[化学論文のための英語講座] 第31回：AllとSomeの使い方

(English version is here.)

論文の中でallとsomeを誤って使っているケースをよく目にします。今回はallとsomeの用法を、問題を交えながら解説します。
以下の文章には文法的な間違いがあります。どの部分が間違いかわかりますか？

1. All of nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some of amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

1では「All of nucleobases」が間違いです。2では「Some of amino acids」が間違いです。
文法的に正しい文章にするためには、どこを訂正すれば良いでしょうか？答えは２通りあります。またそれらは違った内容を表現することになります。

答A
1. All nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

答B
1. All of the nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some of the amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

A、Bとも正解ですが、意味が違います。次の解説を見てみましょう。

[解説]
All nucleobases：「世界中の核酸塩基全て」
Some amino acids：「世界中のアミノ酸の一部」
All of the nucleobases：「先に示された核酸塩基全て」
Some of the amino acids：「先に示されたアミノ酸の一部」
を示します。

「all/some of + 名詞」は誤りです。「all/some + 名詞」、「all/some of the + 名詞」が正しいです。
例えば、論文内では以下のように使います。

all/some esters (transition metals, chalcogens, etc.)
all/some of the esters (of the transition metals, of the chalcogens, etc.)

ただし、代名詞についてall/someを使う場合は用法が異なりますので注意しましょう。
「all/some of the + 代名詞」は誤りです。「all/some of + 代名詞」が正しいです。例えば、以下のように使います。
all/some of them (of us, of you)

[まとめ]
一般的なものを示す場合には all/some+名詞
具体的なものを示す場合には all/some of + the 名詞、all/some of + 代名詞

次回は same と similar の使い方についてです。

Use of All and Some

Misuse of all and some often comes to light in papers. This time, I will explain the use of all and some using a few problems.
There are grammatical errors in the following sentences. Can you tell which part is incorrect?

1. All of nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some of amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

In 1, All of nucleobases is incorrect. In 2, Some of amino acids is incorrect. How can these sentences be made correct? There are two ways, and each expresses a different meaning.

Answer A
1. All nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

Answer B
1. All of the nucleobases are classified as N-heterocycles.
2. Some of the amino acids are categorized as N-heterocycles.

A and B are both correct, but the meaning is different. Let us look at the following explanation.

[Explanation]
All nucleobases refers to nucleobases throughout the world.
Some amino acids refers to a portion of amino acids existing throughout the world.
All of the nucleobases refers to a previously expressed group of nucleobases in its entirety.
Some of the amino acids refers to a portion of a previously expressed group of amino acids.

All/some of + noun is a mistake. All/some + noun, all/some of the + noun is correct.
For example, in a paper the following might be used.

All/some esters (transition metals, chalcogens, etc.)
All/some of the esters (of the transition metals, of the chalcogens, etc.)

However, please note that the usage is different when using all/some with pronouns.
All/some of the + pronoun is a mistake. All/some of + pronoun is correct. For example, they are used as follows.
All/some of them (of us, of you)

[Summarize]
For expressing something general, all/some + noun is used.
For indicating something specific, all/some of + the + noun or all/some of + pronoun are used.

At next time, we will discuss about Same and Similar.