Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns
Look at this jar of jellybeans. It is full of jellybeans, but without dumping them out, it's hard to tell how many there are.
When you don't have an exact number or don't want to refer to a specific person, place, or thing, you can use an indefinite pronoun.
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that replace nouns, but they don't specify which noun they replace.
Indefinite pronouns can be singular, plural, or both.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns: another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everyone, everything, little, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something
- I'll have another.
- Is anybody coming to the party?
- Did you ask anyone to the dance yet?
- Can I get you anything?
- To each his own.
- Either will do.
- Ask everyone to gather around.
- Everything belongs to me.
- Little is known about his promotion.
- Much has been said about his latest antics.
- Neither will do.
- Nobody cares.
- No one came to my party.
- Nothing matters anymore.
- Where can one get some service around here?
- The other is my favorite.
- Somebody should get that.
- Someone left this for you.
- I have something for you.
Plural Indefinite Pronouns: both, few, many, others, several
- I think both will do.
- Few had heard about his trouble with the law.
- Many came to the meeting last night.
- Others are better.
- Several signed up for the meeting.
Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns: all, any, more, most, some
- All are in agreement.
- I don't think any came.
- More prefer subs than pizza.
- Most agree with the decision.
- Some have decided to go their own way.
Indefinite Pronouns vs. Indefinite Adjectives
Some indefinite pronouns also function as indefinite adjectives. The difference lies in how they are used. Indefinite adjectives are usually followed by a noun, while indefinite pronouns are usually followed by a verb or preposition.
Can you tell the difference?
Some people came to the party. - Indefinite adjective
Some came to the party. - Indefinite pronoun
Each student completed the homework assignment. - Indefinite adjective
Each of the students completed the homework assignment - Indefinite pronoun
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