Indefinite Pronouns

SOME * ANY * NO

COMPOUNDS

We use SOME compounds in AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES.

• something (I'll show you something)

• somebody (There is somebody in the kitchen)

• someone (There is someone in the kitchen)

• somewhere (He lives somewhere in the south of Spain)

SOME compounds can also be used in REQUESTS and OFFERS.

Would you like something to eat?

Can I have something to drink?

ANY compounds are used in QUESTIONS and NEGATIVE VERBS.

• anything (Did he tell you anything?)

• anybody (I didn't see anybody.)

• anyone (Will yo meet anyone?)

• anywhere (I can't find my glasses anywhere.)

REMEMBER *IMPORTANT* REMEMBER

You can't use ANY compounds in negative verbs.

*Anybody didn't go home.*

Nobody went home

ANYBODY/ONE, ANYTHING, ANYWHERE

can be used with a positive verb when there is no limit of possibilities.

Anyone can do this exercise.

I would do anything for her.

The criminal can be hidden anywhere.

NO compounds are used in negative sentences but the verb is always affirmative.

• nothing (Nothing is the same without her) *Nothing isn't the same...

• nobody (Nobody came to my party) *Nobody didn't come...

• no one (I saw no one in the garden) *I didn't see no one...

• nowhere (I have nowhere to go) *I don't have nowhere....

People: +body/one

• somebody/someone

• anybody/anyone

• nobody/no one

• everybody/everyone

Things: +thing

• something

• anything

• everything

• nothing

Places: +where

• somewhere

• anywhere

• everywhere

• nowhere

Some Compounds are used:

• in affirmative sentences eg I met someone who knows you yesterday.

• polite questions (invitations, requests etc) eg Can please somebody help me?

• in questions we know the answer is yes eg Is something worrying you? You look upset.

• at the beginning of the clause eg Somebody left this box for you,

Any Compounds are used:

• in negative sentences eg I don't have anything with me.

• in questions when we aren't sure of the answer eg Is there anything good on TV today?

• when we mean "it doesn't matter who, which, where, what" eg I'll go anywhere with you.

• in sentences with negative words such as hardly, never, seldom, without eg I have hardly met anyone in this city yet.

Every Compounds are used:

• everywhere with everything and everyone ;)

No Compounds are used:

• in affirmative senteces with negative meaning eg I saw nobody (=I didn't see anynone.)

• at the beginning of the sentence eg Nobody told me the meeting was today.

Some/Any/Every/No Compounds

• take singular verbs eg Everyone is happy.

• use the "they, them, their" pronouns eg If someone told you the sky is red, would you believe them?

• often combine else/else's eg Is there anything else you want to ask? This isn't my book I must have taken somebody else's.

Multiple Choice

Maria is sad because she thinks nobody______ her.

• likes

• like

• are liking

• liked

Multiple Choice

I can't find my phone_________. Have you seen it?

• anywhere

• nowhere

• something

• nobody

Multiple Choice

Look! Someone____ trying to take that lady's bag!

• is

• are

Multiple Select

Does _____________ have a ruler? I need one!

• anything

• anyone

• no one

• anywhere

Multiple Choice

My father bought ________________ for my birthday.

• everything

• anything

• anywhere

• someone

Multiple Select

Let's go ___________ in this beautiful city.

• somebody

• somewhere

• something

• anyone

Multiple Choice

My mother always says that ____________ helps her. That's not true.

• nobody

• everyone

• nothing

• something

Multiple Choice

Does _____ know the answer?

• somebody

• anybody

• anywhere

Multiple Choice

There is ________ waiting for you in your office.

• anybody

• somebody