Indefinite Pronouns
Sentence Agreement
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) |
|
all (with a noncount noun) |
|
|
|
more / most (with a noncount noun) |
|
*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 |
|
more / most (with a count noun) |
some(with a count noun) |
|
|
|
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? |
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.) |
|
Everyone took their potato chips.(Every person took chips from another group.) |
|
Everyone took our potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to us.) |
|
Everyone took his potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to another guy.) |
|
Everyone took her potato chips. (Every person took chips belonging to another woman.) |
Indefinite-Pronoun – Quantity-Phrase Agreement
| INDEF PRN | 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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|
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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
Choose the pronouns that best complete(s) the sentence. An asterisk * indicates an incorrect choice.