Or sign in with your account on:

Not a member yet? Register

Elementary - Somebody, anybody, nobody

Monday, 08 June 2009
There is somebody in the garden There is somebody in the garden Background image created by V.ivash - Freepik.com

English grammar lesson on-line for elementary level students - An explanation of indefinite quantities (somebody, anybody, nobody) with printable exercises.

There isn't any difference between somebody and someone, anybody and anyone, nobody and no-one.


1) Not + anybody / anyone, nobody / no-one are used for people in negative and interrogative sentences.

  • There isn't anybody/anyone in the room.
  • There is nobody/no-one in the room.

Not + anything, nothing are used for things.

  • There isn't anything in the bag.
  • There is nothing in the bag.

We can use nobody / no-one / nothing at the beginning of a sentence or alone only to answer a question.

  • The house is empty. Nobody lives there.
  • What did you say? Nothing.
  • Who did you speak to? No-one.

The difference between somebody and anybody, something and anything, somewhere and anywhere, etc are the same as the difference between some and any.


2) Somebody / someone are used for indefinite quantity in the affirmative sentences.

  • There is somebody/someone in the garden.
  • There is somebody/someone at the door.

Somewhere, anywhere, nowhere are used for place.

  • They live somewhere in the north of Ireland.
  • Did you go anywhere interesting for your holiday?
  • I don't like this town. There is nowhere to go.
Rate this item
(29 votes)
published in Determiners
Read 87956 times
Last modified on Saturday, 01 December 2018 13:53

Free English lessons in your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter and receive free grammar lessons and exercises, graded readers with comprehension questions, and tips on how to improve your English. And stay updated on the WeLoveTeachingEnglish services.