subject + verb + someone/something/somewhereUse some- forms in affirmative statements when the exact person, thing, or place is not named.
Indefinite Pronouns
A2Use someone/something/somewhere in affirmatives, anyone/anything/anywhere in negatives and questions, and nobody/nothing/nowhere for zero.
What you'll learn
- Use some- forms in affirmative statements.
- Use any- forms in negatives and questions.
- Use no- forms to express zero.
- Keep the verb singular after these pronouns.
- Put else after the indefinite pronoun.
Structure
negative: subject + do/does + not + verb + anyone/anything/anywhere; question: Do/Does + subject + verb + anyone/anything/anywhere?Use any- forms after not and in most questions. The main verb stays in its base form after do or does.
subject + verb + nobody/nothing/nowhereNo- forms already include the negative meaning. Do not add not in the same clause.
someone/something/somewhere + elseElse comes after the indefinite pronoun: someone else, nothing else, anywhere else.
Build a sentence
Word family
Set
Tomneedssomething
Tom needs something for dinner.
In an affirmative statement, something is the natural choice.
When to use
Unknown person
Use someone, anyone, or nobody when the person is unknown, unimportant, or absent. Anna called someone after work.
Unknown thing
Use something, anything, or nothing for an unspecified thing, idea, sound, or action. Tom heard something outside.
Unknown place
Use somewhere, anywhere, or nowhere for a place that is unknown, not specified, or absent. Maria wants to go somewhere quiet.
Markers
someoneanyonenobodysomethinganythingnothingsomewhereanywherenowheresomeone elseanything else
Common mistakes
Wrong
Lisa wants anything hot to drink.
Correct
Lisa wants something hot to drink.
In a basic affirmative statement, use some- forms, not any- forms.
Wrong
We don't have something to eat.
Correct
We don't have anything to eat.
After not, use any- forms.
Wrong
I don't know nobody at the party.
Correct
I know nobody at the party.
Nobody already means zero people, so do not add don't in the same clause.
Wrong
Everybody are ready for the meeting.
Correct
Everybody is ready for the meeting.
These pronouns take a singular verb.
Wrong
Do you want else anything?
Correct
Do you want anything else?
Else comes after the indefinite pronoun, not before it.
Common misconceptions
❝ Any- words are always negative words. ❞
Any- words are common in negatives and questions, but they are not the same as no- words. Anything does not mean nothing; anywhere does not mean nowhere.
❝ Words like everybody and nobody take a plural verb because they mean many people. ❞
In English, these words take a singular verb: Everybody is here. Nobody knows the answer.
Skills in this rule (6)
SOME_IN_POSITIVEw5Use someone, something, and somewhere in affirmative statements
Use the some- forms when you talk about an unspecified person, thing, or place in a positive statement. The exact identity is not important or not known.
ANY_IN_NEGATIVES_AND_QUESTIONSw5Use anyone, anything, and anywhere in negatives and questions
Use the any- forms after not and in most yes/no or open questions. They also fit when the answer or existence is unknown.
NO_FOR_ZEROw5Use nobody, nothing, and nowhere to mean zero
Use the no- forms when the meaning is zero people, zero things, or zero places. These words already carry the negative meaning.
SINGULAR_VERB_AFTER_ONE_BODY_THING_PLACEw4Use a singular verb after indefinite pronouns
Words like someone, anybody, and nothing take a singular verb. Treat them like one item, not a plural group.
ELSE_AFTER_INDEFINITEw3Put else after an indefinite pronoun
When you add extra meaning, else comes after the pronoun: someone else, nothing else, anywhere else. Do not place else before it.
USE_INDEFINITE_FOR_UNKNOWN_PERSON_THING_PLACEw4Choose the right form for an unknown person, thing, or place
Pick body/one for people, thing for objects or ideas, and where for places. Match the word family to the meaning you want.