Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 78 · A2

not + anybody/anyone/anything, nobody/no-one/nothing

not + anybody or anyone is the same as nobody or no-one; not + anything is the same as nothing. Use nobody, no-one and nothing at the start of a sentence or as a one-word answer, and never put two negatives together.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 31 minutes

In this lesson

People and thingsA2 screens of questions
nobody = not + anybody, nothing = not + anythingB2 screens of questions
Starting a sentence, answering a questionC4 screens of questions
Put it together+4 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

People and things

For people: there isn't anybody (or anyone) = there is nobody (or no-one).

For things: there isn't anything = there is nothing.

The endings -body and -one mean the same: anybody = anyone, nobody = no-one.

  • There isn't anybody in the kitchen.
  • There's nobody in the kitchen.
  • "Who's in the kitchen?" "No-one."
  • There isn't anything in the box.
  • There's nothing in the box.
  • "What's in the box?" "Nothing."

Point A · Exercise 78.1 · part 1 of 2

Write these sentences again with nobody/no-one or nothing.

  1. Example

    There isn't anything in the box.

    There's nothing in the box.

    AnswerThere's nothing in the box.

  2. There isn't anybody in the shop.

  3. I haven't got anything to read.

  4. There isn't anything on the radio.

  5. There wasn't anyone in the car.

Point A · Exercise 78.1 · part 2 of 2

Write these sentences again with nobody/no-one or nothing.

  1. We didn't buy anything.

Point B of 3

nobody = not + anybody, nothing = not + anything

not + anybody/anyone and nobody/no-one say the same thing. not + anything and nothing say the same thing.

  • I don't know anybody at this school.
  • I've moved to a new town and I've got nobody to go out with. (= I haven't got anybody)
  • The shop is closed. There's no-one inside. (= There isn't anyone inside.)
  • I can't remember anything about the film.
  • He said nothing. (= He didn't say anything.)
  • There's nothing to drink. (= There isn't anything to drink.)

Point B · Exercise 78.2 · part 1 of 2

Write these sentences again with anybody/anyone or anything.

  1. Example

    There's nothing in the box.

    There isn't anything in the box.

    AnswerThere isn't anything in the box.

  2. There was nobody at the bus stop.

  3. I've got nothing to wear.

  4. I've got no-one to talk to.

  5. He saw nothing.

Point B · Exercise 78.2 · part 2 of 2

Write these sentences again with anybody/anyone or anything.

  1. We've got nothing for breakfast.

Point C of 3

Starting a sentence, answering a question

Use nobody / no-one / nothing at the start of a sentence, or on its own as an answer. Do not start with anybody or anything here.

One negative only:

negative verb + any- positive verb + no-
He doesn't know anything. He knows nothing.
There isn't anything to do. There's nothing to do.

Not He doesn't know nothing or Don't tell nobody.

  • The flat is empty. Nobody lives there. (not Anybody lives there)
  • "Who did you ring?" "No-one."
  • Nothing happened. (not Anything happened)
  • "What did you buy?" "Nothing."
  • Don't tell anybody. (not Don't tell nobody)

Point C · Exercise 78.3 · part 1 of 4

Answer these questions with nobody/no-one or nothing (1a to 8a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using nobody/no-one/nothing or anybody/anyone/anything (1b to 8b).

  1. Example

    What did you say?

    Nothing.

    AnswerNothing.

  2. Example

    What did you say?

    I didn't say anything.

    AnswerI didn't say anything.

  3. Who rang you?

  4. What do you need?

  5. Who did you see?

  6. Who has got a pen?

Point C · Exercise 78.3 · part 2 of 4

Answer these questions with nobody/no-one or nothing (1a to 8a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using nobody/no-one/nothing or anybody/anyone/anything (1b to 8b).

  1. What did you eat?

  2. What went wrong?

  3. Who was absent?

  4. Who rang you?

Point C · Exercise 78.3 · part 3 of 4

Answer these questions with nobody/no-one or nothing (1a to 8a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using nobody/no-one/nothing or anybody/anyone/anything (1b to 8b).

  1. What do you need?

  2. Who did you see?

  3. Who has got a pen?

  4. What did you eat?

Point C · Exercise 78.3 · part 4 of 4

Answer these questions with nobody/no-one or nothing (1a to 8a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using nobody/no-one/nothing or anybody/anyone/anything (1b to 8b).

  1. What went wrong?

  2. Who was absent?

Put it together · Exercise 78.4 · part 1 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use nobody/no-one/nothing/anybody/anyone/anything.

  1. Example

    That shop has been closed for years. Nobody works there now.

    AnswerThat shop has been closed for years. Nobody works there now.

  2. Grandad is getting forgetful. He can't remember .

  3. It's a surprise party. Don't tell .

  4. I didn't know the class was cancelled. told me.

  5. "What did you have for lunch?" ". I was too busy."

Put it together · Exercise 78.4 · part 2 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use nobody/no-one/nothing/anybody/anyone/anything.

  1. I didn't have for lunch. I was too busy.

  2. Max was eating on his own. He wasn't with .

  3. Sorry, the system is down. There's I can do.

  4. I don't know about football.

Put it together · Exercise 78.4 · part 3 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use nobody/no-one/nothing/anybody/anyone/anything.

  1. The concert is free. It doesn't cost to get in.

  2. The phone rang, but when I answered it there was there.

  3. The lecturer spoke so quickly. I didn't understand .

  4. "What are you doing on Sunday?" ". Why?"

Put it together · Exercise 78.4 · part 4 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use nobody/no-one/nothing/anybody/anyone/anything.

  1. Ruth has moved away. has her new number. She left without telling .

Lesson 78 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: somebody/anything/nowhere etc.Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. People and things–Not checkedB. nobody = not + anybody, nothing = not + anything–Not checkedC. Starting a sentence, answering a question–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked