Indefinite Pronouns
Conversation #1
Man: Do you want something to eat?
Woman: I want something, but not just anything.
Man: What are you the mood for?
Woman: I’m in the mood for something spicy.
Man: What about spicy Thai soup?
Woman: That sounds great. But you know what, anything is fine.
Conversation #2
Man: Did you go anywhere this weekend?
Woman: Nowhere special, just the mall.
Man: Did you buy anything?
Woman: No, I had no money.
Man: Did you see anyone there?
Woman: No, I didn’t see anyone.
Conversation #3
Man: Where did you go yesterday.
Woman: Nowhere.
Man: Nowhere! Come on. I’m sure you went somewhere.
Woman: No, really, I didn’t go anywhere. I stayed home.
Man: I didn’t go anywhere either.
Woman: My gosh. We are so boring!
Conversation #4
Man: Did anyone call?
Woman: No. No one.
Man: Nobody called.
Woman: No. Were you expecting someone to call you.
Man: Yes, someone.
Woman: Ooh, who is this someone?
Man: Just someone. Nobody you know.
Infinitive Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to unspecific items that act like a noun.
(?) Do you want anything?
(?) Do you want something?
(+) I want something to eat.
(--) I don’t want anything to drink.
(--) I have nothing to drink.
(?) Did you go anywhere?
(?) Did you go somewhere?
(+) I want to go somewhere.
(--) I don’t want to go anywhere.
(--) We went nowhere.
(?) Do you know anyone?
(?) Do you know someone?
(+) I know someone like that.
(--) I don’t know anyone here.
(--) I know no one here.
(?) Do you know anybody?
(?) Do you know somebody?
(+) I know somebody like that.
(--) I don’t know anybody here.
(--) I know nobody here.
Note: The words anytime, sometime, and sometimes (for when), and anyhow and somehow (for how) are used like adverbs and not like pronouns.
