Unit 77: not + anybody/anyone/anything | nobody/no-one/nothing

Master negative pronouns for people, things, and places

A. not + anybody/anyone | nobody/no-one (for people)

Empty room

There isn't anybody in the room.

Nobody in room

There is nobody in the room.

anybody = anyone | nobody = no-one
• There isn't anybody in the room.
• There is nobody in the room.
A: Who is in the room?
B: Nobody. / No-one.

A. not + anything | nothing (for things)

Empty bag

There isn't anything in the bag.

Nothing in bag

There is nothing in the bag.

• There isn't anything in the bag.
• There is nothing in the bag.
A: What's in the bag?
B: Nothing.

B. nobody = not + anybody | nothing = not + anything

nobody = not + anybody (or anyone)
• I don't know anybody here.
• nobody = not + anybody
• I'm lonely. I've got nobody to talk to.
(= I haven't got anybody)
• The house is empty. There is no-one in it.
(= There isn't anyone in it.)
nothing = not + anything
• I can't remember anything.
• nothing = not + anything
• She said nothing.
(= She didn't say anything.)
• There's nothing to eat.
(= There isn't anything to eat.)

C. Use at the beginning or alone

You can use nobody/no-one/nothing at the beginning of a sentence or alone (to answer a question):
• The house is empty. Nobody lives there.
(not 'Anybody lives there')
• Nothing happened.
(not 'Anything happened')
• 'Who did you speak to?' 'No-one.'
• 'What did you say?' 'Nothing.'

D. Remember: negative verb + anybody/anyone/anything

positive verb + nobody/no-one/nothing
• He doesn't know anybody.
not 'He doesn't know nobody.'
• Don't tell anybody.
not 'Don't tell nobody.'
• There is nothing to do in this town.
not 'There isn't nothing.'

anybody/anyone → nobody/no-one

I don't know anybody here. → Nobody knows me here.
There isn't anyone at home. → No-one is at home.

anything → nothing

There isn't anything in the bag. → There's nothing in the bag.
I can't remember anything. → I remember nothing.

Used at the beginning

Nobody came. = No-one came.
Nothing happened. = Nothing was said.

Answers to questions

'Who did you meet?' → 'Nobody.' or 'No-one.'
'What did you buy?' → 'Nothing.'

77.1 Write these sentences again with nobody/no-one or nothing.

  1. There isn't anything in the bag.
  2. There isn't anybody in the office.
  3. I haven't got anything to do.
  4. There isn't anything on TV.
  5. There wasn't anyone at home.
  6. We didn't find anything.

77.2 Write these sentences again with anybody/anyone or anything.

  1. There's nothing in the bag.
  2. There was nobody on the bus.
  3. I've got nothing to read.
  4. I've got no-one to help me.
  5. We heard nothing.
  6. We've got nothing for dinner.

77.3 Answer these questions with nobody/no-one or nothing.

  1. What did you say?
  2. Who saw you?
  3. What do you want?
  4. Who did you meet?
  5. What happened?
  6. Who knows the answer?
  7. What did you buy?
  8. Who was late?

77.4 Complete the sentences. Use nobody/no-one/nothing/anybody/anyone/anything.

  1. That house is empty. lives there.
  2. Jack has a bad memory. He can't remember .
  3. Be quiet! Don't say .
  4. I didn't know about the meeting. told me.
  5. 'What did you have to eat?' '. I wasn't hungry.'
  6. I didn't eat . I wasn't hungry.
  7. Jenny was sitting alone. She wasn't with .
  8. I'm afraid I can't help you. There's I can do.
  9. I don't know about car engines.
  10. The museum is free. It doesn't cost to go in.
  11. I heard a knock on the door but when I opened it there was there.
  12. She spoke very fast. I didn't understand .
  13. 'What are you doing this evening?' '.'
  14. Helen has gone away. knows where she is.
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Interactive English Grammar • Unit 77 • Page 162-163