Variations on 'some', 'every', 'no', and 'any'
Undefined structures with SOME:
| something | an object, situation, quality or action which is not exactly known |
| somebody or someone | an unknown person |
| somewhere | in an unknown place |
| somehow | in a way that is not known |
Undefined structures with ANY:
| anything | something (used in questions and negative structures), or when it doesn't matter what thing |
| anybody or anyone | a person (used in questions and negative structures), or when it doesn't matter what person |
| anywhere | somewhere (used in questions and negative structures), or when it doesn't matter what place |
| anyway or anyhow | in any case, not considering other things |
Undefined structures with NO:
| nothing | not anything |
| nobody or no one | not anybody |
| nowhere | in no place |
| no way | impossible |
Undefined structures with EVERY:
| everything | all, the entirety |
| everybody or everyone | all the people |
| everywhere | in every place |
Note:
• Any and no are respectively used in negative and affirmative constructions (to avoid a double negative):
• Any and no are respectively used in negative and affirmative constructions (to avoid a double negative):
I don't know anybody here. I know no-one here.
Nobody is perfect. There isn't anyone who is perfect.
Nobody is perfect. There isn't anyone who is perfect.
• With somebody, everybody, nobody (and someone etc.) the verb is always conjugated in the singular form:
Everybody needs somebody.
Everyone has to leave.
Everyone has to leave.
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