Someone, somebody, something, somewhe
re
from English Grammar Today
Someone, somebody, something, somewhere are indefinite pronouns. They function in
a similar way to some. We use them in affirmative clauses and in questions expecting a
particular answer. We can use them to refer to both general and specific people or
things. We use them with a singular verb:
I know someone who gives piano lessons. (a specific person)
Somebody has obviously made a mistake. (general, we don’t know who)
Can you hear something?
There was no mistaking the smell. Burning. There was a fire somewhere.
We often use the plural pronoun they to refer back to
(singular) someone or somebodywhen we do not know if the person is male or female:
Never judge someone by the way they look. (or Never judge someone by the way he
or she looks.)
See also:
One
Sexist language
Someone and somebody
Someone and somebody have no difference in meaning. Somebody is a little less
formal than someone. Someone is used more in writing than somebody. Somebody is
more common in speaking:
We can no longer assume that because someone can do the job, they can teach the
skill.
Somebody’s got to say something to her. She can’t behave like that.
Something and anything
We can use both something and anything in negative questions. They have different
meanings:
Didn’t she bring something to eat? (I think she did bring something.)
Didn’t she bring anything to eat? (I’m surprised she didn’t bring something.)
See also:
Anyone, anybody or anything?
Some
Pronouns: indefinite (-body, -one, -thing, -where)
Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific person, place, or thing. In English, there is a particular
group of indefinite pronouns formed with a quantifier or distributive preceeded by any, some,
every and no.
Person Place Th
All everyone everywhere eve
everybody
Part (positive) someone somewhere som
somebody
Part (negative) anyone anywhere any
anybody
None no one nowhere not
nobody
Indefinite pronouns with some and any are used to describe indefinite and incomplete quantities in the
same way that some and any are used alone.
Indefinite pronouns are placed in the same location as a noun would go in the sentence.
Noun Indefinite pronoun
Noun Indefinite pronoun
I would like to go to Paris this summer. I would like to go somewhere this summer.
Jim gave me this book. Someone gave me this book.
I won't tell your secret to Sam. I won't tell your secret to anyone.
I bought my school supplies at the mall. I bought everything at the mall.
AFFIRMATIVE
In affirmative sentences, indefinite pronouns using some are used to describe an indefinite quantity, the
indefinite pronouns with every are used to describe a complete quantity, and the pronouns with no are
used to describe an absence. Indefinite pronouns with no are often used in affirmative sentences with a
negative meaning, but these are nevertheless not negative sentences because they are lacking the
word not.
EXAMPLES
Everyone is sleeping in my bed.
Someone is sleeping in my bed.
No one is sleeping in my bed.
I gave everything to Sally.
He saw something in the garden.
There is nothing to eat.
I looked everywhere for my keys.
Keith is looking for somewhere to live.
There is nowhere as beautiful as Paris.
Any and the indefinite pronouns formed with it can also be used in affirmative sentences with a meaning
that is close to every: whichever person, whichever place, whichever thing, etc.
EXAMPLES
They can choose anything from the menu.
You may invite anybody you want to your birthday party.
We can go anywhere you'd like this summer.
He would give anything to get into Oxford.
Fido would follow you anywhere.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Negative sentences can only be formed with the indefinite pronouns that include any.
EXAMPLES
I don't have anything to eat.
She didn't go anywhere last week.
I can't find anyone to come with me.
Many negative sentences that include an indefinite pronoun with any can be turned into affirmative
sentences with a negative meaning by using an indefinite pronoun with no. However, there is a change in
meaning with this transformation: the sentence that includes an indefinite pronoun with no is stronger,
and can imply emotional content such as definsiveness, hopelessness, anger, etc.
EXAMPLES
I don't know anything about it. = neutral
I know nothing about it. = defensive
I don't have anybody to talk to. = neutral
I have nobody to talk to. = hopeless
There wasn't anything we could do. = neutral
There was nothing we could do. = defensive/angry
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Indefinite pronouns with every, some, and any can be used to form negative questions. These questions
can usually be answered with a "yes" or a "no"
Pronouns formed with anyand every are used to form true questions, while those with some generally
imply a question to which we already know or suspect the answer.
EXAMPLES
Is there anything to eat?
Did you go anywhere last night?
Is everyone here?
Have you looked everywhere?
These questions can be turned in to false or rhetorical questions by making them negative. The speaker,
when posing a question of this type, is expecting an answer of "no".
EXAMPLES
Isn't there anything to eat?
Didn't you go anywhere last night?
Isn't everyone here?
Haven't you looked everywhere?
Some and pronouns formed with it is only used in questions to which we think we already know the
answer, or questions which are not true questions (invitations, requests, etc.) The person asking these
questions is expecting an answer of "Yes".
EXAMPLES
Are you looking for someone?
Have you lost something?
Are you going somewhere?
Could somebody help me, please? = request
Would you like to go somewhere this weekend? = invitation
These questions can be made even more definite if they are made negative. In this case, the speaker is
absolutely certain he will receive the answer "Yes".
EXAMPLES
Aren't you looking for someone?
Haven't you lost something?
Aren't you going somewhere?
Couldn't somebody help me, please?
Wouldn't you like to go somewhere this weekend?
Reflections, curiosities, tips and ideas
from the world of learning English
Everyone, everybody, everything and
everywhere
COMMON MISTAKES , GRAMMAR , ENGLISH LANGUAGE
With doubts about the use of Everyone, everybody, everything and
everywhere? Today we explain how to do it and some typical mistakes
that we should avoid.
Everyone , everybody , everything and everywhere are undefined pronouns.
We use all of them to refer to a total of people, things or places. They are written as one
word:
His name was Henry but everyone called him Harry.
All your clothes are clean. I washed everything yesterday.
The sand got everywhere , into eyes, hair, tents, cups of tea, camera lenses.
We use everyone , everybody , everything and everywhere with the verb conjugated
in singular.
Everybody knows the truth.
At night, with the lights shining on the water, everything looks different.
We could not get a seat. Everywhere was so crowded.
Watch out:
We never add sa everything to form the plural.
Children can buy everything they want.
No: Children can buy everythings they want .
When we want to refer to everyone or everybody and we do not know
if everyone refers to a female or male group we use him or her and his or her. In a
more informal way, we can use plural pronouns like they, their and them :
Everybody has a team leader in charge of him or her.
Not everyone has his or her own desk.
Everyone has to climb to the top. When they get to the top, they have to blow their
whistle. (more informal)
Has everyone got their coats? (more informal)
We can use everybody and everyone as a subject in imperative sentences. We will
use the base form of the verb:
Everybody stand up!
Everyone and everybody
Everyone and everybody have the same meaning. Everyone is a little more formal
than everybody . Everyone is used more in the written language than everybody :
She knew everybody in the room.
Could everybody listen for a minute?
When everyone had gathered in the garden, Sergeant joined them and said,
'Welcome, everyone !'
Typical errors
Separate everyone in two words, even though it is always written as one:
Twenty years ago everyone used an alarm clock that rang like a bell. (every person)
Not: Twenty years ago every one used an alarm clock ...
Normally 'all people' is not used to generalize about the human being, the correct thing
would be:
Everyone has a right to basic freedoms.
CONDITIONAL
Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what
we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many
conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This
usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to
something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in
English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative
conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".
Conditional sentence Usage If clause verb Main clause verb t
type tense
Conditional sentence Usage If clause verb Main clause verb t
type tense
Zero General truths Simple present Simple present
Type 1 A possible condition and its probable result Simple present Simple future
Type 2 A hypothetical condition and its probable result Simple past Present conditiona
conditional
Type 3 An unreal past condition and its probable result in Past perfect Perfect conditional
the past
Mixed type An unreal past condition and its probable result in Past perfect Present contdition
the present
THE ZERO CONDITIONAL
The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation
is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both
parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be
replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.
If clause Main clause
If + simple present simple present
If this thing happens that thing happens.
If you heat ice it melts.
If it rains the grass gets wet.
Read more about how to use the zero conditional.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The type
1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in
the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
If clause Main clause
If + simple present simple future
If this thing happens that thing will happen.
If you don't hurry you will miss the train.
If it rains today you will get wet.
Read more about how to use the type 1 conditional.
TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal.
These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition
and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main
clause uses the present conditional.
If clause Main clause
If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional
If this thing happened that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing will happen) OR
that thing would be happening.
If you went to bed earlier you would not be so tired.
If it rained you would get wet.
If clause Main clause
If I spoke Italian I would be working in Italy.
Read more about how to use the type 2 conditional with the present conditional and how to use the
present continuous conditional in type 2 conditional sentence.
TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is contrary to
reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3 conditional is
used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the
if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.
If clause Main clause
If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional
If this thing had happened that thing would have happened. (but neither of those things really happene
that thing would have been happening.
If you had studied harder you would have passed the exam.
If it had rained you would have gotten wet.
If I had accepted that promotion I would have been working in Milan.
Read more about how to use the type 3 conditional with the perfect conditional tense, and how to use
the perfect continuous conditional in type 3 conditional sentences.
MIXED TYPE CONDITIONAL
The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is ongoing
into the present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The mixed type
conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed
type conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the present
conditional.
If clause Main clause
If + past perfect or simple past present conditional or perfect conditional
If this thing had happened that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't happen so that thing isn't happ
If I had worked harder at school I would have a better job now.
If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
If you weren't afraid of spiders you would have picked it up and put it outside.
