More often than not, once we take into consideration pronouns, we’re interested by particular pronouns (like she, their, it, or that), which exchange a particular noun—one that you just used earlier or one that’s so simply understood by your listener or reader that it may be ignored. However there’s one other form of pronoun that refers to a nonspecific noun: the indefinite pronoun. Maintain studying to know what indefinite pronouns are and tips on how to use them.

What’s an indefinite pronoun?

An indefinite pronoun refers to a normal, imprecise, or unknown individual, object, group, or quantity. More often than not, the referred-to object is recognized elsewhere within the sentence or doesn’t must be exactly recognized.

• I’ve had one piece of pie, and I’d like one other.
• A lot has been written about the best way Individuals really feel about their vehicles.

Lots of the most typical indefinite pronouns are fashioned by combining the prefixes every-, any-, some-, and no- with the roots –factor, –one, and –physique. Any and some may also stand alone as indefinite pronouns.

• “I’m a pleasant individual,” Claire insisted. “Ask anybody.”
• It’s not true that the American moon touchdown was staged in a tv studio, as some consider.

There are additionally widespread indefinite pronouns that aren’t compounds. Beneath, the most typical indefinite pronouns are listed together with whether or not they’re singular or plural in development.

6 sorts of indefinite pronouns

There are a number of classes of normal issues that indefinite pronouns are inclined to confer with.

1
All of one thing

Indefinite pronouns can confer with all of one thing or to all of the parts or members of a gaggle.

• Everyone wants shelter and meals.
• All are welcome.
• I’ve tried all the pieces on the menu at that restaurant.

2
Singling out

They’ll talk that one thing or somebody is being singled out from a gaggle.

• The kid thanked every of their mates for coming to their celebration.
• Alec thought both of the pairs of trousers can be a superb possibility for work.
• Neither of the 2 vegetarian choices on the menu appealed to Lin.

3
A number of prospects

They’ll convey a broad or infinite vary of prospects.

• I can suggest any of the menu objects right here.
• Have you ever invited anyone to the dance but?

4
One nonspecific object

They’ll confer with a single, unspecified or unknown individual or factor.

• Somebody left their sneakers on the garden final night time.
• Jan thought he remembered listening to one thing out of the peculiar whereas he was sleeping.

5
Absence

They’ll point out absence.

• Maryam stopped by her neighbors’ house, however no one was there.
• I wished to purchase a pastry on the bakery, however none have been left.
• Nothing compares with the odor of espresso within the morning.

6
Quantities and portions

They’ll confer with normal quantities and portions.

• Many of the scholars on the college converse a number of languages.
• Do you want Ethiopian eating places? Greta can suggest some.
• Typically I make a sandwich and eat solely half.
• I may say extra, however I believe you’ve heard sufficient.

Utilizing indefinite pronouns

Topic-verb settlement

Like nouns and different pronouns, indefinite pronouns have the grammatical property of numbers. Which means when an indefinite pronoun is the topic of a sentence, it’s essential to know whether or not it’s singular or plural so to make sure it’s in subject-verb settlement with the sentence’s verb. Most indefinite pronouns are singular, however some are plural, and a few will be singular or plural relying on context and whether or not you’re utilizing formal or casual speech or writing.

Singular indefinite pronouns

The most typical singular indefinite pronouns are one other, anyone/anybody, something, every, both, sufficient, all people/everybody, all the pieces, much less, little, a lot, neither, no one / nobody, nothing, one, different, someone/somebody, one thing, and you. Listed here are some examples of singular indefinite pronouns in sentences:

• Is there something I can do to assist?
• Much less is extra.
• Typically one finds oneself not realizing what to say. (formal)
• Typically you discover your self not realizing what to say. (casual)

Plural indefinite pronouns

The most typical plural indefinite pronouns are each, few, fewer, many, others, a number of, and they.

• Have you ever met the 2 undertaking coordinators? Each are fantastic to work with.
• They say it takes a village to lift a toddler.
• Can you discover out what others take into consideration the difficulty?

Indefinite pronouns that may be singular or plural

Some indefinite pronouns will be both singular or plural relying on what they’re referring to. They embrace all, any, extra, most, none, some, and such.

• All is nicely that ends nicely.
• If all are right here, we will begin the assembly.
• Of the power generated by burning gasoline to create electrical energy, most is misplaced within the type of warmth.
• There are fairly a number of senior residents who reside in my constructing; most reside alone.
• We’d like rain, however none is within the forecast.
• Meryl appeared for a parking spot, however none have been obtainable.

Subjective vs. goal case

Indefinite pronouns will be both subjective or goal, and so they have the identical kind no matter which case they’re functioning as in a given sentence.

• They’d like to inform someone their story.
• Any person who is aware of me nicely should have written this assessment.

Negation

As we’ve seen, some indefinite pronouns carry unfavorable meanings, expressing the absence of one thing.

She wished to purchase a hybrid automobile, however none have been obtainable on the dealership.

One other solution to categorical negation with indefinite pronouns is to make use of the phrase not. An essential factor to bear in mind with this sort of sentence is that not requires the any- indefinite pronouns to speak, not the some- ones.

Modifiers

Indefinite pronouns are sometimes modified by adjectives—which units them aside from different kinds of pronouns. In lots of instances, the adjective in query is else, which seems after the indefinite pronoun.

Will anybody else I do know be on the celebration?

Prepositional phrases and dependent clauses additionally continuously modify indefinite pronouns, offering readability about what the pronouns confer with.

• Have any of the invites been despatched but?
• There isn’t a lot that Jill can’t accomplish in relation to dwelling repairs.

Indefinite pronouns FAQs

What’s an indefinite pronoun?

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a normal, imprecise, or unknown individual, object, group, or quantity.

What sorts of nonspecific issues can an indefinite pronoun confer with?

An indefinite pronoun can confer with all of one thing, one thing singled out from a gaggle, a spread of prospects, one nonspecific individual or factor, an absence, or a nonspecific quantity or amount.

What are some guidelines of thumb for indefinite pronouns?

Most, however not all, indefinite pronouns are singular. When an indefinite pronoun is the topic of a sentence, it has to agree in quantity with the sentence’s verb. Indefinite pronouns can swap between the subjective and the target case and don’t change kind after they do.

Negation will be indicated with the no- indefinite pronouns or by utilizing not and the any- indefinite pronouns. Indefinite pronouns usually seem alongside modifiers to make clear what they’re referring to.