Some thing, Anything, Everything – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are at work checking a data report and trying to fix a broken printer. You have a strong feeling that there is a problem, but you are not completely sure what it is yet. Read the sentences carefully and choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete each blank.
1 "I am looking at this monthly sales report, and _____ is definitely wrong with the total numbers."
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
2 "The printer is making a really loud noise. _____ is broken inside."
(A) Something
(B) Anything
(C) Everything
3 "I checked the email twice before sending it, but I still feel like I forgot _____ important."
(A) everything
(B) something
(C) anything
4 "Look at the computer screen. I see _____ strange happening with the software."
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
5 "We can't send this document to the boss yet. There is _____ missing on page two."
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
6 "Do you smell that? I smell _____ burning near the copy machine!"
(A) everything
(B) anything
(C) something
7 "The office internet connection is usually very fast, but _____ is slowing it down today."
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
8 "I can't print the file. The computer screen says there is _____ wrong with the paper tray."
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
9 "You look very worried looking at that chart. Did you find _____ bad in the data?"
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
10 "I swear I didn't change _____ in the system settings, but the network just stopped working!"
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
11 "Please help me review this. I am 100% sure that I typed _____ incorrectly in this code."
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
12 "The client just called and he was very angry. We clearly did _____ wrong with his order."
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
13 "Don't touch the coffee machine! _____ is leaking from the bottom of it."
(A) Anything
(B) Something
(C) Everything
14 "I asked the IT technician for help, but he doesn't know _____ about this specific error."
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
15 "My password doesn't work. _____ is definitely wrong with my account access."
(A) Something
(B) Anything
(C) Everything
16 "We need to fix this server issue right now. If we don't do _____ quickly, the system will crash."
(A) something
(B) anything
(C) everything
17 "Listen closely! I can hear _____ clicking inside the hard drive."
(A) anything
(B) everything
(C) something
18 "The meeting is in five minutes, and the projector won't turn on. We have to do _____ to fix it!"
(A) everything
(B) something
(C) anything
19 "I read the manual twice, but I still don't understand _____ about this error message."
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
20 "Trust my feeling. I have been working here for five years, and _____ is definitely not right today."
(A) anything
(B) something
(C) everything
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) something
- Why it's correct: This is an affirmative sentence expressing certainty that a problem exists ("something is wrong"). You know an error is there, even if you can't name it.
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a grammatical error (not used in this type of positive statement). (B) "everything" means 100% of the numbers are wrong, which is an exaggeration.
2 (A) Something
- Why it's correct: You hear a noise, so you are certain a specific part is broken, but you don't know its name. "Something" is the correct subject for this affirmative sentence.
- Error Analysis: (B) "Anything" cannot be the subject of this affirmative sentence. (C) "Everything" means the entire machine is completely destroyed.
3 (B) something
- Why it's correct: You have a feeling about a single, unnamed missing item. "Something important" is a very common fixed phrase.
- Error Analysis: (C) "anything" is a grammatical error. (A) "everything" is a meaning trap (forgetting "all things" means you sent a blank email!).
4 (B) something
- Why it's correct: "Something strange" is the standard way to describe an unknown but noticeable abnormality in an affirmative sentence.
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" implies the entire screen is chaotic.
5 (A) something
- Why it's correct: Affirmative statement confirming the existence of a missing part ("something missing").
- Error Analysis: (B) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
6 (C) something
- Why it's correct: You are sensing a physical object burning, but you don't know what it is.
- Error Analysis: (B) "anything" is a structural error. (A) "everything" means the whole office is on fire!
7 (A) something
- Why it's correct: Affirmative sentence. An unknown issue is acting as the subject slowing down the internet.
- Error Analysis: (B) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
8 (B) something
- Why it's correct: "Something wrong" is the standard phrase to state that an issue exists.
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
9 (B) anything
- Why it's correct: This is a general Yes/No question asking about the existence of an error. In general questions, we use "anything".
- Error Analysis: (A) "something" is a common mistake for A2 learners who forget the question rule. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
10 (B) anything
- Why it's correct: "Didn't change" is a negative phrase. You must use "anything" to mean "zero changes made".
- Error Analysis: (A) "something" is a severe grammatical error with "didn't". (C) "everything" changes the meaning.
11 (C) something
- Why it's correct: The speaker is "100% sure" an error exists. Affirmative certainty requires "something".
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a structural error. (B) "everything" means the whole code is a typo.
12 (A) something
- Why it's correct: "Did something wrong" is a fixed phrase used to admit a mistake was made, even if the details are unclear.
- Error Analysis: (B) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" means you ruined the entire order intentionally.
13 (B) Something
- Why it's correct: Affirmative sentence acting as a warning about an unknown liquid leaking.
- Error Analysis: (A) "Anything" cannot be the subject here. (C) "Everything" is a meaning trap.
14 (B) anything
- Why it's correct: "Doesn't know" is a negative verb phrase. It must be paired with "anything" to mean zero knowledge.
- Error Analysis: (A) "something" is a major grammatical error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
15 (A) Something
- Why it's correct: Affirmative certainty. You know an error exists because the password failed.
- Error Analysis: (B) "Anything" is a structural error. (C) "Everything" is a meaning trap.
16 (B) anything
- Why it's correct: "Don't do" is a negative condition. We use "anything" to express "if we take zero action".
- Error Analysis: (A) "something" is a grammatical error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
17 (C) something
- Why it's correct: Affirmative sentence identifying an unknown sound ("something clicking").
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a structural error. (B) "everything" is a meaning trap.
18 (B) something
- Why it's correct: An affirmative command/suggestion to take an unspecified action to solve the problem ("do something!").
- Error Analysis: (C) "anything" is a structural error in this positive command. (A) "everything" is physically impossible to do in five minutes.
19 (A) anything
- Why it's correct: "Don't understand" is negative. It requires "anything" to mean "I understand zero".
- Error Analysis: (B) "something" is a grammatical error. (C) "everything" is a meaning trap.
20 (B) something
- Why it's correct: The speaker feels a strong certainty that an issue exists, combining "something" with the negative adjective phrase "not right".
- Error Analysis: (A) "anything" is a structural error. (C) "everything" means the entire world is wrong today.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 "Something" for Noticing Issues (Affirmative Certainty):
- We use something in positive sentences when we are 100% sure that a thing, object, or problem exists, even if we don't know its exact name or cause.
- Common Issue Phrases to memorize:
- Something is wrong.
- Something is missing.
- Something strange / Something weird.
- I did something wrong.
2 Adjectives come AFTER "Something":
- Unlike normal nouns where the adjective comes first (e.g., a wrong number), with pronouns like something, anything, everything, the adjective comes after the word.
- Correct: Something wrong, Something important, Something burning.
- Incorrect: A wrong something, An important something.
3 Contrast with "Anything":
- Use anything when the sentence has a negative verb (don't, doesn't, didn't, can't).
- Example: I don't know anything about this error.
- Use anything in general questions when you are completely unsure if a problem exists.
- Example: Is there anything wrong with the data?