Zorg Spacesomeone, anything, nowhere
The rule
Join some-, any-, no- and every- to -one, -body, -thing and -where and you get the words for a person, a thing or a place you cannot or need not name. The some/any rule you learned for nouns still holds: something in statements, anything in questions and negatives. The no- words are already negative, so the verb stays positive: I saw nobody, not I did not see nobody. All of them are singular — Everybody is here, Is anyone waiting? — and after them the natural pronoun in modern English is they.
some/any/no/every + one, body, thing, where · all singular · nobody + positive verb
Examples
Someone left a bag in the waiting room.
Is there anything else you need?
There was nowhere to park.
Everybody has to sign in at reception.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: I did not see nobody in the office.
Right: I did not see anybody in the office.
One negative is enough; with not you need the any- word.
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Wrong: Everybody are waiting outside.
Right: Everybody is waiting outside.
These compounds are singular however many people they cover.
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Wrong: Would you like something to drink or nothing?
Right: Would you like anything to drink?
An offer that is genuinely open uses the any- word.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- I could not find anywhere nowhere to sit.
- I could not find anywhere to sit.
- I could not find somewhere to sit at all.
- I could not find nowhere to sit.
Show answer
Answer: B I could not find anywhere to sit.
After a negative verb, the any- word.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- There is not nothing in the fridge.
- There is anything in the fridge.
- There is nothing in the fridge.
- There are nothing in the fridge.
Show answer
Answer: C There is nothing in the fridge.
nothing carries the negative on its own.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- Has someone seen my glasses, I am asking generally?
- Has anyone saw my glasses?
- Have anyone seen my glasses?
- Has anyone seen my glasses?
Show answer
Answer: D Has anyone seen my glasses?
A genuine question takes anyone and a singular verb.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- Everything were ready by eight.
- All everything was ready by eight.
- Everything was ready by eight.
- Everythings were ready by eight.
Show answer
Answer: C Everything was ready by eight.
everything is singular.
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5Fill in the gap.
I need _____ to help me lift this.
- somebody
- anybody
- nobody
- everybody
Show answer
Answer: A I need somebody to help me lift this.
A positive statement takes the some- word.
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6Fill in the gap.
She said _____ and walked out.
- nothing
- everything not
- not anything at all nothing
- anything
Show answer
Answer: A She said nothing and walked out.
The verb is positive, so the negative sits in nothing.
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7Fill in the gap.
Does _____ know the code for the door?
- anyone
- no one
- someone not
- everyone not
Show answer
Answer: A Does anyone know the code for the door?
A question takes the any- word.
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8Fill in the gap.
_____ has left their coat behind.
- Anyone
- No one has not
- Someone
- Everyone are
Show answer
Answer: C Someone has left their coat behind.
Someone is singular, and their is the natural pronoun after it.
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9Put the words in the right order.
There was nowhere to leave the bikes
Show answer
Answer: There was nowhere to leave the bikes.
nowhere is negative on its own, so was stays positive.
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10Put the words in the right order.
Would you like anything from the shop
Show answer
Answer: Would you like anything from the shop?
An open offer takes anything.
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