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.