Autre chose/quelque chose d'autre = Something else (French Indefinite Pronouns)

Indefinite pronouns refer to people or things without saying exactly who or what they are. "Autre chose" and "quelque chose d'autre" are part of the indefinite pronouns.

How to use the indefinite pronouns autre chose/quelque chose d'autre in French

Look at these sentences:

Je voudrais autre chose.  
Je voudrais quelque chose d'autre.
I would like something else.

Il veut autre chose
Il veut quelque chose d'autre.
He wants something else.

Elle a choisi autre chose.  
Elle a choisi quelque chose d'autre.
She chose something else.


Note
that in French, there are two ways to say "something else": autre chose and quelque chose d'autre. 

Now look at these questions:

Vous voulez boire quelque chose d'autre ?Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Vous voulez boire autre chose ?Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Ont-ils apporté autre chose ?  
Ont-ils apporté quelque chose d'autre ?
Have they brought something else?

Note that you also use autre chose / quelque chose d'autre in questions, where they can also mean "anything else".

ATTENTION: in the case of questions, you won't use n'importe quoi, which literally means any thing (doesn't matter what).
See N'importe quoi = Nonsense, anything (French Indefinite Pronouns)

 

See also the related lesson: Quelqu'un/Quelqu'un d'autre = Someone/Someone else (French Indefinite Pronouns)

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Il veut autre chose
Il veut quelque chose d'autre.
He wants something else.
Elle a choisi autre chose.  
Elle a choisi quelque chose d'autre.
She chose something else.
Je voudrais autre chose.  
Je voudrais quelque chose d'autre.
I would like something else.
Vous voulez boire quelque chose d'autre ?Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?
Vous voulez boire autre chose ?Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?
Ont-ils apporté autre chose ?  
Ont-ils apporté quelque chose d'autre ?
Have they brought something else?
I'll be right with you...