Polseguera

Free English Grammar (Basic » Intermediate)

 

Unit 2 - Some, any + -body / -one, + -thing, + -where1

 

The compounds of some and any behave in the same way as some and any, that is to say, some-, in affirmative sentences and, any-, in negatives and questions, although we use some- in the interrogative to offer something, to ask for something or when we expect a positive response, as we saw in the previous unit. Examples:

I saw somebody there.

I did not see anybody there.

Did you see anybody there?

Would you like something better?

 

Instead of I did not see anybody there, we can say I saw nobody there, but we cannot use two negative words: *I did

not see nobody there.

 

Anybody, nobody and somebody mean the same as anyone, no-one and nobody respectively. No-one can also be written no one.

 

Any can also mean "every" or "it does not matter which / who":

You can take any pencil.

Anybody can do it. It's very easy.

 

Let's see the following examples to end with:

Somebody told me you were abroad.

Nobody came to the meeting.

Was there anybody in the house?

I want something to eat.

I don't need anything.

I need nothing.

Would you like something to drink?

Is there anything in that drawer?

I want to go somewhere else.

I didn't go anywhere.

I went nowhere.

Have you seen my car keys anywhere?

 

Exercise:

  Fill in the gaps with somebody, anybody, nobody, something, anything, nothing, somewhere, anywhere or nowhere.

  1.  I know __________ about this issue that you may find interesting, but if I tell you, you must promise to keep it (a) secret.

  2.  __________ lives here. There is no water.

  3.  I spent the night __________ near the beach.

  4.  __________ could have jumped over this wall, and stole your rake. It's very low.

  5.  __________ scares him. He's very brave.

  6.  There is __________ to park here. Let's go __________ else to park.

  7.  Would you like __________ to wash your hands?.

  8.  May I have __________ for dessert, please?

  9.  They took him __________ in London, and he never returned.

 10.  Please don't leave __________ behind at home. We'll be away for a fortnight.

 11.  She needs __________ to love. She's very lonely.

 12.  They will not sing __________ in this city. They said that they would never come back.

 13.  There isn't __________ you can do to help them. __________ can help them.

 14.  We do not need __________ else to run this department. We can do it ourselves.

 15.  __________ is ringing the bell. Go and see who it is.

 16.  __________ phoned while we were out, but they did not leave a message.

 17.  __________ tells me that there is __________ fishy going on .

 18.  They are looking for __________ to settle down and have children. They want to find a quiet place to lead a quiet life.

 19.  "Where would you like to stay?"

       "__________ will do provided it is a clean place."

 20.  "Is there __________ at home?"

       "I don't think there is __________. Mum and dad must have gone out."

 

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1  You may also like to see assorted exercises for beginners and some, any and every.
Written by Miquel Molina i Diez
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