anything / something
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anything / something
Refers to an unspecified thing or action; depending on the context, it means “anything” or “something whose nature is unknown.”
Möchtest du irgendetwas aus dem Supermarkt haben?
Would you like anything from the supermarket?
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | – | – |
| accusative | – | – |
| dative | – | – |
| genitive | – | – |
“Irgendetwas” (anything / something) is made up of “irgend-” and “etwas” (something). “Irgend-” deliberately makes the thing indefinite and shows that no specific thing is being named.
Irgendetwas riecht hier seltsam.
Something smells strange here.
Sie möchte irgendetwas Neues ausprobieren.
She wants to try something new.
“Irgendetwas” (anything / something) stands alone and replaces an unspecified thing. In a sentence, it can be, for example, the subject or the accusative object.
Ich habe irgendetwas im Flur gehört.
I heard something in the hallway.
Irgendetwas liegt unter dem Tisch.
Something is lying under the table.
“Irgendetwas” (anything / something) frequently occurs with verbs such as “tun” (to do), “sagen” (to say), “brauchen” (to need), “finden” (to find), or “hören” (to hear). This leaves open which specific thing or action is meant.
Wenn du irgendetwas brauchst, ruf mich an.
If you need anything, call me.
In questions, “irgendetwas” (anything / something) can leave any possible thing or option open. In statements, it often shows that the speaker does not know the thing more precisely or is deliberately not naming it.
Hast du irgendetwas von Lisa gehört?
Have you heard anything from Lisa?
Er hat irgendetwas über den Unfall erzählt.
He said something about the accident.
