Some, any, no, every

• Some and any
• No
• Compound words
  • With -thing
  • With -one / -body
  • With -where
• Examples
• Conversation

Some and any

Some [sʌm] and any ['ɛni] both mean an indefinite amount. In general, we use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions.

I have some books.

I don't have any books.

Do you have any questions?

We can also use some in questions when offering or requesting: Would you like some coffee? Can I have some water?

No

No can be used as a determiner before a noun. It is equivalent to not any:

I have no money. = I don't have any money.

There are no chairs. = There aren't any chairs.

When we use no before a noun, the verb stays affirmative: I have no money, not I don't have no money.

Compound words

We can combine some, any, no, and every with -thing, -one/-body, and -where to create useful compound words:

With -thing

something ['sʌmθɪŋ]

anything ['ɛniθɪŋ] (in questions and negatives)

nothing ['nʌθɪŋ]

everything ['ɛvriθɪŋ]

With -one / -body

someone ['sʌmwʌn] / somebody ['sʌmbədi]

anyone ['ɛniwʌn] / anybody ['ɛnibədi] (in questions and negatives)

no one ['noʊ wʌn] / nobody ['noʊbədi]

everyone ['ɛvriwʌn] / everybody ['ɛvribədi]

With -where

somewhere ['sʌmwɛr]

anywhere ['ɛniwɛr] (in questions and negatives)

nowhere ['noʊwɛr]

everywhere ['ɛvriwɛr]

Examples

Someone is at the door.

I don't know anyone here.

Nobody called me yesterday.

Is there anything in the box?

There is nothing in the box.

I looked for my keys everywhere.

When we use nothing, nobody, or nowhere, the verb stays affirmative. Unlike in many other languages, English does not allow double negatives.

✔ I have nothing.
✔ I don't have anything.
✗ I don't have nothing.

✔ I know nobody.
✔ I don't know anybody.
✗ I don't know nobody.

Conversation

Ana: Did you do anything interesting last weekend?

David: Yes! I went somewhere new, a small town near the mountains. Everything was very quiet and peaceful ['pi:sfəl].

A: Did you go with someone?

D: No, I went alone [ə'loʊn]. Nobody wanted to come with me. But it was OK. I met some nice people at the hotel.

A: Did you buy anything?

D: I bought something for my sister, a beautiful painting. But I couldn't find anything for my brother. There was nothing he would like in the shops.

A: Is there anything you want to do next weekend?

D: I want to go somewhere warm. I don't want to do anything too active [æktɪv]. I just want to relax.