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Something / Anything / Nothing / Everything

What is it?

These compound words follow similar rules to SOME and ANY. Use SOMETHING/SOMEONE/SOMEWHERE in positive sentences and offers ("I saw something" / "Would you like something?"). Use ANYTHING/ANYONE/ANYWHERE in negatives and questions ("I didn't see anything" / "Do you know anyone?"). NOTHING/NO ONE/NOWHERE are negative words (use with positive verb): "I saw nothing" = "I didn't see anything". EVERYTHING/EVERYONE/EVERYWHERE means "all things/people/places" ("Everything is ready" / "Everyone is here").

How to form it

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
Something (positive)	I saw something. / I need something.	not used	Can I have something? (request)
Anything (negative/question)	not used	I didn't see anything. / There isn't anything.	Do you need anything?
Nothing (negative)	I saw nothing. (= I didn't see anything)	not used	What did you see? Nothing.
Everything (all)	Everything is ready. / I know everything.	Not everything... (partial negative)	Is everything OK?
Someone/Anyone	Someone called. (positive) / Is anyone home? (question)	not used	Did anyone call?
Somewhere/Anywhere	I left it somewhere. / I can't find it anywhere. (negative)	not used	Are you going anywhere?

• Something/someone/somewhere: positive sentences → I saw something. / Someone called.
• Anything/anyone/anywhere: negatives & questions → I didn't see anything. / Do you know anyone?
• Nothing/no one/nowhere: negative meaning with positive verb → I saw nothing. (= I didn't see anything)
• Everything/everyone/everywhere: means 'all' → Everything is ready. / Everyone is here.
• Offers/requests: use something → Would you like something to drink? / Can I have something?
• Things: something, anything, nothing, everything
• People: someone, anyone, no one, everyone (also: somebody, anybody, nobody, everybody)
• Places: somewhere, anywhere, nowhere, everywhere

When to use it

1
SOMETHING/SOMEONE/SOMEWHERE — positive sentences
"I saw something." / "Someone called." / "I left it somewhere." / "Something is wrong."
2
ANYTHING/ANYONE/ANYWHERE — negative sentences
"I didn't see anything." / "I don't know anyone." / "I can't find it anywhere." / "There isn't anyone home."
3
ANYTHING/ANYONE/ANYWHERE — questions
"Do you need anything?" / "Did anyone call?" / "Are you going anywhere?" / "Is there anything wrong?"
4
SOMETHING/SOMEONE/SOMEWHERE — offers and requests
"Would you like something to drink?" (offer) / "Can I have something?" (request) / "Can someone help me?" (request)
5
NOTHING/NO ONE/NOWHERE — negative meaning (positive verb)
"I saw nothing." (= I didn't see anything) / "No one came." (= Nobody came) / "It's nowhere." (= It isn't anywhere)
6
EVERYTHING/EVERYONE/EVERYWHERE — means "all"
"Everything is ready." / "Everyone is here." / "I looked everywhere." (all places)

Common mistakes

I didn't see nothing. (double negative)

I didn't see anything. OR I saw nothing.

Don't use double negatives in English. Use 'anything' with negative verb OR 'nothing' with positive verb.

Do you need something? (neutral question)

Do you need anything?

Use 'anything' in neutral questions. Use 'something' only in offers/requests.

I saw anything. (positive)

I saw something.

Use 'something' in positive sentences, not 'anything'.

Nothing isn't ready. (double negative)

Nothing is ready. OR Nothing's ready.

'Nothing' is already negative, don't add 'not'.

Quick reference

Something/someone/somewhere: positive → I saw something. / Someone called.
Anything/anyone/anywhere: negative & questions → I didn't see anything. / Do you know anyone?
Nothing/no one/nowhere: negative (positive verb) → I saw nothing. (= I didn't see anything)
Everything/everyone/everywhere: all → Everything is ready. / Everyone is here.
Offers/requests: something → Would you like something? / Can I have something?
Things: something, anything, nothing, everything
People: someone, anyone, no one, everyone
Places: somewhere, anywhere, nowhere, everywhere

Natural conversation example

Looking for something lost

Tom

I can't find my keys anywhere!

Lisa

Did you look everywhere?

Tom

Yes, I looked everywhere. I found nothing.

Lisa

Did anyone see them?

Tom

No, no one saw them. Wait... I see something under the sofa!

Lisa

Is that them?

Tom

Yes! Everything is fine now. Thanks for helping!

Practice Exercises

Complete with something, anything, nothing, or everything.

1.
I saw strange.
2.
I didn't see .
3.
Do you need ?
4.
I saw (= I saw zero things)
5.
is ready.
6.
Would you like to drink?

Some and Any All Topics No and Not

Now use Something / Anything / Nothing / Everything in real conversation

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