Anything

The word 'anything' is commonly used in the English language. In this lesson, we will learn its functions and positions in a sentence.

Anything is a pronoun that replaces the noun it refers to. In this lesson, we have covered its uses.

'Anything' as an Indefinite Pronoun

Use

Anything as an indefinite pronoun is used to refer to an indefinite group of things. It can be the subject or the object of the sentence. Anything is used in three cases, take a look:

Anything is used to indicate a thing of any kind, in this case it means 'everything.' Look:

I can do anything that I want.

'Anything' replaces the object.

Anything can be said.

subject

Anything is used in questions to indicate another thing. It has a similar meaning to 'something'. For example:

Do you wish anything else?

Is there anything good in this restaurant?

Anything is used in negative statements to show 'nothing.' For example:

I didn't do anything.

She hasn't told me anything yet.

Position in a Sentence

Anything as an indefinite pronoun acts like a subject or an object. It is always used with a singular verb even if it is referring to a large set of things. It can be used in questions, negative, and affirmative statements. For example:

I didn't say anything at all.

I said nothing.

Do you wish anything else?

Anything can affect your performance.

Collocations with 'Anything'

Anything But

I was anything but nervous.

I was not nervous at all.

Anything Like/Near

It wasn't anything like what I wanted.

It was different from what I wanted.

Tip

Anything can be replaced with they when it is repeated in a sentence. Accordingly, its object pronoun is them, its possessive determiner is their, and its possessive pronoun is theirs. Look:

Anything is here, aren't they?

Do you wish anything else? I can afford them.

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