Answers to “3.17 Indefinite Pronouns (review)”
These are “typical” answers, but any reasonable answer is acceptable, provided one of the required forms is used.
Mary is doing the dishes. We hear a loud “crash!”, and she yells “Oh, no!” What has just happened? / I think Mary has just dropped/broken something.Are you sure this is the best place to play soccer? / Yes, there isn’t anywhere better to play soccer.
Does all of your team usually play well? / Yes, everyone usually plays well.
We were going to go to Snake Valley this weekend, but it’s been raining there. What shall we do? / Let’s find somewhere sunny/sunnier to go this weekend.
Is this the best wine they sell here? / Yes, they don’t sell anything better.
You want to have dinner at Chez Pierre, but I think it’s too expensive. What should we do? / We should find somewhere cheaper to have dinner.
Steve usually has a lot of work to do at the repair shop, but today he isn’t busy. Why not? / He doesn’t have anything (broken) to fix. [or]
There isn’t anything (broken) to fix.
Why are you looking under the mattress? / I think there is something under it. [or]
I think something is under it.
You took your prescription to the pharmacy counter, but you still don’t have the medicine. What happened? / There was no one (working) there. [or]
There wasn’t anyone (working) there.
Some teenagers tried to buy beer, but they couldn’t. Why not? / There wasn’t anyone old enough to buy beer.
You said they were trying to choose a person to speak after dinner. Have they yet? / No, they (still) haven’t chosen anyone to speak (yet).
Can you tell if some people are in the building? / No, I can’t tell if anyone is in the building.
Are the pork, beef, and chicken still frozen? / Yes, everything is still frozen.
Could the firefighters save the house or the garage? / No, they couldn’t save anything.
Molly doesn’t want to go skating alone, but her little brother is only 3 years old. What does she need? / She needs someone older to go skating with.
They’re planning to have the big dance in this room, but I think it’s too dark, and a little dirty, too. What should they do? / They should find somewhere cleaner and brighter to have the dance.
Mr. Chan is learning English. He’s trying to read Shakepeare, but he’s having a lot of trouble. What should he do? / He should find/get something easier to read.
Were the sheets, blankets, and pillows on sale? / Yes, everything was on sale.
You keep some money in your desk at work. But every day there is less and less money there. What’s been happening? / I think someone has been taking/stealing my money.
What is colder than ice? / Nothing is colder than ice.
We’ve been planning this party for weeks, and we’ve invited a lot of people. What do you hope? / I hope everyone {comes | will come} to our party.
You’re carrying some shopping bags, and your phone starts ringing, but the table is covered with things. What do you need to find? / I need to find somewhere to put (down) these shopping bags.
Did Joe always drive to his old job alone? / No, he usually rode/drove with someone.
Were there any words or numbers on the paper? / No, nothing was (written) on the paper. [or]
No, there wasn’t anything (written) on the paper.
Sam is planning to go to the dance tonight. Why has he been calling a lot of young women? / He wants someone to go to the dance with him.
Have the children or their parents woken up yet? / No, no one has woken up yet.
You’re going to a wedding, so you’re looking in your closet. Why? / I’m looking for something nice to wear.
Were bicycles ridden to work? / No, no one rode bicycles to work.
Where can I get Brazilian food near here? / I’m sorry, butthere isn’t anywhere to get Brazilian food near here.
Why do people have slippers? / Because they need something to wear/put on their feet in the morning.
Have the sanitation workers taken away our trash yet? / No, they haven’t taken anything!
Have you spoken to all of them about the problem? / Yes, I’ve spoken to everyone about it.
I want to practice Japanese, but all of my friends are American, and they don’t speak Japanese. What do I need? / I need to find someone Japanese to practice with.
Can your son tie his shoelaces without help? / Yes, he doesn’t need anyone to help him.
Why can’t I have a cigarette in this building? / There isn’t anywhere to smoke in this building.
We have to find a worker to do this job, and he must not make any mistakes. What do we need? / We need someone careful to do this job.
Did the police officers find a person in Tony’s apartment? / No, they didn’t find anyone.
Betty wants to get married, but every man she knows is short and ugly. What does she hope? / She hopes she’ll meet someone tall and handsome to marry.
Why is the mail carrier ringing our doorbell? / Because he has something to give to us.
I asked you to write a short story for homework. Are you having a little trouble starting? / Yes, I can’t think of anything (good/interesting) to write (about).
You’ve just finished your homework. What do you hope? / I hope [that] nothing is wrong. [or]
I hope [that] everything is right.
Hey, the window is broken and our new TV set is missing! What happened? / I think someone has stolen our TV set.
Fran had a camera, some film, and some batteries. Did she lose all of them? / Yes, she lost everything.
You’re visiting a friend. You’ve just washed your hands, and you don’t see any towels. What do you say? / I couldn’t find anything to dry my hands with. [or]
I need something to dry my hands with.
Was all the supermarket’s bread stale? / Yes, there wasn’t anything fresh to buy. [or]
Yes, everything was stale.
She used to ride her bike to school, but she doesn’t anymore.
Are you going to wear a suit to the funeral?
We watched the birds flying in the clear blue sky.
I was taking a shower when you called.
Don’t let the children open their gifts before Christmas.
The children say they’re tired of playing with their old toys.
Could she speak English before she came to America?
Let’s practice/study English while we’re waiting for him to arrive.
I was going to throw away the stale bread, but Mom told me to give it to the birds.
It’s not far from here to the park; you can walk there in 15 minutes.
Shall I teach/show you how to repair/fix broken radios and TV sets?
While I was lifting the armchair, I hurt my back.
I’m happy that you’ve quit smoking cigarettes.
He didn’t tell me how much soda to bring to the party.
Let’s not tell them where we’re planning to go after the wedding.
Boys, if you don’t like to clean your room, you shouldn’t make a mess.
I helped the little girl tie her shoelaces.
Mike’s having some trouble with his car.
Listen carefully when the teacher speaks to you!
I went to the hospital to see/visit my doctor, but his nurse told me that I must make an appointment first.
Bobby wanted to spend all his money, but Dad told him to save some for next week.
If you want to look good, your shoes should match your pants.
I can’t remember their phone number and address.
I’ve already thanked them for inviting us to their party.
Shall we take a walk after dinner?
I’m glad the firefighters stopped the house from burning.
After finishing/doing my homework, I gave it to the teacher.
Please ask the baby-sitter to come at 8pm.
I had to get/wake up very early this morning, so I’m a little tired.
Sorry, I haven’t finished sweeping all the floors yet.
If you want the beef to cook quickly, you have to cut it into smaller pieces.
I heard the train leaving, so I started {running | to run} faster.
My neighbor often lets me use his tools.
We’ve been watching television for 2 hours.
The police officer ordered the robber { to put down | to drop } the big knife.
Mr. Glenn is planning to retire when he is 67 years old.
You don’t need to give back the pencil that I lent you. You can keep it.
I’m almost ready to take the picture. Please smile, everyone! Don’t frown!
Did you remember to stop at the supermarket to buy some cheese?
I’m interested in reading/learning about other countries.
Will you show me how to bake/make these cookies?
You’re not afraid of climbing that tall ladder, are you?
Flight #315 will arrive/depart a few minutes late.
It isn’t easy to shave without a mirror.
I was carrying two shopping bags, so I couldn’t shake/hold his hand.
It’s time for us to get on/off the airplane.
Sue helped her mother by doing the dishes.
She saw the robber steal/stealing the TV and the radio, but she couldn’t see his face.
It took him 4 hours to paint the walls and the ceiling.
Please don’t laugh. I don’t think it’s funny.
Have they practiced singing all the songs?
She always wants something sweet to eat after dinner.
Do you think she’s worried about paying all of her bills?
I really hope it’ll be sunny this weekend.
People must not yell/shout in the library.
May I take a break after I’ve finished this?
I don’t see anywhere to park the car.