Someone Say vs. Someone Says – Which is Correct?
When the subject is someone, use says in a normal present-tense statement: Someone says the meeting starts at noon. Use say after a modal, auxiliary, or infinitive marker, as in Did someone say…?, Can someone say…?, or someone may say…. Thus, both words are correct, but their grammatical contexts differ.
Someone Say or Says – Which is Correct?
Someone says is correct when someone is the singular subject of a simple present-tense statement. For example, “Someone says the store is closed.” Although someone refers to an unidentified person, it is grammatically singular, so it takes says.
Use say when it follows a modal verb, an auxiliary verb, or the infinitive marker to. Examples include “Did someone say my name?”, “Someone may say that,” and “I heard someone say the answer.” Both say and says are correct; the surrounding grammar determines which one you need.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-person test: replace someone with he or she. If the sentence would use says, use says with someone: “She says” becomes “Someone says.” However, after does, did, can, will, or another helping verb, use the base form say: “Does she say?” becomes “Does someone say?”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| someone | Indefinite pronoun | An unspecified person | Someone left a message. |
| say | Verb | To express words or an opinion | Did someone say my name? |
| says | Third-person singular verb | Expresses words in the simple present | Someone says the answer is correct. |
How to Use Someone
Someone is an indefinite pronoun that means an unspecified or unknown person. It is used when the speaker knows that a person exists but does not identify that person. Because someone is singular, it normally takes a singular verb, such as is, has, or says.
The word is common in casual and formal English. It can appear as the subject or object of a sentence, and it is often used when the identity of a person is unimportant, unknown, or intentionally concealed.
Example 1: Someone says that the package arrived this morning.
Example 2: I think someone is waiting outside.
Example 3: The manager asked someone to check the equipment.
Etymology of the word someone
Someone combines some, meaning an unspecified amount or identity, with one, meaning a person or individual. The compound developed in Middle English and has long been used to refer to an unknown, unspecified, or unnamed person.
How to Use Say
Say is a verb meaning to speak, express words, communicate an idea, or give an opinion. It is the base form of the verb and appears after modal verbs and auxiliary verbs, including can, will, did, and does. It also follows to in an infinitive phrase.
In a simple present-tense sentence with a third-person singular subject, use says rather than say. With someone, use says when no auxiliary verb comes before it, but use say after a helping verb.
Example 1: Did someone say there is a problem?
Example 2: I heard someone say that the event was canceled.
Example 3: You can say whatever you believe is appropriate.
What are the different forms of say?
Say is an irregular verb. Its principal forms are say for the base form, says for the third-person singular present tense, said for both the simple past and past participle, and saying for the present participle or gerund.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| say | They say the plan will work. |
| says | Someone says the plan will work. |
| said | She said the plan would work. |
| saying | He is saying that the plan will work. |
Notice that says is pronounced like “sez,” while say is pronounced with a long “a” sound. The past form said is pronounced like “sed,” not like “say-ed.”
Etymology of the word say
Say comes from Old English secgan, meaning to tell, speak, or relate. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. Over time, its meaning expanded beyond speaking words to include expressing opinions, giving information, making claims, and communicating messages.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and auxiliary verbs makes the difference between say and says much easier to recognize.
- Subject-verb agreement: A singular subject generally takes a singular present-tense verb. Because someone is singular, the correct form is “Someone says,” not “Someone say,” in a simple present statement.
- Auxiliary verbs: Helping verbs such as does, did, can, and will are followed by the base form of a verb. Therefore, English uses “Did someone say?” rather than “Did someone says?”
- Indefinite pronouns: Words such as someone, anyone, and everyone usually function as singular subjects, even though they refer to people generally.
- Direct and indirect speech: Say can introduce spoken words or reported information, as in “She says, ‘I am ready’” and “She says that she is ready.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how writers, reporters, and screenwriters use say and says in recognizable media and literary contexts:
- News reporting: “A witness says that the road was already crowded.” The singular noun witness takes says.
- Film dialogue: “Did someone say my name?” The auxiliary did requires the base form say.
- Song and popular-culture titles: The phrase “What does the fox say?” uses say because it follows the auxiliary does.
- Literary narration: “Someone says the old house is empty.” The indefinite pronoun someone is singular and therefore takes says.
- Conversation in a drama: “I heard someone say that the train had arrived.” The verb say follows the object and infinitive structure after heard.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- Someone ___ that the office closes at five. (say / says)
- Did someone ___ the door was unlocked? (say / says)
- Someone may ___ something different tomorrow. (say / says)
- Why does someone always ___ that the task is impossible? (say / says)
- Someone ___ he found the missing file. (say / says)
Answer Key
- says — Someone is the singular subject in a simple present-tense statement.
- say — Say follows the auxiliary did.
- say — Say follows the modal verb may.
- say — Say follows the auxiliary does.
- says — Someone takes the third-person singular present form.
Someone Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Somebody | An unspecified person; interchangeable with someone in most contexts. |
| A person | A general reference to one human being. |
| An individual | One particular person, often in formal or official writing. |
| A certain person | An unidentified person whose identity may be known to the speaker. |
Say Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| State | To express an idea or fact, often in a formal way. |
| Tell | To give information to another person. |
| Mention | To refer briefly to a person, fact, or subject. |
| Remark | To make a spoken or written comment. |
| Declare | To state something clearly, firmly, or officially. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “someone say” or “someone says”?
Use someone says in a simple present-tense statement because someone is singular. Use someone say after an auxiliary or modal verb, as in “Did someone say that?” or “Someone might say that.”
Question 2: Is “Did someone says” grammatically correct?
No. The correct form is “Did someone say?” The auxiliary verb did already expresses the tense, so the main verb must remain in its base form, say.
Question 3: Why does someone take a singular verb?
Someone refers to one unspecified person, so it is grammatically singular. This is why standard English uses “Someone says,” “Someone is,” and “Someone has.”
Conclusion
Both say and says are correct, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Use someone says in a simple present statement, and use someone say after words such as did, does, can, may, or to. Pro Tip: Correct subject-verb agreement strengthens your writing and protects your professional credibility.
