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THE
QUANTIFIERS
Compound
nouns made with SOME, ANY and NO
| Some
+ |
-thing |
-body |
-one |
-where |
| Any
+ |
| No
+ |
Compound nouns
with some- and any- are used in the same
way as some and any.
Positive statements:
- Someone
is sleeping in my bed.
- He saw something
in the garden.
- I left my glasses
somewhere in the house.
Questions:
- Are you looking
for someone? (= I'm sure
you are)
- Have you lost
something? (= I'm sure
you have)
- Is there anything
to eat? (real question)
- Did you go anywhere
last night?
Negative statements:
- She didn't go
anywhere last night.
- He doesn't know
anybody
here.
NOTICE that
there is a difference in emphasis between nothing, nobody
etc. and not ... anything, not ... anybody:
- I don't
know anything about it.
(= neutral, no emphasis)
- I know nothing
about it (= more emphatic, maybe defensive)
More examples:
SOMETHING,
SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE
a.
I have something to tell
you.
b. There is something
to drink in the fridge.
c. He knows somebody in New
York
d. Susie has somebody staying
with her.
e. They want to go somewhere
hot for their holidays.
f. Keith is looking for somewhere
to live.
ANYBODY,
ANYTHING, ANYWHERE
a.
Is there anybody
who speaks English here?
b. Does anybody
have the time?
c. Is there anything
to eat?
d. Have you anything
to say?
e. He doesn't have anything
to stay tonight.
f. I wouldn't eat anything
except at Maxim's.
NOBODY, NOTHING,
NOWHERE
a.
There is nobody
in the house at the moment
b. When I arrived there was nobody
to meet me.
c. I have learnt nothing
since I began the course.
d. There is nothing
to eat.
e. There is nowhere
as beautiful as Paris in the Spring.
f. Homeless people have nowhere
to go at night.
ANY
can also be used in positive statements to mean 'no matter
which', 'no matter who', 'no matter what':
Examples:
a. You can borrow
any of
my books.
b. They can choose anything from
the menu.
c. You may invite anybody
to dinner, I don't mind.
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