by R. S. Karunaratne

Somebody, anything, somewhere

“Somebody, someone, something, somewhere, anybody, anyone, anything, anywhere, nobody, nothing, nowhere, everybody, everyone, everything” and “everywhere” are written as one word. However, “no one” is written as two words.

Somebody or someone has the same meaning. It is used to refer to a single person when you do not know who they are or when it is not important who they are.

There’s someone at the gate.
Somebody has stolen my pen.
Someone must have seen you stealing my pen.
Somebody in the audience wanted to ask a question.
You’ll have to consult someone else.
Something is “an object, situation, quality or action which is not exactly known or stated”.

We must do something to help flood victims.
There must be something wrong with your camera.
Something happened to him when he went abroad for higher studies.
I heard something bad about you recently.
Is there something you would like to say.

Somewhere means “in or at a place having a position which is not stated or not known”.

He is living somewhere in Colombo.
You must have put my pen somewhere.
I am looking for somewhere to stay for a week.
Do you like to visit Sigiriya or somewhere else?
I want go somewhere during the holidays.

Anybody or anyone has the same meaning. It is used in questions and negatives to mean a person or people.

I haven’t spoken to anyone about this.
She hasn’t invited anyone to the party.
Is there anyone you know here?
Has anybody seen my dictionary anywhere?
Anyone can answer this question easily.
Anything means “any event, act or object, whatever or something”.
Is there anything to drink?
If anything happens to you, please phone me.
I don’t know anything about nanotechnology.
Did you notice anything strange about him?
Is there anything else you want to buy?
Anywhere means “in, to or at any place or some place”.
I can’t find my notebook anywhere.
You won’t find a prettier girl anywhere in the city.
Did you go anywhere on Sunday?
Is there anywhere to eat around here?
If you’re not going anywhere, please look after my baby.
Nobody or no one means “not anyone”.
There’s nobody in the classroom.
No one is trying to solve this problem.
Nobody will be in office on Sunday.
No one knows the answer to this question.
Nothing means “not anything”.
There’s nothing in the cupboard.
He said nothing.
I have nothing new to tell you.
There is nothing else I can do to help you.
There’s nothing much to do in this office.
Nowhere means “in, at or to no place, not anywhere”.
These people have nowhere to live.
He is nowhere to be seen.
She appeared from nowhere.

A: Where did you go at the weekend?
B: Nowhere. I stayed at home.

The poor woman has nowhere to go.

Everybody or everyone means “every person”.
Everyone has their views on politics.
Everybody helped me except Justin.
Everyone should obey the law.
Everyone knows who stole her umbrella.
Everybody involved in the fraud has been questioned by the police.
Everything means “all things”.

Don’t blame her for everything.
Money isn’t everything.
My children are everything to me.
Is everything all right?
The thief has stolen everything.

Everywhere means “to, at or in all places or the whole of a place”.
Her children go everywhere with her.
I looked everywhere for my notebook.
There are kind people everywhere.
You can find cattle everywhere in this village.
There are dishonest people everywhere.

Match words and meanings

Here’s an exciting way to enrich your vocabulary. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’ and check your answers with the key. The first has been done for you.

[Column A]

M.. 1. dabble
... 2. daft
... 3. dagger
... 4. daintily
... 5. dale
... 6. dam
... 7. damage
... 8. dame
... 9. damp
... 10. dampen
... 11. damsel
... 12. dandy
... 13. dangle
... 14. dank
... 15. daredevil
... 16. daring
... 17. dark
... 18. darling
... 19. dash
... 20. dated
... 21. dauntless
... 22. dawdle
... 23. daybreak
... 24. daylight
... 25. dazed

[Column B]

A. a person very much loved
B. to go somewhere quickly
C. with little or no light
D. someone who does dangerous things
E. to hang loosely
F. stupid
G. a valley
H. an unmarried young woman
I. in an attractive way
J. slightly wet
K. a man dressed in fashionable clothes
L. to harm something
M. to take a slight interest in a subject
N. confused and unable to think clearly
O. natural light from the sun
P. dawn
Q. to go somewhere very slowly
R. showing no fear
S. old fashioned
T. brave and taking risks
U. wet, cold and unpleasant
V. to make something slightly wet
W. a woman
X. a wall built across a river
Y. a short pointed knife

[Key]

2. F 3. Y 4. I 5. G 6. X 7. L 8. W 9. J 10. V 11. H 12. K 13. E 14. U 15. D 16. T 17. C 18. A 19. B 20. S 21. R 22. Q 23. P 24. O 25. N

A lot of, lots of, many, much

“A lot of, lots of, many” and “much” mean a large quantity or number of people or things.

Mary eats a lot of fruit.
There were a lot of people at the International Film Festival.

Some people are compelled to do a lot of travelling in the course of their employment.

She has got a lot to do today.
Some people earn lots of money.
“Many” means “a large number of people or things.”

Rupa does not have many clothes.
Today there are many vehicles on the road.
How many students are there in your class?
Many people do not agree with his views.
I've met him many times.

There are too many people in this place.
“Much” means “a large amount or to a large degree.”
As a clerk I don't earn much money.

I like you very much.
Some children do not eat very much.

A: Is there any milk left?
B: Not much.

How much sugar do you take?
How much does this pen cost?

I don't have much time to watch television.
I'd very much like to meet you again.

I'm not much good at mathematics.
I'm feeling much better now.
“A few” means “some or a small number of something.”
I want to buy a few things in town.
There are a few apples left.
I have a few problems.

A: How many pens do you want?
B: Just a few.

“A little” means “a small amount of something.”
The soup needs a little salt.
With a little training you can operate the computer.

Few

When we use ‘few’ the meaning is negative.
Few customers are coming to his new shop.
Few of the children in the remote village could read and write.
The benefits of a housing scheme in the dry zone are few.

He is a man of few words.
Rural students have few opportunities to speak English.

“Little” means “not much or enough.”
There's little hope of a ceasefire.
The workers did very little on Sunday.
Danny has made very little progress.

We use “many” or “much” after “too, so” or “as.”
There are too many vehicles on the road today.
We have got so much work these days.
I haven't got as much money as you.

In formal English we can use “many” or “much” in a positive statement.
Many people have financial and family problems.
There is much enthusiasm when father wanted to take his children on a trip.
In informal English we use “a lot of” in a negative sense.
She doesn't have a lot of friends.
Do you eat a lot of fish?

Quiz on idioms

An idiom is a special kind of phrase. It is a group of words which have a different meaning when used together from the one it would have if the meaning of each word were taken individually. Tick the meaning of each idiom in bold type and check your answers with the key.

1. The theme village has been a cash cow for the Urban Council.

(a) something that produces a large amount of money
(b) a loss-making venture
(c) a wonderful show-piece

2. You're building castles in the air ...

(a) putting up tall buildings
(b) making unrealistic plans
(c) trying to make a lot of money

3. Amanda and Paul are like chalk and cheese.

(a) they are siblings
(b) they are very much similar
(c) they are completely different from each other

4. They have not a chance in hell of privatising the loss-making corporations.

(a) there is no chance at all
(b) there is a possibility
(c) nobody knows what will happen

5. At the last minute, she had a change of heart about marrying him.

(a) she made up her mind
(b) she was confused
(c) her attitude changed

6. If someone gives you chapter and verse on a subject ...

(a) they give you all the details of it
(b) they know nothing about it
(c) they interpret it in their own way

7. A chapter of accidents means ...

(a) a chapter in a book describing accidents
(b) a long series of happy events
(c) a series of unlucky events happening in a short time

8. If someone cuts to the chase ...

(a) they talk about unnecessary things
(b) they start dealing with what is really important
(c) they start dealing with what is unimportant

9. If people are cheek by jowl ...

(a) they are very close together
(b) they are living in distant places
(c) they chat with each other

10. The days of turning the other cheek are long over.

(a) becoming friendly with the wrongdoer
(b) accepting defeat
(c) not taking any action against someone in return

[Key]

1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (c)