how can I create an empty database query object?

[eluser]Thorpe Obazee[/eluser]

Code:

function getStuff( $id=false ) {
    if( !$id )    {
        return $this->db->query();
    }    else    {
// made some correction on the code
        return $this->db->get_where( 'stuff', array('id' => $id) );
}

I don't think I get the idea of returning of query object(I probably need to sleep.it's 1am here and I am hungry) but I'd return FALSE if I don't retrieve anything. and check from the function expecting it if it receives a boolean FALSE.