Indefinite Pronouns

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Words like 'something', 'everywhere', 'anybody' and 'no-one' are indefinite pronouns. We use them for people, things and places.

People: somebody* / anybody* / nobody* / everybody*
Things: something / anything / nothing / everything
Places: somewhere / anywhere / nowhere / everywhere

*We can use anybody or anyone - the meaning is the same. It's also true for someone, no-one and everyone.

These are singular words, so we use a singular verb with them.

Does anybody want cake?
Everybody loves the new puppy.

However, we can use 'they / them / their'.

Anybody who wants cake should pass their plate.
Nobody brought their bag.

We can use these words on their own for a short answer.

A: What do you want to eat? B: Nothing!

We can use them at the beginning of a sentence as the subject or as the object of a sentence.

Nothing was done.
She did nothing.

Some- and any- We have already talked about how to use some and any. (See here if you need to review.)

We use someone / somebody / something / somewhere in the same way as some and we use anyone / anybody / anything / anywhere in the same way as any.

We use somebody / something / somewhere mainly in positive sentences.

We can find somebody who can help.
There's something in the bag.
Let's go somewhere this weekend.

We use anybody / anything / anywhere in the same way, but for questions and negative sentences.

I can't find anybody who can help.
Is there anything in the bag?
We didn't go anywhere this weekend.

We also use anybody / anything / anywhere with sentences that have a negative feeling.

There is hardly anybody here.
She ate hardly anything.
We spent the weekend at home without going anywhere.

We can use somebody / something / somewhere in questions when they are offers or requests or when we think the answer is yes.

Are you looking for something? (= I think you're looking for something.)
Would you like something to eat?

We often use anybody / anything / anywhere after 'if'.

If anybody would like a coffee, tell me now!
If anything is wrong, you need to phone the reception.
If there's anywhere that you don't want to go, please send me an email.

We also use anybody / anything / anywhere with the meaning 'it doesn't matter who / which / where'.

Anybody can do this.
I'd like to go anywhere! I just don't want to be here!
She was so hungry that she ate anything.

No- Nobody = not anybody. Nothing = not anything. Nowhere = not anywhere.

I don't know anyone who's coming = I know nobody who's coming.
There isn't anything here = there's nothing here.
She doesn't want to go anywhere = she wants to go nowhere.

Usually the sentence with 'no' is stronger and more emphatic.

We don't usually use a negative verb with nobody / nothing / nowhere. Sometimes you hear this but it's not standard English.

NOT: ~~I don't know nobody~~.

Every- Everybody = all the people. Everything = all the things. Everywhere = all the places. These can be used in positive sentences, negative sentences and questions.

I think that she has been everywhere in Europe.
He doesn't know everything.
Do you know everybody here?

Try an exercise about the indefinite pronouns here.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

'SOMETHING', 'EVERYWHERE', 'ANYBODY', 'NO-ONE'

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