The particles -тo and -нибудь can be added to the pronouns ктo, чтo, какой to give the Russian fot someone, something, some… or other.
(A) If we add the particle -тo to the Russian word for who we get the Russian for someone:
Кто-то позвонил, когда вы были на работе.
Someone rang while you were at work.
Борис говорил с кем-то, когда зазвонил телефон.
Boris was talking to someone when the telephone rang.
Кто-то indicates a particular person, who definitely was involved or is involved in an action, but the identity of that one particular person is not known.
The particle -то has the same specific force if it is added to что or кто:
Врач дал ей что-то от кашля.
The doctor gave her something for her cough.
Врач дал ей какое-то лекарство.
The doctor gave her some medicine or other.
(В) If we add the particle -нибудь to the Russian word for who we get another way of saying someone, but this time in a vague sense, not_implying one specific person:
Если кто-нибудь позвонит, запишите их номер телефона.
If somcone (anyone) rings, write down their telephone number.
Дайте билеты кому-нибудь в офисе.
Give the tickets to someone (anyone) in the оffice.
The particle -нибудь has the same vague force if it is added to что or какой:
Расскажи нам что-нибудь о России.
Tell us something (anything at all) about Russia.
Купите какие-нибудь таблетки.
Buy some tablets or other (any tablets).
(С) Note that these particles can also be used with adverbs of time and place.
(A) If we add the particle -тo to the Russian word for who we get the Russian for someone:
Кто-то позвонил, когда вы были на работе.
Someone rang while you were at work.
Борис говорил с кем-то, когда зазвонил телефон.
Boris was talking to someone when the telephone rang.
Кто-то indicates a particular person, who definitely was involved or is involved in an action, but the identity of that one particular person is not known.
The particle -то has the same specific force if it is added to что or кто:
Врач дал ей что-то от кашля.
The doctor gave her something for her cough.
Врач дал ей какое-то лекарство.
The doctor gave her some medicine or other.
(В) If we add the particle -нибудь to the Russian word for who we get another way of saying someone, but this time in a vague sense, not_implying one specific person:
Если кто-нибудь позвонит, запишите их номер телефона.
If somcone (anyone) rings, write down their telephone number.
Дайте билеты кому-нибудь в офисе.
Give the tickets to someone (anyone) in the оffice.
The particle -нибудь has the same vague force if it is added to что or какой:
Расскажи нам что-нибудь о России.
Tell us something (anything at all) about Russia.
Купите какие-нибудь таблетки.
Buy some tablets or other (any tablets).
(С) Note that these particles can also be used with adverbs of time and place.
| -то (specific) | -нибудь (vague) |
| где-то somewhеre | где-нибудь somewhere/anywhere |
| куда-то | куда-нибудь somewhere/anywhere (direction) |
| когда-то | когда-нибудь at ant time, ever |
| как-то | как-нибудь somehow, anyhow |
| почему-то | почему-нибудь for some/any reason |
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