INDEFINITE PRONOUNS (A2 Grammar)

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people, things, places. Choose based on sentence type.

Quick tip: Positive = SOME. Negative/Question = ANY. NO-words have negative meaning already!

SOME- words (positive sentences)

Use something/somebody/someone/somewhere in positive sentences.

• I have something to tell you.
• Somebody called you.
• Someone is at the door.
• Let's go somewhere nice.

ANY- words (negatives & questions)

Use anything/anybody/anyone/anywhere in negatives and questions.

• I don't have anything.
• Is there anybody home?
• Did you see anyone?
• We didn't go anywhere.

NO- words (negative meaning)

Nothing/nobody/no one/nowhere have negative meaning. Don't use with negative verbs.

• Nobody came. (NOT: Nobody didn't come)
• Nothing happened.
• No one knows the answer.
• We went nowhere.

Common mistakes

• Not "I don't have nothing" — say "I don't have anything OR I have nothing". Don't use NO-words with negative verbs.
• Not "Everybody are here" — say "Everybody is here". Everybody/everyone is singular.

Practise it

Positive = SOME. Negative/Question = ANY. Need negative with positive verb = NO.