Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns stand for some unspecified person(s), place(s) or thing(s).

Most indefinite pronouns are singular even though some of them (e.g., everyone, everybody) appear to have plural meanings.

Singular
another anybody anyone anything		each everybody everyone everything either neither		no one nobody nothing one		somebody someone something

It is important to identify whether the pronoun is singular or plural
because singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs or singular personal pronouns
while plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs or plural personal pronouns.

Examples:

• Each of the members has have one vote.
  
  Because "each" is singular, it takes a singular verb "has".
  
  
• Everyone must pay for his or her their fair share.
  
  Because "everyone" is singular, it takes a singular personal pronoun "his" or "her".
  
  

Plural

both, few, many, several

Examples:

• Both claim claims responsibility for the accident.
• Many were was saying that they he liked the book.
• A few voiced their his unhappiness.
  
  

Singular or Plural

any, all, more, most, none, some

The above indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to.

Examples:

• Singular: Some of the money has have disappeared.
  
  The pronoun "some" refers to money. Since money in this sentence is uncountable (which is considered as singular),
  "some" takes the singular verb "has".
  
  
• Plural: Some of the rocks are is slippery.
  
  "Some" refers to the noun "rocks" which is plural, "some" takes the plural verb "are".
  
  
• Singular: All of the newspaper was soaked.
  
  The pronoun "all" refers to "newspaper", which is singular; "some" takes the singular verb "was soaked".
  
  
• Plural: All of the people raise raises their his hands.
  
  "All" refers to "people", which is plural; "all" takes the plural verb "raise" and the plural personal pronoun "their".
  
  

Indefinite Adjectives

When used alone the words "all", "any", "both", "each", "every", "few", "many", "more", "most", "none", "several" and "some" function as indefinite pronouns.

But if these same words are used with nouns then they function like adjectives ... modifying the nouns that follow.
They answer the questions: How much? or How many? and are called "quantifiers".

Examples:

Pronoun: Both agreed that surgery was the only solution.
Adjective: Both doctors agreed that surgery was the only solution.

Pronoun: Many believe that aliens from outer space had landed on earth.
Adjective: Many people believe that aliens from outer space had landed on earth.

Main Index | Pronouns Index | LESOL © Virtual Teacher Aide