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Grammar - Level 2

Indefinite Pronouns

We use indefinite pronouns when the person or object that we refer to isn’t so clear. We have indefinite pronouns to refer to people, objects, and places. Indefinite pronouns always take the singular form, “there is” or only “is“.

Indefinite pronouns for people:

anybody ———> anyone
somebody  ———> someone
nobody  ———> no one
everybody  ———> everyone

Here are some rules when using indefinite pronouns for people.
1. When asking a question we normally use anybody or anyone.

  • Is anybody home? 
  • Is anyone at the door? 
  • Is anybody going to go to the store? 

2. In answering these questions in the affirmative form we use “somebody” or “someone”.

Question: Is anybody home? 
Affirmative Answer: Yes, someone is home. 

Question: Is anybody going to help me?  
Affirmative Answer: Don’t worry, someone will help you. 

Question: Is anyone going to the party?
Affirmative Answer: Sure, someone is going to the party. 

3. In answering these questions in the negative form we use the negative form of the verb “isn’t” and “anybody” or “anyone”.

Question: Is anybody  home? 
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anybody home. 

Question: Is anybody  going to help me? 
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anyone who is going to help you. 

Question: Is  anyone  going to the party? 
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anybody that’s going to the party. 

4. In answering the above questions in rule number three, it is much better to use “nobody” or “no one”, but we have to use the verb in the affirmative form.

Question: Is anybody  home? 
Negative Answer: No, there is nobody home. 

Question: Is anybody  going to help me? 
Negative Answer: No, nobody is going to help you. 

Question: Is anyone  going to the party? 
Negative Answer: No, no one is going to the party. 

We can make following contractions:

  • There is = there’s
  • Nobody is = nobody’s
  • No one is = no one’s

Indefinite pronouns for things:

  • Anything
  • Something
  • Nothing
  • Everything
Question: Is there anything  on the table? 
Affirmative Answer: Yes, there is  something  on the table. 
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t  anything  on the table. 
Negative Answer: No, there’s nothing  on the table. 

Question: Is there  anything  in the refrigerator? 
Affirmative Answer: Yes, there is  something  in the refrigerator. 
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t  anything  in the refrigerator. 
Negative Answer: No, there’s nothing  in the refrigerator. 

Indefinite pronouns for places:

  • Anywhere
  • Somewhere
  • Nowhere
  • Everywhere
 Question: Did she go  anywhere  for vacation last year? 
Affirmative Answer: Yes, she went somewhere  for vacation last year. 
Negative Answer: No, she didn’t go anywhere  for vacation last year. 
Negative Answer :No, she went nowhere  for vacation last year. 

When we use anybody, anything, or anywhere at the beginning of sentences the meaning changes.

  •  Anybody  can do it.  (In other words, it’s very simple)
  •  Anywhere  you go in the world you can find Coca-Cola. 
  •  Anything  is good to eat when you are dying of hunger.