Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 79 · A2

somebody/anything/nowhere etc.

somebody or someone is a person we cannot name, something is a thing, somewhere is a place. The same pattern runs through any- and no-. These words can take an adjective after them (somewhere quiet) or to + verb (something to eat).

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

somebody, something, somewhereA1 screen of questions
The full setB6 screens of questions
something + adjectiveC1 screen of questions
something + to ...D2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

somebody, something, somewhere

somebody / someone = a person, but we do not know who.

something = a thing, but we do not know what.

somewhere = in or to a place, but we do not know where.

  • Somebody has taken my bike.
  • He's holding something behind his back.
  • My cousin lives somewhere near Bristol.

Point A · Exercise 79.1

Put in somebody (or someone) / something / somewhere. The question in brackets is what the other person asks next.

  1. Example

    She said something. (What did she say?)

    AnswerShe said something.

  2. I've dropped . (What have you dropped?)

  3. They've gone . (Where have they gone?)

  4. I'm going to email . (Who are you going to email?)

Point B of 4

The full set

people (-body or -one) things (-thing) places (-where)
some- somebody / someone something somewhere
any- anybody / anyone anything anywhere
no- nobody / no-one nothing nowhere

-body and -one are the same.

  • There's somebody at the door.
  • Is there anyone at the door?
  • There isn't anybody at the door.
  • There's no-one at the door.
  • He said something, but I didn't catch it.
  • Have you got anything planned for Saturday?
  • "What did he say?" "Nothing."
  • Did you go anywhere nice on holiday?
  • I'm staying in tonight. I'm not going anywhere.
  • There's nowhere to park round here.

Point B · Exercise 79.2 · part 1 of 2

Answer with nobody (or no-one) / nothing / nowhere (1a to 4a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using not + anybody/anything/anywhere (1b to 4b).

  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. Where are you going?

  4. What do you want?

  5. Who are you waiting for?

  6. Where are you going?

Point B · Exercise 79.2 · part 2 of 2

Answer with nobody (or no-one) / nothing / nowhere (1a to 4a). Then answer the same questions with full sentences, using not + anybody/anything/anywhere (1b to 4b).

  1. What do you want?

  2. Who are you waiting for?

Point B · Exercise 79.3 · part 1 of 4

Put in somebody/anything/nowhere etc.

  1. Example

    The power's gone off. I can't see anything.

    AnswerThe power's gone off. I can't see anything.

  2. Example

    My cousin lives somewhere near Bristol.

    AnswerMy cousin lives somewhere near Bristol.

  3. Do you know about cars?

  4. "Shh! Listen!" "What? I can't hear ."

  5. "Why are you standing outside?" "I'm waiting for ."

  6. Can you sit down for a minute? There's I need to tell you.

Point B · Exercise 79.3 · part 2 of 4

Put in somebody/anything/nowhere etc.

  1. "Did see what happened?" "No, ."

  2. We'd had a big breakfast, so we didn't eat at lunchtime.

  3. "What's going to happen next?" "I've no idea. knows."

  4. "Do you know in Leeds?" "Yes, a couple of people."

Point B · Exercise 79.3 · part 3 of 4

Put in somebody/anything/nowhere etc.

  1. "What's in that drawer?" ". It's empty."

  2. I've lost my keys. I can't find them .

  3. I'm fed up with the rain. I want to live sunny.

  4. Is there good on at the cinema this week?

Point B · Exercise 79.3 · part 4 of 4

Put in somebody/anything/nowhere etc.

  1. Have you ever spoken to famous?

Point C of 4

something + adjective

An adjective goes after these words: something new, anybody famous, somewhere quiet, nothing serious.

  • Did you meet anyone nice at the wedding?
  • We always eat at the same café. Let's try somewhere new.
  • "Who was on the phone?" "Nobody important."

Point C · Extra practice

Put the words in brackets in the right order.

  1. It's too noisy here. Let's go . (quiet / somewhere)

  2. I'm bored of pasta. I want to try . (new / something)

  3. Was there at the barbecue? (famous / anybody)

Point D of 4

something + to ...

Use to + verb after these words: something to eat = something that I can eat.

  • I'm starving. I need something to eat.
  • She's got nobody to help her.
  • There's nowhere to sit in this waiting room.

Point D · Exercise 79.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use one word from box A (something, anything, nothing, somewhere, anywhere, nowhere) and one from box B (do, drink, eat, play, read, sit, stay), with to between them. You can use the words more than once.

Use these

somethinganythingnothingsomewhereanywherenowheredodrinkeatplayreadsitstay

  1. Example

    We rarely go out in the evening, because there's nowhere to go.

    AnswerWe rarely go out in the evening, because there's nowhere to go.

  2. The cupboards are empty. We haven't got .

  3. I'm so bored. I've got .

  4. "Why are you all standing?" "Because there isn't ."

  5. "Would you like ?" "Yes, please. A cup of tea would be lovely."

Point D · Exercise 79.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use one word from box A (something, anything, nothing, somewhere, anywhere, nowhere) and one from box B (do, drink, eat, play, read, sit, stay), with to between them. You can use the words more than once.

Use these

somethinganythingnothingsomewhereanywherenowheredodrinkeatplayreadsitstay

  1. Every guest house was full. There was .

  2. I want on the train. I'll buy a newspaper.

  3. Children need after school.

Lesson 79 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: every and allBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. somebody, something, somewhere–Not checkedB. The full set–Not checkedC. something + adjective–Not checkedD. something + to ...–Not checked