Indefinite PronounsA2
Somebody, anything, nowhere and everyone name unknown or general people, things and places, in four families: some-, any-, no- and every-. English uses one negative word per clause: I don't know anything, or I know nothing.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A2: choose A2 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A2: choose A2 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA2
| Point | Words | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| some- | somebody / someone / something / somewhere | affirmative sentences, offers and requests | I saw somebody in the garden. |
| any- | anybody / anyone / anything / anywhere | after not and in questions | I didn't see anybody. / Did anyone call? |
| no- | nobody / no one / nothing / nowhere | the verb stays affirmative: one negative word | I saw nothing. |
| every- | everybody / everyone / everything / everywhere | means all | Everything is ready. |
| Verb | everybody | indefinite pronouns take a singular verb | Everybody is here. |
| Trap | nobody | negative subject → nobody | Nobody came. |
OverviewA2
- -body and -one mean the same: somebody = someone.
- no one is two words; the others are one word.
- some-, any- and no- follow the rules of some, any and no: see Quantifiers.
Form: verb and word orderA2
Indefinite pronouns take a singular verb.
| Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|
| everybody | Everybody is here. |
| somebody | Somebody wants to see you. |
| nothing | Nothing is open on Sundays. |
- To refer back to somebody, everyone…, use they / them / their: Somebody left their bag.
- Adjectives and else go after: something new, somebody else.
PronunciationA2
| Word | Sound |
|---|---|
| somebody | /ˈsʌmbədi/ |
| someone | /ˈsʌmwʌn/ |
| anything | /ˈeniθɪŋ/ |
| nobody | /ˈnəʊbədi/ |
| nothing | /ˈnʌθɪŋ/ |
| everywhere | /ˈevriweə/ |
- The stress falls on the first syllable.
- any is /ˈeni/, with the vowel of bed.
- nothing has /ʌ/, like some; nobody has /əʊ/, like no.
- every has two syllables: /ˈevri/.
UseA2
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| affirmative: some- | I saw somebody in the garden. |
| negative: not … any- | I didn't see anybody. |
| question: any- | Did anyone call? |
| offer or request: some- | Would you like something to drink? |
| no- + affirmative verb | I saw nothing. |
| one-word answer: no- | What did you buy? — Nothing. |
| every- = all | Everything is ready. |
- One negative word only: not … anybody or nobody.
- A negative subject is no-, with an affirmative verb: Nobody came.
Typical errorsA2
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Anybody came. | Nobody came. | negative subject → nobody |
| Everybody are here. | Everybody is here. | singular verb |