Somebody, Anything, Nowhere, Everyone: Indefinite Pronouns Exercises
Do more with this exercise
Some-, any-, no- and every- words
Words like somebody, anything, nowhere and everyone talk about people, things and places without saying exactly which. You make them with some, any, no or every + body, one, thing or where.
- How to make them:
- Take some, any, no or every. Add body or one for people, thing for things and where for places: somebody, someone, something, somewhere. Body and one mean the same.
- Some-: positive sentences:
- Use some- in positive sentences: There is somebody at the door. I want something to drink. We are going somewhere warm.
- Any-: questions and negatives:
- Use any- in questions and after a negative verb: Is there anyone here? I don't know anything. I can't find my keys anywhere.
- No-: not any:
- No- already has a negative meaning, so the verb stays positive: There is nobody here. Do not say There isn't nobody here.
- Every-: all:
- Every- means all: everybody is all the people, everything is all the things, everywhere is all the places.
- One verb form:
- These words are singular, so use is and a verb with -s: Everyone is happy. Nobody knows.
Examples
Somebody is at the door.
Somebody is a person, and we do not say who. We use some- in a positive sentence.
We are looking for somewhere to sit.
Somewhere is a place that we do not name.
She doesn't know anyone here.
After a negative verb (doesn't know), we use any-: anyone.
Is there anything in the box?
In a question, we usually use any-: anything.
Nobody is at home.
Nobody means not anybody. The verb is positive: is.
Everyone is ready.
Everyone means all the people. We use is, not are.
Practice exercises
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word.
1.Listen! There is ___ at the door. I can hear a voice.
2.There isn't ___ in the box. It is empty.
3.Nobody ___ the answer to this question.
4.Everybody ___ here. The class can start.
5.I can't find my phone. It isn't ___.
6.The shop is closed, so there is ___ to buy.
Fill in the Blank
Type the correct word or form.
Put the Words in Order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
True or False
Decide if each statement is true or false.
17.'I don't know nothing' is correct English.
18.'Everybody is here' is correct English.
19.We usually use any- words in questions: 'Is there anyone here?'
20.'Somebody' and 'someone' mean the same.
21.'I haven't got anywhere to go' and 'I've got nowhere to go' mean the same.
Somebody, Something, Somewhere: Words for People, Things and Places
Sometimes we do not say exactly who, what or where. We say somebody, something or somewhere. These words are indefinite pronouns. You make them with four small words (some, any, no, every) and four endings: body, one, thing and where. Body and one are for people, thing is for things, and where is for places.
Some- is for positive sentences: There is somebody at the door. I want something to drink. Any- is for questions and negative sentences: Is there anyone here? I don't know anything. I can't find my keys anywhere. If you use a negative verb, you use any-.
No- already has a negative meaning, so the verb stays positive: There is nobody here. There is nothing in the box. Do not use two negative words together. We do not say There isn't nobody here. We say There isn't anybody here, or There is nobody here.
Every- means all: everybody is all the people, everything is all the things and everywhere is all the places. All of these words are singular, so you use is and the -s form of the verb: Everyone is ready. Nobody knows.
The exercises above practise all four groups, with some-, any-, no- and every- in positive sentences, questions and negatives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between somebody and someone?
There is no difference. Somebody and someone mean the same, and so do anybody and anyone, nobody and no one, everybody and everyone. Note that no one is written as two words.
When do I use some- and when do I use any-?
Use some- in positive sentences: I want something to eat. Use any- in questions and negatives: Do you want anything to eat? I don't want anything. In offers and requests, some- is also normal in a question: Would you like something to drink?
Can I say 'I don't know nothing'?
No. In standard English, we do not use two negative words together. Say I don't know anything, or I know nothing. Both are correct and mean the same.
Is everybody singular or plural?
Singular. Everybody means all the people, but the verb is singular: Everybody is here. Everybody likes music. The same is true for everyone, everything, nobody and nothing.
Can I use anything or anywhere in a positive sentence?
Yes, when the choice does not matter. You can sit anywhere means every place is fine. You can eat anything means every kind of food is fine.
Answer key
1. Listen! There is ___ at the door. I can hear a voice.
Answer: somebody
This is a positive sentence, so we use somebody. Nobody does not fit, because there is a voice.
2. There isn't ___ in the box. It is empty.
Answer: anything
After a negative verb (isn't), we use anything. Nothing already has a negative meaning, so we do not use it after isn't.
3. Nobody ___ the answer to this question.
Answer: knows
Nobody is singular, so the verb ends in -s: knows. Nobody already has a negative meaning, so we do not add don't.
4. Everybody ___ here. The class can start.
Answer: is
Everybody is singular, so we use is.
5. I can't find my phone. It isn't ___.
Answer: anywhere
After a negative verb (isn't), we use anywhere. Nowhere is already negative.
6. The shop is closed, so there is ___ to buy.
Answer: nothing
The shop is closed, so there is not anything to buy. With a positive verb (is), we say nothing.
7. I'm thirsty. I want ___ to drink.
Answer: something
This is a positive sentence, so we use some- : something.
8. There ___ nobody at the bus stop. It's very late.
Answer: is
Nobody is singular, so we use is, or the short form 's.
9. I'm bored. There is ___ to do here.
Answer: nothing
There is not anything to do. With a positive verb (is), we say nothing.
10. Where is Tom? I can't see him ___.
Answer: anywhere
After a negative verb (can't see), we use anywhere.
11. She is very quiet. She doesn't say ___ in class.
Answer: anything
After a negative verb (doesn't say), we use anything.
12. I love this town. ___ is friendly here.
Answer: Everybody
Everybody (or everyone) means all the people. It is singular, so the verb is is.
13. here / know / anyone / I / don't / .
Answer: I don't know anyone here.
After a negative verb (don't know), we use anyone.
14. bag / there / the / ? / anything / Is / in
Answer: Is there anything in the bag?
In a question, we use anything. Is comes first, then there.
15. warm / go / somewhere / Let's / .
Answer: Let's go somewhere warm.
In a positive sentence, we use somewhere. The word warm comes after it.
16. box / is / nothing / There / in / the / .
Answer: There is nothing in the box.
The verb is positive (is), and nothing has the negative meaning.
17. 'I don't know nothing' is correct English.
Answer: False
We do not use two negative words together. Say I don't know anything, or I know nothing.
18. 'Everybody is here' is correct English.
Answer: True
Everybody is singular, so we use is.
19. We usually use any- words in questions: 'Is there anyone here?'
Answer: True
In questions, we usually use anyone, anything and anywhere.
20. 'Somebody' and 'someone' mean the same.
Answer: True
Body and one mean the same: somebody = someone.
21. 'I haven't got anywhere to go' and 'I've got nowhere to go' mean the same.
Answer: True
Haven't got anywhere and have got nowhere both mean there is no place to go.