Grammar Notes - Indefinite Pronouns

Infinitive Pronouns


Indefinite pronouns refer to unspecific items that act like a noun.


What - ( ? / -- ) anything ( ? / + ) something ( -- ) nothing

(?) Do you want anything?

(?) Do you want something?

(+) I want something to eat.

(--) I don’t want anything to drink.

(--) I have nothing to drink.


Where - ( ? / - ) anywhere ( ? / + ) somewhere ( -- ) nowhere

(?) Did you go anywhere?

(?) Did you go somewhere?

(+) I want to go somewhere.

(--) I don’t want to go anywhere.

(--) We went nowhere.


Who - ( ? / - ) anyone / ( ? / + ) someone / ( -- ) no one

(?) Do you know anyone?

(?) Do you know someone?

(+) I know someone like that.

(--) I don’t know anyone here.

(--) I know no one here.


Who - ( ? / - ) anybody / ( ? / + ) somebody / ( -- ) nobody

(?) Do you know anybody?

(?) Do you know somebody?

(+) I know somebody like that.

(--) I don’t know anybody here.

(--) I know nobody here.


Note: The words anytime, sometime, and sometimes (for when), and anyhow and somehow (for how) are used like adverbs and not like pronouns.

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