an oil vs some oil

Both "an oil" and "some oil" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "An oil" is used when referring to a specific type of oil, while "some oil" is used when referring to an unspecified amount of oil.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 2707 views

This phrase is correct when referring to a specific type of oil.

"an oil"

Use "an oil" when you want to specify a particular type of oil, such as "an oil used for cooking."

Examples:

I need to buy an oil for my car.
She uses an oil for her hair that smells like lavender.

Show examples from the web [+]

Adjustable electrically heated vacuum oven fitted with an oil pump and either a mechanism for introducing hot dried air or a drying agent (e.g. calcium oxide).
If you wanted to read in 1875 at night, you needed to have an oil or a gas lamp.
Marco Reyes cut my brother up into pieces and put him in an oil drum.
Imagine what a bomb the size of an oil drum could do.
Probably bought a shipping crate full of spaghetti and an oil drum of marinara.
Probably in an oil drum somewhere.
It was written by an oil lobbyist.
Southfork is a cattle ranch, not an oil field.
Hasn't even needed an oil change.
More like a perfume or an oil.
My mom never found an oil baron.
Apparently, an oil change is only worth half a sweater now.
A piece of advice, never use water-based over an oil.
Not unless you've got an oil can under your cassock.
Guy was seen wheeling a barrel onto the premises of an oil recycling center after hours.
Cece is hunting down an oil cooler.
There's an oil lease auction in 2 days.
What she needs is an oil change.
There's an oil mining operation in the Gulf of Mexico, drilling platforms.
She signed a prenup for an oil millionaire.

Alternatives:

a type of oil
a specific oil

This phrase is correct when referring to an unspecified amount of oil.

"some oil"

Use "some oil" when you want to refer to an unspecified quantity of oil, such as "Can you pass me some oil?"

Examples:

I need to buy some oil for cooking.
Could you bring me some oil from the store?

Show examples from the web [+]

Watch it, there could be some oil.
I need a sharpening stone and some oil.
I made a deal to sell some oil from the Sudan.
You did some oil dealings with her father.
Let's rub some oil on to prevent sores.
-beware there could be some oil.
With the lettuce, I brought some oil and some bread.
Give me some oil, will you?
This will give us some oil, won't it?
I knew some people who knew some people, and I made a deal to sell some oil from the Sudan.
I got some oil pans to change.
I followed up with some oil execs.
Ching Tak, add some oil to the lamp.
They needed an illegal aerial survey for some oil fields.
Well, we'll get some oil.
Let me put some oil on you.
In January and February 2011, exchange rates mainly reflected uncertainty about future developments in some oil producing countries.
You don't reach out to someone like me and then have me coordinating security for some oil company in Dubai.
I... spilt some oil on that one.
John Ross, I found some oil leases I think we can get cheap if we act fast.

Alternatives:

a bit of oil
a quantity of oil

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an oil vs some oil

"an oil"

"some oil"

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