§ 10. Indefinite pronouns. § 11. Negative pronouns.

The indefinite pronouns are some, any, somebody, anybody, someone, anyone, something, anything, one.

Negative pronouns: no, none, neither, nobody, no one, nothing.

Some/any

Some and any have the meaning of indefinite quantity (uncountable nouns – немного, сколько-нибудь, некоторое количество; countable nouns – несколько, какие-то, какие-нибудь), usually they are not translated into Russian. We use some in affirmative sentences and we use any in interrogative and negative sentences.

e. g. Give me some water, please.

Have you got any water?

There is not any water in the jug.

He asked me some questions.

Have you got any questions?

I have not got any questions.

! We can use some in requests: Do you want some tea?

! We use any in affirmative sentences in a meaning любой.

e. g. Any fool knows the answer.

With hardly – There is hardly any milk.

With at all – I haven’t any idea at all.

After if – Buy some apples if you see any.

No/None

We can use no instead of not any.

There are not any buses. = There are no buses.

None stands on its own as a pronoun.

e. g. We have no bananas. We have none.

Something/somebody/someone/anything/anybody/anyone

We use some compounds in affirmative sentences: I met someone you know.

Questions expecting “yes” : Was there something you wanted?

Offers and requests: Would you like something to drink?

We use any compounds in negative statements: There is not anyone here who can help you.

In questions: Is there anyone who can help me?

! You would address an audience of both sexes like this:

If anyone wants to leave early, he can ask for permission.

But you would address an audience of female like this:

If anyone wants to leave early, she can ask for permission.

Nothing/Nobody/no one

We use no compounds when the verb is affirmative:

e. g. I have got no time. = I have not got any time.

I have seen nobody. = I have not seen anybody.

I have done nothing today. = I have not done anything today.

! The negative of All the girls left early is None of the girls left early.

One

We use one as a pronoun meaning “everyone/anyone” to refer to people in general only when we want to be formal. In everyday speech we use you.

e. g. One is not allowed to camp where one likes.

You are not allowed to camp where you like.

We use one to avoid repeating the noun/nouns.

e. g. Don’t use that cloth. Use this clean one. (not “Use this clean”)

I don’t want to wear my old shoes. I want to wear my new ones. (not “Wear my new”)

! But we don’t use one in place of an uncountable noun. We repeat the noun or use no noun at all.

e. g. Don’t use that milk. Use this fresh milk. Or: Use this fresh. (not “Use this fresh one.”)

We can use one or ones for people and things:

e. g. Do you know the Smith? – Are they the ones who used to live in this house?

We use one/ones after which, this/that and adjectives:

e. g. Which one would you like? This one or that one? (But it is possible: Which would you like? – This or that?)

I want these. (Not: “these ones”)

I want these white ones.