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.
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerIs anybody home?
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerIs anyone at the door?
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerIs anybody going to go to the store?
2. In answering these questions in the affirmative form we use “somebody” or “someone”.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody home? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Affirmative Answer: Yes, someone is home.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody going to help me? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Affirmative Answer: Don’t worry, someone will help you.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anyone going to the party?Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
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”.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody home? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anybody home.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody going to help me? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anyone who is going to help you.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anyone going to the party? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
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.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody home? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there is nobody home.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anybody going to help me? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, nobody is going to help you.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is anyone going to the party? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
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
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is there anything on the table? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Affirmative Answer: Yes, there is something on the table. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anything on the table. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there’s nothing on the table.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Question: Is there anything in the refrigerator? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Affirmative Answer: Yes, there is something in the refrigerator. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there isn’t anything in the refrigerator. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer
Negative Answer: No, there’s nothing in the refrigerator. Indefinite pronouns for places:
- Anywhere
- Somewhere
- Nowhere
- Everywhere
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: Did she go anywhere for vacation last year? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: Yes, she went somewhere for vacation last year. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: No, she didn’t go anywhere for vacation last year. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer 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.
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerAnybody can do it. (In other words, it’s very simple)
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerAnywhere you go in the world you can find Coca-Cola.
- Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peerAnything is good to eat when you are dying of hunger.