English grammar
Nobody / anyone who… in the past: didn't have anyone who…, wasn't there any… who could…, nobody left who had…
Talk about people who did not exist, or could not be found, in the past.
From the scene There was nobody who knew how…
In short
In a past story, put the who-clause in the past: he didn't have anyone who knew how. After a negative, use anyone.
Your turn
Which one goes with a question: wasn't there any… who could…??
Options: there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early · wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand? · he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick
Show answer
a question: wasn't there any… who could…? → wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand?
How it works
You know I don't know anyone who… for the present. In a past story the verb in the who-clause moves to the past too: who knew, who could, who picked.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Hi! My uncle didn't have (blank) who knew how to pick today.
Options: someone · anyone · nobody
Show answer
Hi! My uncle didn't have anyone who knew how to pick today.
¡Hola! Mi tío no tenía a nadie que supiera recolectar hoy.
Good to know
After a negative verb use anyone (didn't have anyone, had never had anyone), never nobody.
Good to know
For something that happened even earlier, use the past perfect: there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early.
negative verb + anyone who + past he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick
a question: wasn't there any… who could…? wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand?
Elena
And wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand?
¿Y no había ningún primo que pudiera echar una mano?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank)?
Options: wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand · he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick · there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early
Show answer
Elena
And wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand?
¿Y no había ningún primo que pudiera echar una mano?
nobody left who + past perfect (earlier) there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early
Nuria
And there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early... except you.
Y no quedaba nadie que se hubiera acostado pronto... menos tú.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank)... except you.
Options: he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick · wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand · there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early
Show answer
Nuria
And there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early... except you.
Y no quedaba nadie que se hubiera acostado pronto... menos tú.
had never had anyone who… he had never had anyone who picked so slowly
Javi
And what's more, my uncle said he had never had anyone who picked so slowly.
Y encima mi tío dijo que nunca había tenido a nadie que recogiera tan despacio.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And what's more, my uncle said (blank).
Options: wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand · he had never had anyone who picked so slowly · he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick
Show answer
Javi
And what's more, my uncle said he had never had anyone who picked so slowly.
Y encima mi tío dijo que nunca había tenido a nadie que recogiera tan despacio.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| negative verb + anyone who + past | he didn't have anyone who knew how to pick |
|---|---|
| a question: wasn't there any… who could…? | wasn't there any cousin who could lend a hand? |
| nobody left who + past perfect (earlier) | there was nobody left who'd gone to bed early |
| had never had anyone who… | he had never had anyone who picked so slowly |
More lines from the story
- JaviHi! My uncle didn't have anyone who knew how to pick today.¡Hola! Mi tío no tenía a nadie que supiera recolectar hoy.
- JaviIt's my uncle's farm, it doesn't count! Well... he pays me by the kilo.¡Es la finca de mi tío, no cuenta! Bueno... me paga por kilo.
- JaviAndrés? He's coming "ahorita". The others were all at last night's party.¿Andrés? Viene «ahorita». Los demás estuvieron en la fiesta de anoche.