Indefinite pronouns allow you to talk about people, things, and places in a general or unknown sense.
People: iemand and niemand
To talk about unspecified people, use iemand (someone / anybody) and niemand (no one / nobody). Because niemand is already negative, you do not need to add niet.
| No one knows the secret. | Niemand kent het geheim. |
| I trust no one, because this is a very important secret. | Ik vertrouw niemand, want dit is een heel belangrijk geheim. |
Things: iets, niets, and alles
For things, use iets (something / anything), niets (nothing), and alles (everything). Just like niemand, niets is inherently negative.
| Has he hidden something in the drawer? | Heeft hij iets in de la verstopt? |
| I have hidden nothing in that drawer! | Ik heb niets in die la verstopt! |
When talking about things located inside a container (like a box, a drawer, or a pocket), Dutch frequently uses the verb zitten (to sit) rather than "to be."
| Is everything in the box or is the box empty? | Zit alles in de doos of is de doos leeg? |
Places: nergens
To say "nowhere" or "not anywhere," use nergens. Again, no extra niet is needed.
| I can't find my key anywhere. | Ik kan mijn sleutel nergens vinden. |
Putting It All Together
These words are frequently used together, especially when describing secrets, missing items, or unknown situations.
| Someone is hiding something in his pocket. | Iemand verstopt iets in zijn zak. |
| There is nothing in the bag, but nobody believes me. | Er zit niets in de zak, maar niemand gelooft mij. |
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