Indefinite pronouns
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
Words for people and things you do not name. They are singular, even when they feel plural.
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The grid
Four prefixes across three categories, and the table above holds all twelve. Somebody and someone mean exactly the same thing; someone is slightly more formal.
They take a singular verb
Everybody is waiting. Nothing works. Somebody has left a bag.
This feels wrong to speakers of languages where everybody is plural, but the verb is always singular.
And are referred back to with they
The pronoun that follows is plural, even though the verb was singular:
Somebody called — they didn’t leave a name. Everyone should bring their own lunch.
This is standard English and has been for centuries.
some- or any-
The same split as with nouns:
- some- in positive sentences: There is somebody at the door.
- any- in negatives and questions: There isn’t anybody. Is there anybody there?
With offers and requests, some- returns: Would you like something to drink?
no- and not any
These say the same thing with different grammar:
There is nothing left. = There isn’t anything left.
Use one or the other. There isn’t nothing is not standard English.
Adjectives come after
Unlike with ordinary nouns, the describing word follows:
something useful, nothing new, somebody important
All forms
| people | things | places | |
|---|---|---|---|
| some- | somebody, someone | something | somewhere |
| any- | anybody, anyone | anything | anywhere |
| no- | nobody, no one | nothing | nowhere |
| every- | everybody, everyone | everything | everywhere |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- Someone said they would help me, but they didn't show up.
- I can't decide which one to choose, but something tells me to take the blue one!
- She said that somebody would help with the project.
- Anyone can come up with a solution to this problem.
- You can keep anything you find on the ground.
- Everyone should be responsible for their own actions.
- Nobody wanted to speak first at the meeting.
- He said nothing when I asked about the money.
- He told us everything he remembered about that night.
- The teacher told everybody to complete the assignment by tomorrow.
- Does Anybody want to go out for dinner tonight?
- Have you seen my keys? I can't find them anywhere.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: Everybody are here. correct: Everybody is here.
Indefinite pronouns take a singular verb, however many people they cover.
Wrong: I didn't see nobody. correct: I didn't see anybody.
English does not use two negatives. With a negative verb, use any-.
Wrong: Somebody forgot his or her coat. correct: Somebody forgot their coat.
They and their are the normal way to refer back when the person is unknown.