The Grammar Page

ADRIAN DOFF presents and explains this key point of grammar with notes on a short dialogue.

Master key points of English grammar

Dialogue

Alison is staying at her brother Leo’s flat in London while he’s away on business. She phones to tell him about a rather strange call she had at his place.

Alison: Hi, Leo, just to let you know — someone1 called for you this morning.

Leo: Oh, yes, who?

Alison: He said his name was André ... or Andrew.

Something2 like that.

Leo: I don’t know anyone3 called André or Andrew. Alison: He said he met you somewhere4 in Italy last summer.

Leo: Did he say where?

Alison: No, he was a bit vague.

Leo: Did he say anything5 else?

Alison: Yes, he said you’d invited him to stay with you. He’s coming round this evening.

Leo: That’s very odd. Call me if anyone6 comes to the door ... but don’t let them in, OK?

Alison: Don’t worry, I won’t!

Explanations

1. Someone is an indefinite pronoun. Alison isn’t saying exactly who it is. She could also say somebody, which has the same meaning.

2. Something is also an indefinite pronoun — used to talk

about things.

3. To form a negative sentence, Leo uses not ... anyone. He

could also say not ... anybody.

4. Somewhere is an indefinite pronoun that is used to talk

about places. André didn’t say exactly where they had met. 5. In questions, we usually use pronouns with any- (anyone, anything, anywhere). 6. We can also use pronouns with any- in positive sentences. Here, it means “anyone at all”. (= It doesn’t matter who it is.)

Remember!

Indefinite pronouns can be formed with some- or any- (someone/somebody; anyone/anybody; something/anything; somewhere/anywhere).

1. We usually use pronouns with some- in positive sentences, and pronouns with any- in questions and negative sentences: ⋅ ⋅

Ssh! I’m talking to someone.

⋅ Did you go anywhere interesting on holiday? I don’t feel like doing anything this evening. 2. We can also use pronouns with any- in positive ⋅ sentences when the meaning is “any-... at all”: We both work from home, so we could live ⋅ anywhere. (= We have a choice of where to live.) It isn’t a formal party. Wear anything you like.

Beyond the basics

In ⋅ questions, we normally use pronouns with any-:

Is there anything good on TV?

But we use forms with some- if we expect the answer to ⋅ be “yes” (so, it’s not really an open question):

Are you going out with someone? (= I’m pretty sure you are.)

We often use questions with some- to ask for things or to ⋅ make suggestions:

Can you give me something to drink? (= Please give ⋅ me something.)

Shall we watch something on TV? (= Let’s watch something.)