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51. Someone, somebody, something,
anyone, anybody, anything, no one, nobody, nothing
A. Compounds with some, any
and no follow the above rules:
Someone wants to speak to you on
the phone.
Someone/Somebody gave me a ticket
for the pop concert. ~ No one/Nobody has ever given me a free ticket for
anything.
Do you want anything from the
chemist?
Would anyone/anybody like a
drink?
Note also:
I
drink anything = I don't mind what I drink.
Anyone will tell you where the
house is.
B. someone, somebody, anyone,
anybody, no one, nobody
can be possessive:
Someone's passport has been stolen.
Is this somebody's/anybody's seat?
I don't want to waste anyone's time.
C.
Pronouns and possessive
adjectives with someone, somebody,
anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, everyone, everybody
These expressions have a singular
meaning and take a singular verb so personal pronouns and possessive adjectives
should logically be he/she, him/her, his/her. However in colloquial
English plural forms are more common:
Has anyone left their luggage on the
train?
No one saw Tom go out, did they?
But with something, anything,
nothing we still use it:
Something went wrong, didn't it?
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