Adults|Grammar|Intermediate|41. Some/any/no/none

Read the rules

We use both some and any in questions. We use some to talk about a person or thing that we know exists, or we think exists:

• Are you waiting for somebody? (I think you are waiting for somebody)

We use some in questions when we offer or ask for things:

1. Would you like something to eat? (there is something to eat)

2. Can I have some sugar, please? (there is probably some sugar I can have)

But in most questions, we use any. We do not know if the thing or person exists:

1. «Have you got any luggage?» «No, I haven’t.»

2. I can’t find my bag. Has anybody seen it?

Read the rules

We often use any after if:

1. If there are any letters for me, can you send them on to this address?

2. If anyone has any questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them.

3. Let me know if you need anything.

The following sentences have the idea of if:

1. I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused. (= if I have caused any trouble)

2. Anyone who wants to do the exam must tell me by Friday. (= if there is anyone)

Read the rules

We also use any with the meaning «it doesn’t matter which»:

1. You can take any bus. They all go to the centre. (= it doesn’t matter which bus you take)

2. «Sing a song.» «Which song shall I sing?» «Any song. I don’t mind.» (= it doesn’t matter which song)

3. Come and see me any time you want.

4. «Let’s go out somewhere.» «Where shall we go?» «Anywhere. I just want to go out.»

5. We left the door unlocked. Anybody could have come in.

Compare something and anything:

— I’m hungry. I want something to eat.

— What would you like?

— I don’t mind. Anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)

Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone are singular words:

• Someone is here to see you.

But we often use they/them/their after these words:

1. Someone has forgotten their umbrella. (= his or her umbrella)

2. If anybody wants to leave early, they can. (= he or she can)

«How much money do you have?» «None.»

Read the rules

No and none

We use no + noun. No = not a or not any:

1. We had to walk home because there was no bus. (= there wasn’t a bus)

2. Sue will have no difficulty finding a job. (= Sue won’t have any difficulty …)

3. There were no shops open. (= There weren’t any shops open.)

You can use no + noun at the beginning of a sentence:

• No reason was given for the change of plan.

We use none without a noun:

1. «How much money do you have?» «None.» (= no money)

2. All the tickets have been sold. There are none left. (= no tickets left)

Or we use none of…:

• This money is all yours. None of it is mine.

After none of + plural (none of the students, none of them etc.) the verb can be singular or plural. A plural verb is more usual:

• None of the shops were (or was) open.

Read the rules

Nothing, nobody/no one, nowhere

You can use these negative words at the beginning of a sentence or alone (as answers to questions):

1. Nobody (or No one) came to visit me while I was in hospital.

2. «What happened?» «Nothing.»

3. «Where are you going?» «Nowhere. I’m staying here.»

You can also use these words after a verb, especially after be and have:

1. The house is empty. There‘s nobody living there.

2. We had nothing to eat.

Nothing/nobody etc. = not + anything/anybody etc.:

1. I didn’t say anything. (= I said nothing.)

2. Jane didn’t tell anybody about her plans. (= Jane told nobody …)

3. They haven’t got anywhere to live. (= They’ve got nowhere to live.)

With nothing/nobody etc., do not use a negative verb (isn’t, didn’t etc.):

1. I said nothing. (not I didn’t say nothing)

2. Nobody tells me anything. (not Nobody doesn’t tell me)

Read the rules

We also use any/anything/anybody etc. (without not) to mean «it doesn’t matter which/what/who». Compare no- and any-:

1. There was no bus, so we walked home.

You can take any bus. They all go to the centre. (= it doesn’t matter which)

2. «What do you want to eat?» «Nothing. I’m not hungry.»

I’m so hungry. I could eat anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)

3. The exam was extremely difficult. Nobody passed. (= everybody failed)

The exam was very easy. Anybody could have passed. (= it doesn’t matter who)

After nobody/no one you can use they/them/their:

1. Nobody phoned, did they? (= did he or she)

2. No one did what I asked them to do. (= him or her)

3. Nobody in the class did their homework. (= his or her homework)

Put in some or any

Complete the sentences with some- or any- + -body/-thing/-where

Complete the sentences. Use any (+ noun) or anybody/anything/anywhere.

Complete these sentences with no, none or any

Answer these questions using none/nobody/nothing/nowhere

Now answer the same questions using complete sentences with any/anybody/anything/anywhere

Complete these sentences with no- or any- + -body/-thing/-where

Choose the right word

If you open the lesson plan you will be able to assign separate pages as homework or all the homework pages at once.