1. Concepts
Indefinite Pronouns are words that do not refer specifically to a person or thing but only speak in general terms.
Some common indefinite pronouns are as somebody, anything, all.
2. For position
Because they are a type of pronoun, indefinite pronouns can appear in the following positions:
- Subject
- object
- After the preposition (in a prepositional phrase)
For example:
- Subject: Every body is here.
- Object: He invited every body to his birthday party.
- After preposition: He lied to everybody in the office.
He invited everybody to his birthday party.
3. Indefinite pronouns in English
✅ Summary:
- When using indefinite pronouns in English, you need to pay attention to using singular or plural verbs to match the pronoun.
- Some only use singular verbs, some only use plural verbs, some can use singular or plural verbs depending on the situation.
- We also have a structure for pronouns to express their meaning more clearly: Indefinite pronoun + OF + Noun phrase.
- This noun phrase must have a determiner the or a possessive adjective (my, your, their ...)
➢ Summary table of indefinite pronouns in English
Meaning |
Singular pronouns are used for people |
Singular pronouns for things |
Pronouns used for 2 people or 2 things |
Singular or plural pronouns (depending on the situation) |
each / every / both |
everyone, everybody
|
everything, each
|
both
|
all
|
Are not |
no one, nobody
|
nothing
|
neither
|
none
|
somehow |
someone, somebody
|
something
|
(Not available)
|
some
|
any |
anyone, anybody
|
anything
|
either |
any
|
other |
another
|
another
|
two others
|
others Note: use plural verbs
|
remaining |
the other
|
the other
|
the other two
|
the others
|
➢ In the words above:
- The words in the column "Singular pronouns used for people" and column "Singular pronouns used for things" use singular verbs.
- The words in the column "Pronouns used for 2 people or 2 things" use plural verbs: (Except either and neither Use only singular verbs.)
- The words in the column "Pronouns used for both singular and plural" use singular or plural verbs depending on the situation, specifically:
- Use a singular verb if the pronoun is referring to an uncountable noun. For example: Some was added later, If some is pointing to sugar, an uncountable noun.
- Use a plural verb if the pronoun is referring to a plural noun. For example: Some were added later, If some is pointing to words, a plural noun.
- Particular pronouns none:
- Instead of uncountable nouns: use singular verbs.
- Instead of plural nouns: use either a plural verb or a singular verb.
- Others and the others Can only use plural verbs.
➢ How to use indefinite pronouns
For example:
- Everybody is waiting for the bus.
- If you need anything, just let me know.
- Neither wanted to go home.
- Some didn''t finish their homework.
4. Indefinite pronouns indicate quantity
✅ Summary:
- In addition to the indefinite pronouns above, in English there are also indefinite pronouns that are slightly more specific in quantity
- When using indefinite pronouns to indicate quantity, you also need to pay attention to using singular or plural verbs to match the pronoun.
- Some only use singular verbs, some only use plural verbs, some can use singular or plural verbs depending on the situation.
- We also have a structure for pronouns to express their meaning more clearly: Indefinite pronoun + OF + Noun phrase.
- This noun phrase must have a determinerthe or a possessive adjective (my, your, their ...)
Summary table of indefinite pronouns indicating quantity
➢ In addition to the indefinite pronouns above, in English there are also determiner pronouns that indicate slightly more specific quantity:
Singular pronouns
|
Plural pronouns
|
Singular or plural pronouns (depending on the situation)
|
Uncountable pronouns
|
|
-
several
-
a few
-
few
-
fewer
-
many
|
|
-
enough
-
a little
-
little
-
less
-
much
|
➢ In the words above:
- The words in the "Singular Pronouns" column use singular verbs.
- The words in the "Plural Pronouns" column take plural verbs.
- The words in the "Singular or Plural Pronoun" column use singular or plural verbs depending on the context, namely:
- Use a singular verb if the pronoun is referring to an uncountable noun. For example: More was added later, If more is pointing to sugar, an uncountable noun.
- Use a plural verb if the pronoun is referring to a plural noun. For example: More were added later, If more is pointing to words, a plural noun
- The words in the "Uncountable pronouns" column use singular verbs.
How to use indefinite pronouns to indicate quantity
- Let's look at some examples to understand how to use the above words:
- Among the students, only one failed the exam.
- Few were chosen.
- There are thousands of verbs in English and most are regular.
- I understood little of what he said.
I understood little of what he said.
Similar to the indefinite pronouns in section 3, we also have a structure for pronouns to express their meaning more clearly: Indefinite pronoun + OF + Noun phrase.
✎ NOTE: This noun phrase must have a determiner the or a possessive adjective (my, your, their ...)
For example:
- I took one of the pencils home.
- Many feel that the rule should be changed.