I need some paper and pens

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

english-test.net/toeic/liste … t_you.html

Didn’t you order new supplies?
I need some paper and pens.

why is there no the article/the determiner before : pens?
or ‘some’ relates also to pens? why can’t we repeat it?

Thanks…:wink:

2

I need some paper and (some) pens. The second ‘some’ is assumed. You could repeat it, but it doesn’t sound elegant.