5. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

What verbs the indefinite pronouns use depend on whether the indefinite pronouns are  singular or plural. We can divide them into three groups: the singular indefinite pronouns use singular verbs and the plural indefinite pronouns use plural verbs. The third group consists of some indefinite pronouns which may be singular or plural.

Definite pronouns that are always singular : another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, enough, everybody, everyone, everything, little, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something.

Examples:

  • Everybody wants  to be a winner.
  • A rumor has it that either  a pet lion or a pet tiger has  just escaped from its owner.
  • Neither  the driver nor the passengers were  injured in the bus that skidded off the road and overturned.
  • Neither  the passengers nor the  driver was  injured in the bus that skidded off the road and overturned.
  • Nobody is  turning up for the show.
  • No one is  allowed to fish here.

Indefinite pronouns that are always plural : both, few, many, others, several.

Examples:

  • Both the clowns are  fighting.

  • Few are  left after they have eaten so many.

  • Many of the donkeys have contracted the disease.

  • When we wake up, the  others have  already gone.

: Â all, any, either, more, most, none, some, such Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural : all, any, either, more, most, none, some, such

Examples:

  • All  he needs now  is  a $1,000 loan. ( All  is used as a singular.)
  • All  were  arrested for fighting. ( All  is a plural here.)
  • Is  there any  of your homemade jam left?  
  • Are any  of you going to help find my missing car keys?
  • He spilled his coffee; more was  spilled on my shirt.
  • Some people have volunteered for the rescue mission but more are  needed.

     

  • Most  of her money is  spent on clothes.
  • Most  have  joined the campaign after listening to his talk.
  • After what happened, none  of her friends phones  her anymore.
  • They have drunk all the juices, and there are none  left for me.
  • Some  of the wine we had after lunch  was  very good.
  • Some  of you  have  not understood what I said.