6. Indefinite pronouns

An indefinite pronoun replaces a noun without referring to any person or thing in particular. It is a group of pronouns that are used when the noun is unknown or for our convenience; for example, instead of asking, “Is Anne, Bob, Carrie, Dan, or Ellen interested in coming along?”, we can use an indefinite pronoun to make things easier: “Is anyone interested in coming along?” The word anyone  is an indefinite pronoun.

The examples here should explain the use of an indefinite pronoun

  • Someone  is knocking the door.

( Someone  is an indefinite pronoun and we use it because we are not referring to any particular person such as our mother, a friend or George who is knocking the door.)

  • Is anybody  there?

(Here, a question uses an indefinite pronoun anybody  because the person asking the question does not want to know if a definite person is there – a person such as his uncle, friend or Michael. He just wants to know if a person is there.)

  • Something  is burning over there.

(The noun is unknown. We don’t know what thing is burning over there, so we use an indefinite pronoun something .)

There is a fair number of indefinite pronouns, and all of them do not refer specifically to any person or thing. Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural with a few of them that can be both singular and plural. Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs and plural indefinite pronoun subjects take plural verbs.

Indefinite Pronouns
Singular Plural Singular or Plural
anybody both all
everybody few any
nobody many more
somebody others most
anyone several none
everyone   some
someone   such
anything    
everything    
something    
another    
each    
either    
little    
much    
neither    
no one    
nothing    
one    
other    

Indefinite pronouns that end in –body , –one , and –thing  are always singular and they must be matched with singular verbs.

Examples:

  • There wasn’t anybody  in there, so what the strange noise?
  • Everybody is   waiting to hear the good news.
  • Nobody wants   to listen to what he has to say.
  • Somebody has  left the socks here.
  • Anyone is welcome to help with washing my car.
  • Everyone is  speaking but no one is listening.
  • Someone has  to put the rubbish out.
  • Is  there anything  I can eat?
  • Is everything  all right around here?
  • Something  in the kitchen smells  strongly of rotten fish.

Either and neither

These two definite pronouns are used as singular.

Examples:

  • Which of these two boxes is big enough for those things? I think either is  big enough.
  • The police think either  of the brothers is  the gang leader.
  • He begs his parents for forgiveness for what he has done, but neither forgives  him.
  • Neither  of them wants  a divorce for the sake of the children.

Other singular indefinite pronouns.

Examples:

  • This is her daughter and there is another  at home.

  • Each  of them  agrees  that in every friendship there has to be some give-and-take. .

  • Little is  known about his whereabouts.

  • Much  of what we know about her mysterious disappearance is  false.

  • There is no one  in that room, yet I have just heard a voice calling my name.

  • I have already told you there is nothing wrong with me.

  • One has  to know when to keep quiet and listen.

  • I'll buy this pair; the other is more expensive.   

Plural indefinite pronouns

Examples:

  • I cannot forget those two fat monkeys, both of which are obviously overfed. 
  • There are few  countries left to visit before I die.
  • Many have  detained by the police for questioning.
  • One of the escaped prisoners was recaptured while two others were  still at large.
  • Several   of the crocodiles are  believed to have escaped from the crocodile farm.

Indefinite pronouns that are both singular and plural

Examples:

  • All  we know is  that the rumours about him are not true.
  • All were  cheering loudly for their team.
  • There was't any  food left when I got there.
  • She asked if any  of us were  interested in joining heron a trip.
  • The police will not answer the reporters' questions until more is  known.
  • More are rescued as the search continues.
  • Most of her money is spent on fast food.
  • Most of the household contents are covered by an insurance policy.
  • You want some more soup, but there  is none  left.
  • None  of my uncles  is/are  as skinny as my father.
  • Some of them just don't know what they are talking about.
  • Some more butter is needed to make the cake.
  • If such is  the plan, we have to start preparing straightaway.
  • It such are  their positions, it is unlikely they will reach an agreement.