Use of English

Missing People, Missing Things

In everyday English, indefinite pronouns help us refer to people, places and things without being exact. Words like somebody, anyone and nothing are extremely common, but learners often mix them (0) UP because the choice depends on meaning and context. For example, in questions and negative sentences, we often use forms with any-. If you ask, 'Did (1) .......... call while I was out?', you are not thinking of a particular person. In contrast, if you say 'I heard (2) .......... moving in the kitchen,' you mean that a person or thing was definitely there, even if you do not know who or what it was. These pronouns can also change the tone of a sentence. Saying 'There is (3) .......... I need to tell you' sounds more natural than using a full noun phrase every time. Meanwhile, 'There isn't (4) .......... in the fridge' clearly means it is empty. It is also important to remember that (5) .......... agrees with a singular verb, even when it refers to many people. Finally, learners should be careful with double negatives: 'I didn't see (6) ..........' is correct, but 'I didn't see (7) ..........' is not standard. If you understand these patterns, (8) .......... becomes much easier.