Indefinite pronouns

We use indefinite pronouns when we are generalising and not speaking about something concrete.

Usage

Things or People

When we are referring to things, we use the indefinite pronouns that end in -thing.

Example:: everything, something, anything, nothing

For people, we use the indefinite pronouns that end in -body or -one.

Example:: everybody/everyone, somebody/someone, anybody/anyone, nobody/no one

Difference between every-, some-, any-, no-

indefinite pronoun	usage	example
everything everybody/everyone	every individual in a group, all together	Everything looks different. It seems that everyone has disappeared.
something somebody/someone	an unspecified person or thing	I would really like to ask someone. I think I heard something.
anything anybody/anyone	one random person of a group, one random thing	I am sure anyone could help me to get back to the city centre. I would do anything to get back to the city centre.
	in negative sentences, in the sense of nothing/nobody	But there isn’t anyone here I could ask.
	in questions whether there is something/something	Is there anyone there?
nothing nobody/no one	not one single thing or person	Nothing looks familiar.There is nobody in the street.

Nothing/nobody or anything/anybody

Instead of nothing/nobody/no one we can also use not anything/anybody/anyone.

Example:: Nothing looks familiar.
I don’t see anything that looks familiar.; There is nobody here I could ask.
There isn’t anyone here I could ask.

Everything/everybody or anything/anybody

For foreign learners of English it is sometimes difficult to know whether to use any- or every-.

If we are referring to any person or thing from a group, we need to use any-. To help us remember this rule, we can imagine various people or things and put an or in between them.

Example:: Anyone could help me: the man or the woman or the child or the old lady.; I will do anything if you help me: I will give you money or I will help you do the washing up or I will go to the cinema with you.

However, if we truly mean every single individual or the entire group together, we have to use every-. To help us remember this rule, we can imagine various people or things and put an and in between them.

Example:: Everyone has disappeared: the man and the woman and the child and the old lady.; I will do everything if you help me: I will give you money and I will help you do the washing up and I will go to the cinema with you.