English grammar
Someone, anyone, no one
Say that someone — or no one — did something.
From the scene Someone has come in!
In short
Use someone in positive sentences, anyone in questions and after not (someone if you expect yes). Nobody takes a positive verb.
Your turn
Which one goes with an open question: anyone?
Options: I didn't see anyone (NOT "I didn't see nobody") · Did you see anyone? · Has someone come in?
Show answer
an open question: anyone → Did you see anyone?
How it works
Someone goes in positive sentences; anyone goes in questions and after not.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) has come into the building.
Clue: a positive statement
Options: Anyone · Any · Someone
Show answer
Someone has come into the building.
Alguien ha entrado en el portal.
Good to know
Use nobody / no one only when there is no other negative: I didn't see anyone = I saw no one.
Good to know
In a question, someone is fine when you expect the answer yes: Has someone come in? Use only one negative: not "I didn't see nobody".
a question, expecting yes Has someone come in?
Nuria
Open? Has someone come in?
¿Abierta? ¿Ha entrado alguien?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Open? (blank)?
Options: I didn't see anyone · Has someone come in · Did you see anyone
Show answer
Nuria
Open? Has someone come in?
¿Abierta? ¿Ha entrado alguien?
an open question: anyone Did you see anyone?
Your turn
What goes with Did you see anyone??
Options: after not: anyone · an open question: anyone · a question, expecting yes
Show answer
Did you see anyone? → an open question: anyone
after not: anyone I didn't see anyone (NOT "I didn't see nobody")
Ramón
I didn't see anyone. Just the noise.
No vi a nadie. Solo el ruido.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Just the noise.
Options: Did you see anyone · I didn't see anyone · Has someone come in
Show answer
Ramón
I didn't see anyone. Just the noise.
No vi a nadie. Solo el ruido.
nobody + positive verb nobody knows who (NOT "nobody doesn't know")
Elena
Someone? And nobody knows who?
¿Alguien? ¿Y nadie sabe quién?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Someone? And (blank)?
Options: nobody knows who · Has someone come in · Did you see anyone
Show answer
Elena
Someone? And nobody knows who?
¿Alguien? ¿Y nadie sabe quién?
Common mistake
Not Has come in someone or Has entered someone here. Question order: has + who + verb.
Open? Has someone come in?
¿Abierta? ¿Ha entrado alguien?
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
| a question, expecting yes | Has someone come in? |
|---|---|
| an open question: anyone | Did you see anyone? |
| after not: anyone | I didn't see anyone (NOT "I didn't see nobody") |
| nobody + positive verb | nobody knows who (NOT "nobody doesn't know") |
More lines from the story
- RamónSomeone has come into the building.Alguien ha entrado en el portal.
- RamónI don't know. Last night I heard a strange noise.No sé. Anoche oí un ruido extraño.
- RamónYes... but first, where are my keys?Sí... pero primero, ¿dónde están mis llaves?