Grammar JLPT Level N5 - Lesson 19

The constructions 誰(だれ)か, and どこか are used when you want to ask, or answer questions about 'someone', or 'somewhere' (positive sentences). Alternatively, 'no one', or 'nowhere' based statements are made with 誰(だれ)も, and どこも (negative sentences). Structures like this that use 誰(だれ) were briefly discussed in the 誰(だれ) grammar point.

• 誰(だれ)かがいますか。
  Is anyone here?
• 来月(らいげつ)はどこかへ行(い)きますか？
  Are you going somewhere next month?
• 俺(おれ)の誕生日(たんじょうび)パーティーには誰(だれ)も来(こ)なかった。
  No one came to my birthday party.
• ９時(じ)だからどこも開(あ)いていない。
  Since it is 9pm, nowhere is open.

Using 誰(だれ), or どこ is not limited to the か and も particles. へ, に, or と may also be partnered with か or も, to give a more specific meaning.

• 休(やす)みの日(ひ)はどこかへ行(い)きましたか？
  Did you go anywhere during your break?
• 誰(だれ)かに言(い)った？
  Did you tell anyone? (Literally, 'did you tell it to anyone?')
• 誰(だれ)かと電話(でんわ)をしている。
  He is on the phone with someone.
• 今日(きょう)はどこへも行(い)かない。
  I don't want to go anywhere today. (Not even anywhere)
• 明日(あした)は誰(だれ)にも会(あ)わない。
  I will not meet anyone tomorrow. (Not even anyone)
• 私(わたし)は誰(だれ)にも話(はな)す。
  I talk to anyone. (Even anyone, but less common than でも)

As can be seen with these examples, か will always precede any other particle in a positive sentence. However, the opposite is true for も. も will always follow any other particles in negative sentences. This is because か will always attach directly to the noun (when altering the meaning of that noun), but も alters the whole phrase, not just the noun.
However, It should be noted that も is not limited to appearing in negative sentences, as can be seen with the final example.