Lesson Fourteen

no one and nobody

(indefinite pronouns)

singular

Use "no one" or "nobody" when describing the absence of people or when exaggerating a very small number of people.

subject = no one or nobody   No one is in the classroom. There’s nobody here.	no one / nobody
No one visits this gallery. This is an exaggeration. Actually, some people visit, but it’s a very small number.
Is no one home? Is there nobody inside? While it’s possible to ask questions with "no one" or "nobody," it can sound a little strange. It’s better to use "anyone" or "anybody" in this case.	No one is home.
object = no one or nobody Bob told nobody about his new car. He wants no one to know until next week. You can also say, "Bob didn’t tell anybody about his new car."	Nice car!
possessive adjective =  no one’s or nobody’s A: Whose fault is it that the boat tipped over? It’s nobody’s fault. The wind did it.	Whoops!
possessive pronoun =  no one’s or nobody’s A: Whose piece of pie is this? B: It’s nobody’s. You can have it.
reflexive pronoun = 0	X

Remember:

1. There’s really no difference in meaning between the words "no one" and "nobody," but "no one" is two words while "nobody" is one word.

2. Don’t use negative verbs with "no one" or "nobody." This creates a double negative, which is commonly heard in American English, but it is a mistake.

• I didn’t see nobody in the store. (incorrect)
• I saw nobody in the store. (correct)
• I didn’t see anybody in the store. (correct)
• There ain’t nobody here. (incorrect)
• Nobody is here. (correct)
• There isn’t anybody here. (correct)

3. The ‘s is used for contractions and for possessive forms.

• Nobody’s home.
• (nobody’s = nobody is)
• This is no one’s business but mine.
• (no one’s = possessive adjective)

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Aqua Level Exercise 14

Write these sentences and questions in your notebook. Fill in the blanks with….

no one    no one’s    

1. __________ watching.

2. __________ is at home.

3. This belongs to __________.

4. I answered the phone, but __________ was there.

5. Whose is this? It’s __________.

6. __________ knows the answer.

7. __________ got time.

8. This is __________ fault.

9. __________ wants to see that movie.

10. The question was directed at __________ in particular.

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Answers: 1. No one’s; 2. No one; 3. no one; 4. no one; 5. no one’s; 6. No one; 7. No one’s; 8. no one’s; 9. No one; 10. no one.

Answers 5 and 8 are possessive.

Answers 1 and 7 are contractions.