An indefinite pronoun is a special type of word that we use to talk about people, things, or ideas in a general or non-specific way. It’s like a pronoun that doesn’t point to a particular person or thing. Instead, it refers to a whole group of people or things without being specific about who or what they are.
For example, imagine you have a bag of cookies, and you want to share them with your friends. You might say, “Would anyone like a cookie?” Here, the word “anyone” is an indefinite pronoun. It doesn’t refer to a specific person; it includes all the people you’re talking to. So, you’re asking if any of them would like a cookie, without singling out anyone in particular.
Indefinite pronouns can refer to either one thing or many things. Some examples of singular indefinite pronouns are “someone,” “anything,” and “everybody.” They represent a single person or thing without being specific about who or what it is.
On the other hand, plural indefinite pronouns refer to multiple people or things. Examples include “several,” “few,” and “many.” These pronouns indicate a larger group but still don’t specify the exact number or identities.
Indefinite pronouns are helpful because they allow us to talk about general ideas or groups without getting into all the details. They make our language more flexible and allow us to express ourselves in a broader sense.
List of Indefinite Pronouns
| Singular Indefinite Pronouns | Plural Indefinite Pronouns |
|---|---|
| anyone | all |
| someone | some |
| nobody | none |
| everybody | both |
| anything | several |
| something | few |
| nothing | many |
| everybody | others |
| each | |
| either | |
| neither |
Indefinite Pronouns vs Other Pronouns
Pronouns are special words that we use to replace nouns in sentences. They help us avoid repeating the same nouns over and over again. For example, instead of saying, “John went to the store, and John bought some milk,” we can use a pronoun and say, “John went to the store, and he bought some milk.”
Now, indefinite pronouns are a specific type of pronoun that is different from other pronouns in an important way. While other pronouns usually refer to specific people or things, indefinite pronouns are more general and non-specific. They refer to people, things, or ideas without being particular about who or what they are.
Let’s look at an example to understand this better. Imagine you have a class of students, and you want to know if any of them have a question. Instead of asking, “Does Sarah have a question? Does John have a question? Does Mary have a question?” and so on, you can use an indefinite pronoun and ask, “Does anyone have a question?”
In this case, the word “anyone” is an indefinite pronoun. It represents all the students in your class without naming each one individually. It allows you to ask your question without knowing or mentioning every single person’s name.
So, the main difference is that indefinite pronouns are broader and more general in their reference, while other pronouns are more specific and point to particular individuals or objects.
Also read: Relative Pronoun, Interrogative Pronoun, Demonstrative Pronoun, and Reflexive Pronoun
Types of Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns can be divided into different types based on their usage and the number of people or things they refer to. Here are the main types:
1. Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
Singular indefinite pronouns refer to one person or thing. They are used when we want to talk about a single individual without specifying who that person is. Examples of singular indefinite pronouns include “anybody,” “anyone,” “anything,” “everybody,” “everyone,” “everything,” “nobody,” “no one,” “nothing,” “somebody,” “someone,” and “something.”
For example:
“Nobody knows the answer.”
“Someone is at the door.”
2. Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
Plural indefinite pronouns refer to multiple people or things. They are used when we want to talk about a group of individuals without specifying their identities. Examples of plural indefinite pronouns include “both,” “few,” “many,” and “several.”
For example:
“Many have already completed the assignment.”
“Both of them are my friends.”
3. Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
These indefinite pronouns can refer to either one person/thing or more than one person/thing, depending on the context. Examples include “all,” “any,” “most,” “none,” and “some.”
For example:
“All are welcome to join.”
“Some of the cake is left.”
4. Indefinite Pronouns ending in -body, -one, or -thing:
These indefinite pronouns end with “-body,” “-one,” or “-thing” and are used to refer to people or things in a non-specific way. Examples include “anybody,” “everyone,” “somebody,” “anything,” “everything,” and “something.”
For example:
“Is anybody here?”
“I need something to eat.”
Usage and Examples of Indefinite Pronouns
Let’s explore the usage of indefinite pronouns with examples that will be easy to understand for you:
Singular indefinite pronouns
Here are some common singular indefinite pronouns and their usage:
1. “Anybody” and “Anyone”:
Usage: These pronouns refer to any person, without specifying who it is.
Examples:
“Does anybody want to volunteer for the presentation?”
“Anyone can join the after-school club.”
2. “Anything”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to any thing, without specifying what it is.
Examples:
“You can choose anything from the menu.”
“I’ll do anything to help my friends.”
3. “Everybody” and “Everyone”:
Usage: These pronouns refer to every person, without specifying individual identities.
Examples:
“Everybody needs to submit their homework by tomorrow.”
“Everyone enjoyed the party.”
4. “Nobody” and “No one”:
Usage: These pronouns refer to no person, indicating the absence of individuals.
Examples:
“Nobody knows the answer to that question.”
“No one is allowed to enter without a ticket.”
5. “Nothing”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to no thing, indicating the absence of something.
Examples:
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I have nothing to wear for the party.”
6. “Somebody” and “Someone”:
Usage: These pronouns refer to an unspecified person or an unknown individual.
Examples:
“Somebody called you while you were out.”
“Someone left their bag in the classroom.”
7. “Something”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to an unspecified thing or an unidentified object.
Examples:
“I need something to write with.”
“There’s something strange about this place.”
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Here are some common plural indefinite pronouns and their usage:
1. “Both”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to two people or things together.
Examples:
“Both of my parents love to travel.”
“We can choose both options.”
2. “Few”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to a small number of people or things.
Examples:
“Few students attended the meeting.”
“There are few apples left in the basket.”
3. “Many”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to a large number of people or things.
Examples:
“Many students participate in the school play.”
“There are many books on the shelf.”
4. “Several”:
Usage: This pronoun refers to an unspecified but noticeable number of people or things.
Examples:
“Several friends came to my birthday party.”
“I have several hobbies.”
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is an important grammatical rule that ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence match in number. When using indefinite pronouns, it’s essential to ensure that the accompanying verb agrees with their form. Here’s a simple explanation:
Singular indefinite pronouns
1. When a singular indefinite pronoun is the subject of a sentence, the verb that follows it should be in the singular form.
Examples:
“Everybody is here.” (Not “Everybody are here.”)
“Nobody wants to go.” (Not “Nobody want to go.”)
2. In questions or sentences starting with singular indefinite pronouns, the verb should also be in the singular form.
Examples:
“Does anybody know the answer?”
“Is someone coming to the party?”
3. Pay attention to the word order in sentences that include singular indefinite pronouns. The verb still needs to agree with the singular pronoun, even if it appears later in the sentence.
Example:
“Someone in the classroom knows the answer.” (Not “Someone in the classroom know the answer.”)
4. Be careful with indefinite pronouns that may appear plural but are considered singular, such as “each,” “every,” and “either.” They still require a singular verb.
Examples:
“Each of the students is responsible for their own work.”
“Every car needs regular maintenance.”
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
1. When a plural indefinite pronoun is the subject of a sentence, the verb that follows it should be in plural form.
Examples:
“Many students are studying for the exam.” (Not “Many students is studying for the exam.”)
“Several books have been borrowed from the library.” (Not “Several books has been borrowed from the library.”)
2. In questions or sentences starting with plural indefinite pronouns, the verb should also be in the plural form.
Examples:
“Do both of you want to join the club?”
“Are many people attending the event?”
3. Pay attention to the word order in sentences that include plural indefinite pronouns. The verb still needs to agree with the plural pronoun, even if it appears later in the sentence.
Example:
“Several of the students are participating in the competition.” (Not “Several of the students is participating in the competition.”)
4. Be careful with indefinite pronouns that may appear singular but are considered plural, such as “both,” “few,” and “several.” They require a plural verb.
Examples:
“Both of my friends are coming to the party.”
“Few people have visited that museum.”
Exercises to practice indefinite pronouns
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
Choose the appropriate indefinite pronoun from the word bank to complete each sentence. Write your answer in the blank provided.
Word Bank: anybody, something, nobody, everyone, anything, someone
- _________ left their umbrella at the bus stop.
- Is there _________ who can help me with this math problem?
- _________ can learn to play a musical instrument with practice.
- I don’t see _________ on the horizon.
- _________ called while you were out.
Answers:
- Someone
- anybody
- Everyone
- anything
- Nobody
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Form
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence. Consider the subject and whether it is singular or plural.
- Something __________ delicious in the oven. (smell, smells)
- _________ of the books __________ been returned to the library. (none, has, have)
- Everyone __________ excited about the field trip. (is, are)
- __________ have called for you today. (Somebody, Somebodies)
- Both of the options __________ reasonable. (is, are)
Answers:
- smells
- None of the books have
- is
- Somebody
- are
Exercise 3: Sentence Completion
Complete each sentence by choosing the most suitable indefinite pronoun from the word bank.
Word Bank: something, anybody, everything, nobody, everyone, something
- __________ deserves a chance to succeed.
- Is there __________ you would like to share with the class?
- __________ is possible if you put your mind to it.
- __________ called for you while you were out.
- __________ is going to the party tonight.
Answers:
- Everybody
- something
- Everything
- Nobody
- Everybody
I hope these exercises help you practice using indefinite pronouns correctly!
FAQs
An indefinite pronoun is a type of pronoun that refers to people, things, or concepts in a general or non-specific manner. It avoids specifying exact individuals or objects.
Some examples of singular indefinite pronouns are “anyone,” “someone,” “nobody,” “everybody,” “anything,” “something,” “nothing,” “each,” “either,” and “neither.”
Yes, there are also plural indefinite pronouns. Examples include “all,” “some,” “none,” “both,” “several,” “few,” “many,” and “others.”
Indefinite pronouns can be used as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences. For example: “Someone called me” (subject), “I saw something interesting” (object), “Everything is fine” (complement).
Yes, subject-verb agreement is important when using indefinite pronouns. Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs, while plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. For example: “Everybody is happy” (singular) and “Some are coming” (plural).
Yes, indefinite pronouns can be used in formal writing. However, it’s important to follow the style and tone guidelines of the specific writing context.
The purpose of using indefinite pronouns is to refer to people, things, or concepts in a general or non-specific way, allowing for more flexible and inclusive language.
Some online resources:
- What Is An Indefinite Pronoun? Definition And Examples – thesaurus.com
- Indefinite Pronouns | Definition, Examples & List – scribbr.com
- Indefinite Pronoun in English Grammar with Examples | English Speaking Practice
- Indefinite/Distributive Pronouns (Each, All, None, Either, Someone etc) English by Kapil Dev Sharma
- Indefinite Pronouns: someone/anyone/everyone – Basic English Grammar
