Indefinite Pronouns: Someone, Anyone, Everyone and Nobody

Someone is at the door.

💡 A person is there, but we do not say who.

Is anyone waiting?

💡 An open question.

Is someone at the door?

💡 The speaker may expect a visitor.

I don’t know anyone here.

💡 Any fits the negative context.

Anyone can join.

💡 Free choice, not a question.

Everyone has a ticket.

💡 Use has with everyone, not have.

Nobody is outside.

💡 One negative marker.

No one answered.

💡 No one is two words.

Something smells good.

💡 An unspecified thing.

Would you like something to drink?

💡 An offer expects a possible positive response.

I didn’t find anything.

💡 Anything fits the negative.

Everything is ready.

💡 Singular is follows everything.

Nothing is missing.

💡 Nothing supplies the negative meaning.

Let’s go somewhere quiet.

💡 A place word followed by an adjective.

You can sit anywhere.

💡 Free choice of place.

I looked everywhere.

💡 All relevant places.

There was nowhere to park.

💡 No suitable place.

If someone calls, ask them to wait.

💡 Them refers to the person meant by someone.

❌ Everyone have a ticket.

✅ Everyone has a ticket.

Use has with everyone, not have.

❌ I didn’t see nobody.

✅ I didn’t see anybody.

“Nobody” already means no person. After “didn’t”, use “anybody” for this meaning.

❌ A useful something is here.

✅ Something useful is here.

Put useful after something: something useful.

1. B — is

💡 Everyone takes is, even though it refers to many people.

2. A — anyone

💡 Use anyone after did not for this meaning. Nobody already includes a negative meaning.

3. B — Every person is allowed to join.

💡 Anyone can express free choice. It is allowed in positive sentences like this one.

4. A — something useful

💡 Put the describing word after something: something useful.

5. A — them

💡 Use them after ask. It can refer to one person whose identity is unknown.