Episode 125 How To Use Something, Anything, Nothing, And Everything

On today's podcast we're looking at some confusing grammar. Something, Anything, Nothing and Everything seem like they might be used the same way, but this is English! And that would be too easy! Let's start with the core word: 'any' 'every' 'no', and 'some' are all called qualifiers. They say how much or how many we are talking about of something, but they are not all the same. 'Some' suggests an indefinite or not clear number or quantity. We use it when it's not really important to know the exact number of something. It is used for positive 'Yes!' sentences. 'Any' is used for questions and negative sentences. 'Everything' sort of means all of the things 'Nothing' sort of means none of the things. Let's take a look at some example sentences These are all good sentences: I have some. I haven't got any. Do you have any? Can I have some? I have something to do today I haven't got anything to do today Do you have anything to do today? Do you have something to do today? The difference between the last two is 'Do you have anything to do today?' is asking 'are you free?' Whereas 'Do you have something to do today?' Suggests we think you have plans or might also be asked when we think you shouldn't have plans because we want you to do something else. Is everything ready? Asks are all of the things ready? Is nothing ready? Asks are none of the things ready? Is anything ready? Asks is there at least one or two things that are ready? Is something ready? Is similar to 'anything' in this case, but it's just a bit more vague. In this case we'd be more likely to use 'anything' than 'something'. However, if we wanted to we could add 'at least': 'Is there something ready at least?' Have you got everything you need? Asks do you have all the things that you need? Have you got nothing you need? This one doesn't really work very well. It means you forgot everything. I haven't got anything I need. That does work. I haven't got nothing I need. That doesn't work. Have you got anything you need? Asks did you remember at least one thing? Have you got something that you need? Doesn't really work. The best fit for this question is: have you got everything you need? I have everything I need. Great. Got everything. Good. Perfect. I have nothing I need. This is telling us I'm not prepared. I have anything I need. Doesn't work because anything needs to be either a negative situation or it needs to be a question. I have something I need. Doesn't really work because it's too vague. I can say I have everything I need or I have enough. However, theoretically, in a similar kind of sentence, we could use something. So we need to remember: Something = indefinite, not clear number or quantity. Anything = specifically for negative sentences or questions. Nothing = I don't have any of the things. Everything = I have all of the things.