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English with Philip

English advice on when to use  the following English terms. Remember! you can always practice this grammar tip with Philip your Skypeclass English Teacher

Someone, anyone, no one, everyone

Someone, anyone, no one, everyone mean the same as somebody, anybody, nobody, everybody. They all mean one person, no person or all people:

Is there someone at the door? No, there’s no one.
Something, anything, nothing and everything mean one thing, no thing and all things:

Is there anything I can do to help?
Somewhere, anywhere, nowhere and everywh**ere mean one place, no place and all places:

I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find it.
The word else is often used after these words to mean other:

Do you want to invite anyone else?
There’s nowhere else to go.

Anyone, anything and anywhere sometimes have a different meaning:

Ask anyone. (any person, it doesn’t matter who)
She’ll eat anything. (any thing, it doesn’t matter what)
Notice that only no one is two words. And no one, nobody and nothing always have a positive verb:

No one answered the phone.
Nothing has happened since you left.
All these words take a singular verb:

Everyone is watching TV.
We use they, their and them with everyone:

Is everyone happy with their seats?
All these words are often used before adjectives and infinitives:

Is there anything interesting on TV?
It’s raining and there’s nothing to do.