_Iets_ and _niets_ are used exactly like 'something' and 'nothing' in English. The only difference is that the Dutch do not make a distinction between 'something' and 'anything'.
_Iets_ and _niets_ are singular pronouns.
Dutch | Application | English
iets | singular | something, anything
niets | singular | nothing
If we combine _iets_ or _niets_ with a preposition ( _met iets_, _voor niets_), we can use a [pronominal adverb](#/lesson/Pronouns.Ad02) (see further below).
_Iets_ [something] and _niets_ [nothing]
Ik wil graag iets zeggen. | I would like to say something.
Moeten we iets meenemen? | Should we bring anything?
We hebben nog niets gedaan. | We have not done anything yet.
Niets is onmogelijk. | Nothing is impossible.
Pronominal adverbs _ergens_[somehwere] and _nergens_ [nowhere]
Sometimes, we change the pronoun into an adverb when it is preceded by a preposition. For example, instead of _voor iets_ ('for something'), we can say _ergens voor_ ('somewhere for').
We do not have to do this. We are perfectly allowed to write a preposition before _iets_ or _niets_. However, if we want, we can use the [pronominal adverbs](#/lesson/Pronouns.Ad02) _ergens_ (somewhere) instead of _iets_ (something) and _nergens_ (nowhere) instead of _niets_. If we do this, the following happens:
preposition + iets | | ergens \+ preposition
preposition + niets | | nergens \+ preposition
Note that _(n)ergens_ is not attached to the preposition.
Dat deed me aan iets denken. | That reminded me of something.
Dat deed me ergens aan denken. |
Ze was voor niets bang. | She was not afraid of anything.
[She was afraid of nothing]
Ze was nergens bang voor. |
_Iets_ and _niets_ before adjectives
If _iets_ or _niets_ precedes an adjective, we add -s to the end of the adjective.
Er is niets interessants op tv. | There is nothing interesting on TV.
Er is niets anders. | There is nothing else.
Kun jij iets beters bedenken? | Can you think of anything better?
Er was iets vreemds aan hem. | There was something strange about him.