somehow

«somehow» in Mova's school dictionary: in some way, although you do not know how or it is hard… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

adverb (somehow — no other forms)

meaning for a pupil

1) Somehow means in some way, although you do not know how or it is hard to explain. tree →

2) Somehow can mean for some reason that you cannot quite say: somehow I didn't trust him. tree →

3) «Somehow or other» means by some way or another, even if it is difficult. tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories it shows that something happened mysteriously or against the odds: somehow they escaped. In everyday life it shows a feeling without a clear reason, or a plan without details: we'll manage somehow. In maths it can hide steps: «somehow she got 12» means we must find how.

examples

• Somehow the cat got onto the roof. tree →
• We will get the project finished somehow. tree →
• Somehow I knew it was going to rain. tree →
• The dog somehow opened the gate and ran out. tree →
• I lost my key, but somehow or other I got into the house. tree →
• Somehow the cake didn't taste as good as last time. tree →
• The team was losing, but somehow they won in the last minute. tree →
• Can I not manage to see her somehow? tree →

note

One word: «somehow», not «some how». Do not mix it up with «somewhat» (a little: somewhat tired) or «anyhow» (anyway, carelessly). It is often put at the start of a sentence or before the verb.

In the corpora

• Mole and Badger were sure he would, somehow, so they moved into Toad Hall to keep it aired and ready for him.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «somehow» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.