Intermediate English
Lesson 4 - Work
Grammar
On This Page
- Indefinite words (somebody, anywhere, nothing, etc.)
- "Find the Mistake" review activity
Indefinites
Some-
Indefinites are words that refer to non-specific people or things.
someone, somebody
Somebody needs to help her.something
Please give me something to write with.somewhere
My pen is somewhere in my desk but I can't find it.
Every-
Indefinite words with every- refer to all people, things, or places.
everyone, everybody
Everybody likes chocolate.everything
My teenage son eats everything.everywhere
Reporters have to travel everywhere.
No-
The following indefinites are negative.
no one, nobody
Nobody is home right now.nothing
There is nothing in that bag.nowhere
There's nowhere to eat Mexican food in this town.
Any-
The following indefinites are used with questions or negative sentences.
anyone, anybody
Can anyone help me?
Don't tell anyone the secret.anything
Do you want anything to eat?
I don't eat anything for breakfast.anywhere
Are you going anywhere on Saturday?
I'm not going anywhere on Saturday.
Questions
With questions you can use some- or any-, but it is more common to use any-.
Do you have something?
Do you have anything?
Double Negative
It is not considered grammatically correct to use a negative indefinite with a negative verb (although it is used in some dialects). It is called a double-negative. You can use one negative indefinite (no one, nobody, nothing, nowhere) or a negative verb with an indefinite with any- (anyone, anybody, anything, anywhere).
I have nothing.
I don't have anything.
I don't have nothing.Not correct
Practice
Select the correct indefinite. (In some there is more than one correct answer.)
Instructions
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