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What Are Non-assertive Pro-forms?
Non-assertive Pro-forms, also known as negative polarity-sensitive pro-forms, are a group of indefinite pro-forms that select an unknown set of people or things without specifying their features.
Non-assertive Pro-forms: Usage
Non-assertive pro-forms appear in non-affirmative (or non-assertive) contexts which include interrogative, negative, and conditional, among others.
Tip!
There are some uncommon non-assertive words that are rarely used. Here is the list:
anywhen (adverb of time)
anywhither (adverb of purpose)
anywhence (adverb of source)
Non-assertive Pro-forms in Affirmative Statements
Sometimes, words from the "any-" group might be used in affirmative sentences, but they are semantically different from the non-assertive pro-forms because they express an open-ended possibility. These are in fact called "free choice" items as they include any and every member of a group without discrimination. In other words, they express openness and a lack of restriction rather than absence or non-specificity characteristic of non-assertive forms. Look at the examples:
I will talk to anybody.
Compare this to the non-assertive use of "anybody" as in "I will not talk to anybody."
Take anything you like.
Anyone can enter.
Any answer is acceptable.
Non-assertive Pro-forms in Questions
Normally, when the speaker is not sure about the existence or identify of the person or thing they are asking about, non-assertive pro-forms are used in the question. The reason is that such questions are typically asked to gather information and are not based on any assumptions or knowledge of the existence or identity of something. However, in some requests or invitations, or when the speaker expects a positive answer, assertive pro-forms might be used interchangeably with their non-assertive counterparts.
Does anyone want a drink?
Do you have any change?
Do you have some change?
Since this question is actually a request to borrow some change, assertive and non-assertive forms can be used interchangeably.
Non-assertive Pro-forms in Negative Sentences
When a negative statement requires an indefinite word as its object, a non-assertive form is used. However, Non-assertive forms cannot function as subjects. In the subject position, negative pro-forms are used instead and the verb remains affirmative since negative pro-forms are negative markers which means they negate the whole sentence.
✓ I went to the bar but there wasn't anyone there.
✗ I went to the bar but there wasn't someone there.
✓ I did not agree with anything she said.
✗ I did not agree with something she said.
Warning!
Don't confuse the quantifier "some" with its assertive pro-form counterpart. Quantifiers can be used in negative sentences without restrictions, but assertive pro-forms are usually preserved for affirmative contexts. Look at the example below:
✓ I did not agree with some of her ideas.
Tip!
Sometimes, using an assertive word in a negative sentence means the speaker is being sarcastic or is implying something that they do not want to express openly.
Somebody didn't pay their share tonight.
Here, the speaker clearly knows who did not pay their share but doesn't want to say who. That's why the speaker is using an assertive word.
Non-assertive Pro-forms in Conditionals
Conditional clauses express doubt. So naturally, non-assertive words are used in these clauses, unless the speaker wants to break this norm and make a marked clause. For example:
If you're tired, sit anywhere you like.
If you want anything, call me.
Warning
Some verbs express a non-assertive meaning. Therefore, they need a non-assertive pronoun/determiner.
I doubt it'll make any difference.
They denied any involvement in the matter.
Review
Each sentence is uttered in an assertive or non-assertive context. Assertive forms (such as the 'somebody', 'something', 'somewhere', etc.) have specified meaning while non-assertive forms are associated with unspecified meanings (or non-fulfillment or potentiality).
In the table below, you can see the summary of common assertive and non-assertive forms:
Assertive | Non-assertive |
|---|---|
some | any |
someone | anyone |
somebody | anybody |
something | anything |
somewhere | anywhere |
somehow | anyhow |
sometime | anytime |
If somebody/anybody calls while I'm out, take their message.
The difference between these two options is a matter of seeing the caller as specific (somebody) or non-specific (anybody).
Quiz:
Which sentence correctly uses a non-assertive pro-form?
I met anyone at the party.
I have some problems with the plan.
He has anything he needs.
If you need anything, let me know.
sort the words to form a question using non-assertive pro-forms.
Sort each sentence with the appropriate non-assertive form.
I don’t have
idea what happened.
If you need
, just call me.
We couldn’t find the book
.
Does
know the answer to this question?
Match each sentence to the correct description of its non-assertive pro-form usage.
Which sentence correctly uses a non-assertive pro-form with a non-assertive verb?
She expects anything interesting to happen.
He doubted anything would go wrong.
I know anyone who can help.
They believe something will improve.
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