An indefinite pronoun replaces a noun without referring to any person or thing in particular. It is a group of pronouns that are used when the noun is unknown or for our convenience; for example, instead of asking, “Is Anne, Bob, Carrie, Dan or Ellen interested in coming along?”, we can use an indefinite pronoun to make things easier: “Is anyone interested in coming along?” The word anyone is an indefinite pronoun.
- Someone is knocking the door.
- Is anybody there?
(Here, a question uses an indefinite pronoun anybody because the person asking the question does not want to know if a definite person is there – a person such as his uncle, friend or Michael. He just wants to know if a person is there.)
- Something is burning over there.
(The noun is unknown. We don’t know what thing is burning over there, so we use an indefinite pronoun something.)
There is a fair number of indefinite pronouns, and all of them do not refer specifically to any person or thing. Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural with a few of them that can be both singular and plural. Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs and plural indefinite pronoun subjects take plural verbs.
Indefinite Pronouns | ||
Singular | Plural | Singular or Plural |
anybody | both | all |
everybody | few | any |
nobody | many | more |
somebody | others | most |
anyone | several | none |
everyone | some | |
someone | such | |
anything | ||
everything | ||
something | ||
another | ||
each | ||
either | ||
little | ||
much | ||
neither | ||
no one | ||
nothing | ||
one | ||
other |
Indefinite pronouns that end in –body, –one, and –thing are always singular and they must be matched with singular verbs.
Examples:
- A strange noise comes from the other room, but there wasn’t anybody there.
- Everybody is waiting to hear the good news.
- Nobody wants to listen to my ghost stories.
- Somebody has left the banana skins here.
- Anyone is welcome to help wash my car.
- Everyone is speaking but no one is listening.
- Someone has to put the rubbish beside the dustbin.
- Is there anything I can eat?
- Is everything all right?
-
Something in the kitchen smells strongly of rotten fish..
Either and neither
These two definite pronouns are used as singular.
Examples:
- Which of these two boxes is big enough for those things? I think either is big enough.
- The police think either of the suspects was involved in the crime.
- He begs his parents for forgiveness for what he has done, but neither forgives him.
- Neither of them wants a divorce for the sake of the children.
Other singular indefinite pronouns
Examples:
-
This is her daughter and there is another at home.
-
Each of them agrees that in every friendship there has to be some give-and-take.
-
Little is known about his whereabouts.
-
Much of what we know about her mysterious disappearance is false.
-
There is no one in that room, yet I have just heard a voice calling my name.
-
I have already told you there is nothing wrong with me.
-
One has to know when to keep quiet and listen.
-
I'll buy this pair; the other is more expensive.
Plural indefinite pronouns
Examples:
- I'll cannot forget those two fat monkeys, both of which are obviously overfed.
- There are few countries left to visit before I die.
- Many have been rescued and the search for the others will continue.
- One of the escaped prisoners was recaptured while two others were still at large.
- Several of the crocodiles are believed to have escaped from the crocodile farm.
Indefinite pronouns that are both singular and plural
Examples:
- All we know is that the rumours about him are not true.
- All were cheering loudly for their team.
-
There was't any food left when I got there.
-
As she was going on a trip, she asked if any of us were interested in joining her.
- The police will not answer the reporters' questions until more is known.
- More are rescued as the search continues.
-
Most of her savings is spent on holiday.
-
Most of the household contents are covered by an insurance policy.
- You want some more soup, but there is none left.
- None of my uncles is/are as skinny as my father.
-
Some of them just don't know what they are talking about.
-
Some more butter is needed to make the cake.
-
If such is the plan, we have to start preparing straightaway.
-
It such are their positions, it is unlikely they will reach an agreement.