Indefinite

pronouns
 Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to unspecified people, objects or
places.

We form indefinite pronouns with the words every, some, any, and no ending in:
-body or -one
-thing
-where

  EVERY- SOME - ANY- NO-

People everybody somebody anybody nobody
-BODY / -ONE everyone someone anyone no one
Things
everything something anything nothing
-THING
Places
everywhere somewhere anywhere nowhere
-WHERE
EVERYBODY / EVERYONE / EVERYTHING / EVERYWHERE are used in
affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Indefinite
Meaning Examples
pronoun
everybody Everybody / Everyone is a potential
• all people
everyone consumer of these products.

everything • all the things You can’t buy everything you want.

Have you seen this new fashion trend

everywhere • in all places
everywhere?
SOMEBODY / SOMEONE / SOMETHING / SOMEWHERE are used in
affirmative sentences.

Indefinite
Meaning Examples
pronoun
• a person, we
somebody Somebody / Someone told me this
don’t know
someone store has the best bargains.
who
• a thing, we
It’s impossible to return something
something don’t know
without the receipt.
what
• in a place, we
The shopping list is somewhere in my
somewhere don’t know
bag.
where
ANYBODY / ANYONE / ANYTHING / ANYWHERE are used in negative and
interrogative sentences.

Indefinite
Meaning Examples
pronoun
• no person Don’t share your credit card details with
anybody (negative) anybody / anyone.
anyone • any person Do you know anybody / anyone who works at
(interrogative) the outlet store?
• no thing
I’ve never bought anything in a
(negative)
anything second-hand shop.
• a thing
Did you see anything you like?
(interrogative)
• no place
I can’t find the price tag anywhere.
(negative)
anywhere Have you seen these discounts anywhere
• any place
else?
(interrogative)
NOBODY / NO ONE / NOTHING / NOWHERE are used in affirmative
sentences with negative meaning and as single-word answers.

Indefinite
Meaning Examples
pronoun
nobody There was nobody / no one in the shop
• no person
no one even though it was sale season.

nothing • no object What did you buy in that store? Nothing!

I have nowhere to go.

nowhere • no place
Where are you going? Nowhere!
Read the sentences and choose the correct option to
complete them.

everybody (anyone / everybody / something) shops online

1. It seems like _________
these days.

someone (anybody / anything / someone) who is addicted

2. A shopaholic is _________
to shopping.

something (anywhere /
3. The shop assistant asked me if I was looking for _________
nobody / something) in particular.

nothing (anything / anywhere / nothing) worth buying on

4. They found _________
Cyber Monday.

anywhere (anyone / anywhere / somewhere) in

5. There were no stores open _________
the village.
Choose the sentences that use the indefinite pronouns
correctly.

1. There isn’t a vintage shop somewhere in town.

2. Where are your shopping bags? Nowhere. I didn’t buy anything.

3. Nowadays you can buy everything from an online store.

4. We are searching anywhere to find the best price.

5. Why is somebody in such a rush to buy the new iPhone?