Indefinite Pronouns
Referring to an unknown or specified noun
A Named Subject vs. an Indefinite Pronoun
| SUBJECT IS NAMED | SUBJECT IS AN INDEFINITE PRONOUN |
|---|---|
A noun or person noun is used when the subject is known and specified. |
We use an indefinite pronoun when the noun is unknown or not specified. |
Tom caught twelve fish. |
Someone caught twelve fish. |
We all caught fish. |
All caught fish. |
Norman, Tom and I didn't give up. |
Nobody gave up. |
A fish got away. |
One got away. |
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
anybody |
nobody |
everybody |
somebody |
anyone |
no one |
everyone |
someone |
anything |
nothing |
everything |
something |
any (with a noncount noun) |
neither |
either |
little (with a noncount noun) |
*much |
none (with a noncount noun) |
one / another / each |
some (with a noncount noun) |
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all (with a noncount noun) |
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more / most (with a noncount noun) |
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*used mainly in questions and negative sentences
Also see: Quantity Phrases | Another/ The other
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
any (count noun) |
many (with a count noun) |
all (count noun) |
few |
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more / most (with a count noun) |
some(with a count noun) |
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both / several / others |
none (with a count noun) (plural is informal) |
Compare
Similar but different
Anyone / Any one
| ALL | ONE |
|---|---|
Use – everyone, anyone – as an indefinite pronoun to refer to the group. |
Use – every, any – as a modifier to one to refer to the individual or a single item. |
Has anyone seen my new hula hoop? (anybody) |
Has any one of you tried your new hoop? |
I know that everyone will enjoy the exercise. (everybody) |
I know that every one of you will enjoy the exercise. |
No one can hoop for more than an hour. (nobody) |
None / Not one of you can hoop for more than an hour. |
Nobody / Anybody
| NOBODY | ANYBODY |
|---|---|
Use nobody as the subject of a positive sentence. anybody = anyone |
Use anybody when it is is not necessary to say 'how many'. Use any after a negative verb or in a question. Anybody alone does not have a negative meaning. It is only negative when used with not. |
Nobody can go into a mosque with shoes on. |
Anybody can go into a mosque. (If a person wants to, he or she can go in.) |
*Nobody can't go into a mosque with shoes on. |
*Anybody can't go into a mosque with shoes on. |
*I have never seen nobody in a mosque with shoes on. |
I have never seen anybody in a mosque with shoes on. |
*Not nobody can go into a mosque with shoes on. |
Not anyone can go into a mosque with shoes on. |
*Hardly nobody goes into a mosque without socks on. (negative expression) |
Hardly anybody goes into a mosque without socks on. |
Can nobody go into a mosque with shoes on? |
Can anybody go into a mosque with shoes on? |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Indefinite Pronouns
With Possessive Pronouns
Indefinite Pronoun Reference
| REFERS TO SELF | REFERS TO ANOTHER OR OTHERS |
|---|---|
In some cases, the indefinite pronoun refers to the same person as the subject (agent) in the sentences. |
In other cases, the indefinite pronoun refers to a person or persons other than the subject (agent) in the sentence. |
Everyone took his potato chips. (Every person had his own personal bag.) |
Everyone took my potato chips. (Every person took my chips.) |
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Everyone took their potato chips.(Every person took chips from another group.) |
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Everyone took our potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to us.) |
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Everyone took his potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to another guy.) |
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Everyone took her potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to another woman.) |
Indefinite-Pronoun – Quantity-Phrase Agreement
| INDEF PRONOUN -– POSSESSIVE PRONOUN | EXPRESSION OF QUANTITY –POSSESSIVE PRONOUN |
|---|---|
A singular pronoun is used when the indefinite pronoun refers to itself and is a single person or item. |
A plural pronoun is used when the indefinite pronoun refers to itself and more than one person or item. The pronoun agrees with closest noun in the quantity phrase. |
Everyone has his pole. |
All of the fishermen fry their (own) fish for dinner. |
Each has his hat on. |
Some of us invite our wives on trips. (refers to the individuals) |
One caught her first fish. |
Some of the group likes its organization. (refers to the group) |
Each brought his own lunch. |
Some of the group like their privacy. (refers to the individuals) |
Another caught his limit |
Half of you catch your "limit". |
Everybody has her hopes high. (if all are females) |
Ten percent of the the fish have old hook marks on their mouths. |
Nobody has his pole ready. |
None of the fish had eggs in their bodies. |
None has eggs in its body. (a fish) |
A number of the fishermen were proud of their catches. |
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Also see: Quantity Phrases | Another/ The other
"Everyone's" Problem - Gender Neutral Phrasing
| PROBLEM | SOLUTIONS |
|---|---|
Many speakers feel awkward choosing a masculine pronoun to refer to both genders. |
Some people use his/her s/he. Others use passive voice or switch plural phrasing. The matter remains unsettled for over two hundred years! See Gender Agreement |
Everyone had their hat. |
Everyone had his hat. Use "his" for both genders - formal but awkward. |
Everyone must file his income tax by April 15. |
Everyone must file his or her income tax by April 15. |
Practice 1
Sentence Agreement
- Select your response from each menu. Then check your answer.
- If your response is incorrect, use the study link to guide you to the specific information you need.
Practice 2
Possessive Pronoun Agreement
- Select your response from each menu. Then check your answer.
- If your response is incorrect, use the study link to guide you to the specific information you need.
Practice 3
Feb 1955 – Oct 2011
Steve Jobs Resigns from Apple
Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.
- Read the following story.
- Then check each section for errors.
24 Aug 2011 — Adapted from SFGate.com full story
This generation's most successful business leader is no longer leading a business. With Steve Jobs' resignation as CEO of Apple, some are asking questions about the future of the technology industry.
A cruel disease is forcing the 56-year-old Jobs, who has done as much as anyone to transform the world through technology, to give up doing what he does better than anybody.
Jobs has been battling pancreatic cancer and other health problems since at least 2004, and has already taken three leaves of absence. Not nobody in the tech world is surprised by his departure, but everyone is saddened.
It's a sad moment for the Silicon Valley business world, which is losing his talents. It's a sad moment for all of customers who have been delighted by the products he gave to the world. And it's a sad moment for Steve Jobs and his family.
He has been one of the most influential leaders in the information age, continually pushing engineers to design consumer-friendly products. Everybody are familiar with his vision of elegant design and simplified features. You can pick up anyone of his products and be impressed by its design. Each has a look and feel that delights consumers.
The business world wonders if there is another who have the vision to carry on the Apple product line. Tim Cook officially began as interim CEO of Apple. Every one at Apple hopes Cook will continue the vision of Jobs. However, the price of Apple stock dropped the day after Jobs resigned. Nobody doubts that the stock will rise again soon with the release of the next iPhone or iPad product.
Everybody who are making PCs, tablets, smart phones and cameras will continue to apply the lessons Steve Jobs put into the tech mind-set. But what of those brand new categories he didn't have time to dream up?