{"id":5119,"date":"2026-07-16T19:14:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T10:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.vietcafe-learning.com\/material\/?p=5119"},"modified":"2026-07-16T19:14:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T10:14:49","slug":"grammar62","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.vietcafe-learning.com\/material\/grammar62\/","title":{"rendered":"Grammar 62: Indefinite pronouns using question words (Ai c\u0169ng, C\u00e1i g\u00ec c\u0169ng…)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Vietnamese, by combining question words such as “Ai” (who), “G\u00ec” (what), and “\u0110\u00e2u” (where) with “c\u0169ng”<\/strong>, you can create expressions that refer to the whole (affirmative) like “everyone,” “anything,” or “everywhere,” as well as express total negation. This pattern is very frequently used in daily conversation, so let’s learn them together as a set.<\/p>\n

Basic Structure:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Question Word + c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> + Predicate<\/span><\/div>\n

Basically, it means “everything\/everyone that the question word refers to.”<\/strong> In affirmative sentences, it means “all ~” or “any ~,” and when used with a negative word, it carries a meaning of total negation, such as “nothing ~” or “no one ~.”<\/p>\n

\u2460 Affirmative Sentences (Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Always)<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

When used in an affirmative sentence, it emphasizes that “everything\/everyone is so” without exception.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Example Sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2460 Ai<\/strong> c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> bi\u1ebft chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00f3.
\n\u2192 Everyone<\/strong> knows that story.<\/p>\n

\u2461 T\u00f4i \u0103n c\u00e1i g\u00ec<\/strong> c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.
\n\u2192 I can eat anything<\/strong> (Anything is fine).<\/p>\n

\u2462 Anh \u1ea5y \u0111i \u0111\u00e2u<\/strong> c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> mang theo m\u00e1y \u1ea3nh.
\n\u2192 Wherever he goes<\/strong> (Everywhere), he takes a camera with him.<\/p>\n

\u2463 C\u00f4 \u1ea5y l\u00fac n\u00e0o<\/strong> c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> vui v\u1ebb.
\n\u2192 She is always<\/strong> happy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

* “L\u00fac n\u00e0o c\u0169ng” (at any time = always) and “Bao gi\u1edd c\u0169ng” (whenever = always) are frequently used to express frequency.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2461 Negative Sentences (No one, Nothing, Nowhere)<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

When followed by a negative word (kh\u00f4ng \/ ch\u1eb3ng \/ ch\u01b0a), it expresses a strong, total negation (“not a single one”).<\/span><\/p>\n

Question Word + c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/span> + kh\u00f4ng \/ ch\u1eb3ng<\/strong><\/span> + Predicate<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Example Sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2464 H\u00f4m nay t\u00f4i m\u1ec7t n\u00ean c\u00e1i g\u00ec<\/strong> c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng<\/strong><\/span> mu\u1ed1n l\u00e0m.
\n\u2192 Today I am tired, so I don’t want to do anything<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2465 T\u00f4i t\u00ecm kh\u1eafp n\u01a1i nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00e2u<\/strong> c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng<\/strong><\/span> th\u1ea5y.
\n\u2192 I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find it anywhere<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2466 Ai<\/strong> c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng<\/strong><\/span> tin l\u1eddi anh \u1ea5y n\u00f3i.
\n\u2192 No one<\/strong> believes what he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Common Combinations<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The target changes depending on the question word. Let’s organize them in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Vietnamese<\/strong><\/td>\nMeaning (Affirmative)<\/strong><\/td>\nMeaning (Negative)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ai c\u0169ng<\/strong><\/td>\nAnyone, everyone<\/td>\nNo one<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C\u00e1i g\u00ec c\u0169ng<\/strong>
\n(G\u00ec c\u0169ng)<\/strong><\/td>\n		Anything, everything<\/td>\nNothing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0110\u00e2u c\u0169ng<\/strong>
\n(\u1ede \u0111\u00e2u c\u0169ng)<\/strong><\/td>\n		Anywhere, everywhere<\/td>\nNowhere<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
L\u00fac n\u00e0o c\u0169ng<\/strong>
\n(Bao gi\u1edd c\u0169ng)<\/strong><\/td>\n		Anytime, always<\/td>\nNever
\n(*depending on context)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n
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