Some thing, Anything, Everything – English Grammar Exercises for A2
A big storm is coming! You are telling your younger brother to clean up the yard and bring his toys inside the house. Read the conversation carefully and choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.
1 You: “Look at those dark clouds! The storm is coming fast. We need to bring _____ inside the house right now!”
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
2 You: “Don’t leave _____ in the yard. The strong wind will blow it away.”
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
3 Brother: “Oh no! I think I just felt _____ wet on my arm. The rain is starting!”
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
4 You: “Pick up all your toys quickly. I want _____ to be safe in the living room.”
(A) everything
(B) something
(C) anything
5 You: “Look around carefully. Is there _____ left on the grass?”
(A) everything
(B) anything
(C) something
6 Brother: “Yes, I see _____ red near the fence. It’s my favorite toy car!”
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
7 You: “Go get it right now! We can’t leave _____ outside in this terrible weather.”
(A) something
(B) everything
(C) anything
8 Brother: “Okay, I have my toy car. Did I forget _____ else?”
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
9 You: “Check your sandbox. You must put _____ from the sandbox into the garage.”
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
10 Brother: “It is getting very dark. I can’t see _____ clearly anymore.”
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
11 You: “Wait, stay still. I hear _____ moving in the bushes!”
(A) everything
(B) anything
(C) something
12 Brother: “Oh, it’s just our dog. Let’s give him _____ to eat before we lock the door.”
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
13 You: “Hurry up! The wind is blowing so hard that _____ is shaking!”
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
14 Brother: “Are all the bicycles in the garage? I don’t want _____ to get wet and rusty.”
(A) everything
(B) something
(C) anything
15 You: “Yes, the bicycles are safe. _____ is inside the garage now.”
(A) Everything
(B) Anything
(C) Something
16 You: “Good job. Now help me close the windows. We must do _____ we can to keep the house dry.”
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
17 Brother: “Is there _____ we need to do in the kitchen?”
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
18 You: “No, mom already took care of that. She closed _____ in the kitchen.”
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
19 Brother: “I am a little bit scared of the thunder. I hope _____ will be okay.”
(A) everything
(B) something
(C) anything
20 You: “Don’t worry. We worked together and brought all your toys inside. _____ is completely safe now.”
(A) Anything
(B) Something
(C) Everything
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) everything
- Why it’s correct: You are giving an order to bring all items inside without exception. “Everything” represents 100% of the belongings.
- Error Analysis: (A) “something” means bringing only one random item inside. (B) “anything” is a structural error in this affirmative command.
2 (A) anything
- Why it’s correct: “Don’t leave” is a negative command. We must use “anything” in negative sentences to mean “zero items.”
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” is a severe grammatical error with “don’t”. (C) “everything” means “don’t leave all things” (implying you can leave a few things), which contradicts the safety warning.
3 (C) something
- Why it’s correct: This is an affirmative sentence. The brother feels a specific, unnamed object (a raindrop). “Something wet” is the correct phrase.
- Error Analysis: (A) “anything” is a structural error in this affirmative statement. (B) “everything” means he felt the whole world wet on his arm!
4 (A) everything
- Why it’s correct: You want 100% of the toys to be safe. “Everything” emphasizes the total completeness of the action.
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” means only one toy will be safe. (C) “anything” is grammatically incorrect here.
5 (B) anything
- Why it’s correct: A general Yes/No question checking if there are any remaining items. We use “anything” in general questions.
- Error Analysis: (C) “something” is a common mistake for A2 learners. (A) “everything” changes the meaning to ask if the entire yard’s contents are left on the grass.
6 (A) something
- Why it’s correct: An affirmative sentence stating the discovery of an unknown object (“something red”).
- Error Analysis: (B) “anything” is a structural error. (C) “everything” means the entire yard turned red.
7 (C) anything
- Why it’s correct: “Can’t leave” is a negative phrase. It requires “anything” to mean “not a single item.”
- Error Analysis: (A) “something” is a grammatical error. (B) “everything” is a meaning trap (it would imply leaving some things is okay).
8 (A) anything
- Why it’s correct: A standard general question asking about forgotten items (“Did I forget…?”).
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” is a common mistake. (C) “everything” is a meaning trap.
9 (B) everything
- Why it’s correct: You are ordering him to move 100% of the items from the sandbox. “Everything” acts as a summary for all those items.
- Error Analysis: (A) “anything” is grammatically incorrect in this affirmative command. (C) “something” means moving only one toy from the sandbox.
10 (B) anything
- Why it’s correct: “Can’t see” is negative, meaning zero visibility. It must be paired with “anything.”
- Error Analysis: (A) “something” is a grammatical error. (C) “everything” is a meaning trap.
11 (C) something
- Why it’s correct: An affirmative sentence identifying an unknown object making a noise (“something moving”).
- Error Analysis: (B) “anything” is a structural error. (A) “everything” means all the bushes in the yard are moving!
12 (A) something
- Why it’s correct: An affirmative proposal to give the dog a specific, unnamed item of food (“something to eat”).
- Error Analysis: (B) “anything” is grammatically incorrect here. (C) “everything” means giving the dog all the food in the house.
13 (C) everything
- Why it’s correct: The speaker is exaggerating that 100% of the objects around them are shaking due to the wind.
- Error Analysis: (A) “anything” is a structural error. (B) “something” is too weak to describe a powerful storm.
14 (C) anything
- Why it’s correct: “Don’t want” is a negative phrase, requiring “anything” to mean “not a single bicycle.”
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” is a grammatical error. (A) “everything” is a meaning trap.
15 (A) Everything
- Why it’s correct: A summarizing affirmative statement confirming that 100% of the bicycles are safe. Note the singular verb “is”.
- Error Analysis: (B) “Anything” cannot be the subject of this affirmative sentence. (C) “Something” means only one bicycle is safe.
16 (B) everything
- Why it’s correct: “Do everything we can” is a fixed, natural English phrase meaning “do 100% of the possible actions.”
- Error Analysis: (A) “anything” is grammatically possible but less natural than “everything” for showing total effort. (C) “something” implies putting in very little effort.
17 (A) anything
- Why it’s correct: A general Yes/No question asking if there are remaining tasks.
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” is a common mistake. (C) “everything” is a meaning trap.
18 (C) everything
- Why it’s correct: An affirmative sentence stating that mom closed 100% of the items (windows/doors) in the kitchen.
- Error Analysis: (A) “anything” is a structural error. (B) “something” means she only closed one window.
19 (A) everything
- Why it’s correct: “I hope everything will be okay” is a standard, fixed English phrase used to express a wish for total safety.
- Error Analysis: (B) “something” means you only care if one thing survives. (C) “anything” is a structural error here.
20 (C) Everything
- Why it’s correct: The final reassuring conclusion. 100% of the property is secure.
- Error Analysis: (A) “Anything” is a structural error. (B) “Something” is too weak to reassure a scared child.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 EVERYTHING for Total Protection (The Summary Word):
- We use everything to talk about all the things in a group without naming them one by one. In the context of a storm or emergency, it is used to emphasize that not a single item was left behind.
- Example: “Bring everything inside.” (Bring the toys, the bikes, the chairs… 100% of the items).
- Important Grammar Rule: “Everything” is a singular pronoun. It always uses singular verbs (Everything is safe, NOT Everything are safe).
2 SOMETHING for Unidentified Objects:
- Use something in affirmative (positive) sentences when you notice an object, but you don’t know exactly what it is. Adjectives usually come after the word.
- Example: I felt something wet. I see something red.
3 ANYTHING for Zero Items:
- When the sentence has a negative verb (don’t, can’t, didn’t), you must use anything to show absolute zero.
- Example: We can’t leave anything outside. (We will leave 0 items outside).
- You also use anything in general questions when you truly don’t know the answer.
- Example: Did I forget anything?