Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. use
Something, anything, nothing, etc. are indefinite pronouns. They help us talk about people, things, or places when we do not say the exact person, object, or place.
There is nothing interesting on TV, so I am going to read something.
Are you doing anything interesting tonight?
Nobody came to Jeff's party because he didn't tell anyone the date.
I want to go somewhere warm.
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Form
These words follow a simple pattern: some / any / no / every + an ending for a person, thing, or place.
| Meaning | some- | any- | no- | every- |
| people | someone somebody |
anyone anybody |
no one nobody |
everyone everybody |
| things / facts / actions | something | anything | nothing | everything |
| places | somewhere | anywhere | nowhere | everywhere |
- -body and -one almost always mean the same thing: somebody = someone, anybody = anyone, nobody = no one.
- No one is usually written as two words. Noone is a mistake.
- These pronouns usually take a singular verb: Everyone is..., Something is..., Nobody knows...
I saw somebody on the roof.
Do you know anyone famous?
She didn't buy anything.
There is nothing to eat.
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Rule
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Words with some- are most often used in positive sentences when we talk about an unspecified person, thing, or place.
Someone is at the door.
Ann had to buy something new.
Let's go somewhere quiet.
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Words with any- are most often used in negative sentences and neutral questions.
She couldn't find anything suitable in her closet.
Has anybody seen my keys?
I can't find my dog anywhere.
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In positive sentences, anyone / anything / anywhere can mean “any person / any thing / any place”.
Anyone can learn English with enough practice.
You can choose anything from this menu.
We can sit anywhere you like.
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Words with no- are already negative, so we normally use them with a positive verb form.
no one / nobody / nothing / nowhere + positive verb
Nothing happened.
I have nobody to talk to.
There was nowhere to park.
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Words with every- mean “all people / all things / all places”, but grammatically they usually take a singular verb.
Everyone likes this teacher.
Everything is ready for the party.
There are toys everywhere.
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An adjective comes after an indefinite pronoun: something interesting, anyone famous, somewhere warm.
There is nothing interesting on TV.
I want to buy something useful.
Do you know anyone famous?
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We often use to + infinitive after these pronouns: something to drink, nothing to do, someone to help.
I'd like something to drink, please.
There is nothing to do in this town.
We need someone to explain the rules.
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Else comes after an indefinite pronoun and means “another / other / more”.
Can I ask you something else?
No one else knew the answer.
If Tom can't come, we'll ask somebody else.
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We can add 's to show possession: somebody's bag, anyone's coat, somebody else's phone.
This is somebody's notebook.
Is this anybody's coat?
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Negation
In English, we normally do not use two negatives in one simple sentence. So we choose one pattern: either negative verb + any- or positive verb + no-.
not + anyone / anybody / anything / anywhere
= no one / nobody / nothing / nowhere
✅ I didn't hear anything.
✅ I heard nothing.
✅ I don't know anyone in this town.
✅ I know no one in this town.
✅ We didn't go anywhere.
✅ We went nowhere.
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After not / never / hardly / seldom, we usually use any-, not no-.
✅ I have never seen anything like this.❌ I have never seen nothing like this.✅ She hardly knows anyone here.❌ She hardly knows no one here.
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If a negative pronoun is the subject, use no- and a positive verb form.
✅ Nobody came.❌ Anybody didn't come.✅ Nothing will change my mind.❌ Not anything will change my mind.
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Questions
In neutral questions, we usually use anyone / anybody / anything / anywhere. In requests and offers, we often use some- because we expect a positive answer or offer help.
Is there + anything / anyone...?
Do / Did / Have + subject + anything / anyone / anywhere...?
Would you like + something...?
Can someone / somebody + verb...?
Is there anything in the bag?
Did you meet anyone at the party?
Have you seen my keys anywhere?
Would you like something to eat?
Can somebody help me?
Are you looking for someone?
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Common mistakes
The most common mistakes are double negatives, wrong adjective position, plural verbs after everyone / everything, and the spelling of no one.
❌ I didn't see nothing.
✅ I didn't see anything.
✅ I saw nothing.
❌ Nobody didn't come.
✅ Nobody came.
❌ There isn't nowhere to sit.
✅ There isn't anywhere to sit.
✅ There is nowhere to sit.
❌ I don't know nobody here.
✅ I don't know anybody here.
✅ I know nobody here.
❌ I need interesting something to read.
✅ I need something interesting to read.
❌ Do you know someone here? (neutral question)
✅ Do you know anyone here?
✅ Are you looking for someone? (expected answer: yes)
❌ Everyone are ready.
✅ Everyone is ready.
❌ Everything were expensive.
✅ Everything was expensive.
❌ Noone called me.
✅ No one called me.
✅ Nobody called me.
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Sentences
Someone left a message for you.
I need something for my headache.
Let's go somewhere quiet after work.
Did anyone call while I was out?
There isn't anything in the fridge.
I couldn't find my wallet anywhere.
Nobody knew the answer.
There was nothing that could fit her.
There is nowhere to park near the school.
Everyone was happy with the result.
Everything looks different in the morning.
There were flowers everywhere.
I want to tell you something important.
She didn't meet anyone interesting at the conference.
We have nothing to lose.
Something, Anything, Nothing, etc. Examples
A: Is there anything interesting on TV?
B: No, there is nothing interesting. Let's read something instead.
A: Did anyone come to the party?
B: No, nobody came because Jeff didn't tell anyone the date.
A: Would you like something to drink?
B: Yes, please. Do you have anything cold?
A: I can't find my keys anywhere.
B: Maybe they are somewhere in the kitchen.
A: Can someone explain this rule?
B: Yes. Everyone needs to understand the difference between anything and nothing.
Ann needed something to wear, but she couldn't find anything suitable, so she bought something new.
I don't know anyone in this town, but I hope to meet someone nice soon.
