Indefinite pronouns and adverbs Meaning of indefinite Pronouns and adverbials ees ‘Somebody stole my wallet! (Who? The speaker doesn't know.) Is there anything in your backpack? (What? The speaker doesn't know.) ‘Surely it's around somewhere. (Where? The speaker doesn't know.) 2's CENGAGE ~ Learning: Use indefinite pronouns or indefinite adverbs when you don't know (or don't want to say) who, what, or where. AffirmativelPositive Negative someone, anyone no one somebody, anybody nobody somethinglanything nothing somewhere, anywhere nowhere ‘Subject-verb agreement jsomething wrong? Nothing elselis|missing from my backpack. Indefinite pronouns are singular and are followed by singular verb forms Use with negatives Incorrect Itisn't nowhere, Nobody didn't see anything. Correct It's nowhere, Nobody saw anything. ‘Avoid double negatives. ‘Anyone/anybody versus someone/somebody Did you see anybody unusual around? (any unusual people) Did you see somebody unusual around? (a particular unusual person) Anyone/anybody has a slightly different meaning from someone/somebody. In general, anyone/anybody is similar in meaning to all people. Someone/somebody is similar in meaning to a particular unnamed person. Correct It's § o'clock somewhere. unnamed place Incorrect It's § o'clock anywhere. = all places (illogical) Anywhere can be all places. ‘Somewhere can be a particular unnamed place. Grammar Café Copyright © Cengage Learning Not reproducible without written permission of publisher