Indefinite Pronouns
somebody / someone an unspecified or unknown person Clearly somebody murdered him. It was not suicide.
everything all things They have no house or possessions. They lost everything in the earthquake.
several more than two but not many They all complained and several left the meeting.
none not any; no person or persons They fixed the water so why is none coming out of the tap?
any no matter how much or how many Is any left ?
one an unidentified person Can one smoke here? All the students arrived but now one is missing.
English grammar2010-09-18 11:03:15 Read 0 Comments 0 Word Count: An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is vague and “not definite”. Some typical indefinite pronouns are: all, another, any, anybody / anyone, anything, each, everybody / everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody / someone
either one or the other of two people or things Do you want tea or coffee? / I don mind. Either is good for me. < br /> fewer a reduced number of people or things Fewer are smoking these days.
singular or plural
some an unspecified quantity of something; an unspecified number of people or things Here is some.
few a small number of people or things Few have ever disobeyed him and lived.
plural
nobody / no-one no person I phoned many times but nobody answered.
anything no matter what thing The doctor needs to know if you have eaten anything in the last two hours.
such of the type already mentioned He was a foreigner and he felt that he was treated as such.
Are any coming?
something an unspecified or unknown thing Listen! I just heard something! What could it be?
all the whole quantity of something or of some things or people All is forgiven.
you an unidentified person (informal) And you can see why.
much a large amount Much has happend since we met.
everybody / everyone all people We can start the meeting because everybody has arrived.
anybody / anyone no matter what person Can anyone answer this question?
* Some people say that “none” should always take a singular verb, even when talking about countable nouns (eg five friends). They argue that “none” means “no one”, and “one” is obviously singular. They say that “I invited five friends but none has come” is correct and “I invited five friends but none have come” is incorrect. Historically and grammatically there is little to support this view. “None “has been used for hundreds of years with both a singular and a plural verb, according to the context and the emphasis required.
less a smaller amount” Less is more “(Mies van der Rohe)
little a small amount Little is know about his early life.
I invited five friends but none have come .*
they people in general (informal) They say that vegetables are good for you.
others other people; not us I sure that others have tried before us.
more a greater quantity of something; a greater number of people or things There is more over there.
singular
I like another drink, please. (adjective)
neither not one and not the other of two people or things I keep telling Jack and Jill but neither believes me.
both two people or things, seen together John likes coffee but not tea. I think both are good.
All have arrived.
Some have arrived.
enough as much or as many as needed Enough is enough.
Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at “another” in the following sentences:
2010 年 09 月 18 日
More are coming.
many a large number of people or things Many have come already.
other a different person or thing from one already mentioned One was tall and the other was short.
He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun )
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be singular in one context and plural in another. The most common indefinite pronouns are listed below, with examples, as singular, plural or singular / plural . Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also agree (in number and gender). Look at these examples: Similarly, plural pronouns need plural agreement: pronoun meaning example
nothing no single thing, not anything If you don know the answer it best to say nothing.
another an additional or different person or thing That ice-cream was good. Can I have another?
each every one of two or more people or things, seen separately Each has his own thoughts.
most the majority; nearly all Most is lost.
Most have refused.