poco más de dinero ahorraría alguno

... and this is not:

Si tuviera un poco más dinero ahorraría unos

thank you so much Cogu. I clearly have a lot to learn here! So if I add 'de' then you can use either 'algo' or alguno' - ie they both mean the same? My brain hurts lol - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

No, the use of "de" is independent. It belongs to "algo más de X" "un poco más de X". It has nothing to do with the second part of the sentence. - cogumela, Dec 12, 2011

Examples: hace "un poco más de frío" que ayer, ¿no crees? / Voy a echarle a la comida "algo más de" sal. Está sosa. - cogumela, Dec 12, 2011

ah! gracias amiga :) me and prepositions hey! - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 3

delete-answered by someone who wasn't guessing.

Interesting word isn't it? Let's see, I recall that there is some difference depending on whether it refers to something countable or uncountable. And our dictionary make some distinction between a certain number and a certain quantity. Think I will leave this for a native, but If I had to guess, I would go with algo. (a certain quantity.) some

thanks Qfreed - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

I don't mind guessing when you are honest enough to admit that and leave it to a native. I appreciate your response - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

lol@answered by someone who wasn't guessing - FELIZ77, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 4

I really don't know why people delete their answers or cross them out, quentin, will you please stop that!!

I said the exact same thing to billy, algunos or alguno are countable...so it was impossible for money

Hi Heidi! Alguno is countable, algunos is not. - cogumela, Dec 12, 2011

Welcome back :) - cogumela, Dec 12, 2011

I know Heidita, I wasn't doubting you but I was confused. The more I read the more confused I became lol! So I thought i'd open it up on the forum. - billygoat, Dec 12, 2011

Cogu, wouldn't algunos be countable in an example like: algunos libros? - MLucie, Dec 12, 2011