Indefinite pronouns

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Words like 'something', 'everywhere', 'anybody' and 'no-one' are indefinite pronouns. We use them for people, things and places.

People: somebody* / anybody* / nobody* / everybody*
Things: something / anything / nothing / everything
Places: somewhere / anywhere / nowhere / everywhere

*We can use anybody or anyone - the meaning is the same. It's also true for someone, no-one and everyone.

These are singular words, so we use a singular verb with them.

• Does anybody want cake?
• Everybody loves the new puppy.

However, we can use 'they / them / their'.

• Anybody who wants cake should pass their plate.
• Nobody brought their bag.

We can use these words on their own for a short answer.

• A: What do you want to eat? B: Nothing!

We can use them at the beginning of a sentence as the subject or as the object of a sentence.

• Nothing was done.
• She did nothing.

Some- and any- We have already talked about how to use some and any. (See here if you need to review.)

We use someone / somebody / something / somewhere in the same way as some and we use anyone / anybody / anything / anywhere in the same way as any.

We use somebody / something / somewhere mainly in positive sentences.

• We can find somebody who can help.
• There's something in the bag.
• Let's go somewhere this weekend.

We use anybody / anything / anywhere in the same way, but for questions and negative sentences.

• I can't find anybody who can help.
• Is there anything in the bag?
• We didn't go anywhere this weekend.

We also use anybody / anything / anywhere with sentences that have a negative feeling.

• There is hardly anybody here.
• She ate hardly anything.
• We spent the weekend at home without going anywhere.

We can use somebody / something / somewhere in questions when they are offers or requests or when we think the answer is yes.

• Are you looking for something? (= I think you're looking for something.)
• Would you like something to eat?

We often use anybody / anything / anywhere after 'if'.

• If anybody would like a coffee, tell me now!
• If anything is wrong, you need to phone the reception.
• If there's anywhere that you don't want to go, please send me an email.

We also use anybody / anything / anywhere with the meaning 'it doesn't matter who / which / where'.

• Anybody can do this.
• I'd like to go anywhere! I just don't want to be here!
• She was so hungry that she ate anything.

No- Nobody = not anybody. Nothing = not anything. Nowhere = not anywhere.

• I don't know anyone who's coming = I know nobody who's coming.
• There isn't anything here = there's nothing here.
• She doesn't want to go anywhere = she wants to go nowhere.

Usually the sentence with 'no' is stronger and more emphatic.

We don't usually use a negative verb with nobody / nothing / nowhere. Sometimes you hear this but it's not standard English.

• NOT: I don't know nobody.

Every- Everybody = all the people. Everything = all the things. Everywhere = all the places. These can be used in positive sentences, negative sentences and questions.

• I think that she has been everywhere in Europe.
• He doesn't know everything.
• Do you know everybody here?

Try an exercise about the indefinite pronouns here.

• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/no-one-nobody-nothing-nowhere
• https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/english-grammar/indefinite-pronouns/