Compound nouns made with SOME, ANY and NO
Some + -thing -body -one -where
Any +
No +
Compound nouns with some- and any- are used in the same way as some and any.
Positive statements:
ExamplesSomeone is sleeping in my bed.
He saw something in the garden.
I left my glasses somewhere in the house.
Questions:
ExamplesAre you looking for someone? (= I'm sure you are)
Have you lost something? (= I'm sure you have)
Is there anything to eat? (real question)
Did you go anywhere last night?
Negative statements:
ExamplesShe didn't go anywhere last night.
He doesn't know anybody here.
NOTICE that there is a difference in emphasis between nothing, nobody etc. and not ... anything, not ... anybody:
ExamplesI don't know anything about it. (= neutral, no emphasis)
I know nothing about it (= more emphatic, maybe defensive)
SOMETHING, SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE
ExamplesI have something to tell you.
There is something to drink in the fridge.
He knows somebody in New York
Susie has somebody staying with her.
They want to go somewhere hot for their holidays.
Keith is looking for somewhere to live.
ANYBODY, ANYTHING, ANYWHERE
ExamplesIs there anybody who speaks English here?
Does anybody have the time?
Is there anything to eat?
Have you anything to say?
He doesn't have anything to stay tonight.
I wouldn't eat anything except at Maxim's.
NOBODY, NOTHING, NOWHERE
ExamplesThere is nobody in the house at the moment
When I arrived there was nobody to meet me.
I have learnt nothing since I began the course.
There is nothing to eat.
There is nowhere as beautiful as Paris in the Spring.
Homeless people have nowhere to go at night.
ANY can also be used in positive statements to mean 'no matter which', 'no matter who', 'no matter what':
ExamplesYou can borrow any of my books.
They can choose anything from the menu.
You may invite anybody to dinner, I don't mind.
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