{"id":5281,"date":"2021-08-04T06:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T11:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=5281"},"modified":"2022-09-20T10:41:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T15:41:05","slug":"indefinite-pronouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/pronouns\/indefinite-pronouns\/","title":{"rendered":"Indefinite Pronouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

An indefinite pronoun is one that refers to an unspecified or unidentified person or thing. Unlike a definite pronoun, it is vague, and it does not have an antecedent.<\/p>\n

She<\/u> drives the car.<\/em> (The pronoun reference is specific to a person.)<\/p>\n

Anyone<\/u> can drive the car.<\/em> (The pronoun reference is general; no particular person is identified.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indefinite pronouns can also refer to nouns or noun phrases that have been named or will be named:<\/p>\n

Thousands of microbreweries have sprouted up in the U.S., but few<\/u> are as good as that one. <\/em>(general reference to a nonspecific group of microbreweries)<\/p>\n

Many<\/u> of those dog owners have their pet groomed every month. <\/em>(nonspecific reference to a general group of dog owners)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following table includes common indefinite pronouns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
all<\/td>\neveryone<\/td>\nnone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
another<\/td>\neverything<\/td>\nno one<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
any<\/td>\nfew<\/td>\nnothing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
anybody<\/td>\nless<\/td>\none<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
anyone<\/td>\nmany<\/td>\nother(s)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
anything<\/td>\nmore<\/td>\nseveral<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
both<\/td>\nmost<\/td>\nsome<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
each<\/td>\nmuch<\/td>\nsomebody<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
either<\/td>\nneither<\/td>\nsomeone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
everybody<\/td>\nnobody<\/td>\nsomething<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Now let’s look at indefinite pronouns in subcategories that help to further define them: quantifiers, universals, partitives, and determiners.<\/p>\n

Indefinite Pronouns: Quantifiers<\/h2>\n

When an indefinite pronoun suggests the quantity of something, it acts as a quantifier. Quantifying indefinite pronouns include words such as more, some, many,<\/em> and few<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Some<\/u> of you will just never see the genius behind the lawnmowing app I invented. <\/em>(The indefinite pronoun some<\/em> indicates an unknown, nonspecific number in a group.)<\/p>\n

Many<\/u><\/em> will be responsible for flying their own kites. (The indefinite pronoun many <\/em>indicates an unknown, nonspecific number of people.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indefinite Pronouns: Universals<\/h2>\n

When an indefinite pronoun indicates a general, all-inclusive group, it acts as a universal. Universal indefinite pronouns include words such as each, both, all, <\/em>and everyone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Everyone<\/u> can join us at the picnic by the lake. <\/em>(The indefinite pronoun everyone <\/em>is all-inclusive and nonspecific.)<\/p>\n

Both<\/u> may prove to be the winners. (The indefinite pronoun both <\/em>indicates an unknown, unspecific pair of people; note that in this sentence the pronoun does not have a clear antecedent; the word winners<\/em> is a predicate nominative in the infinitive phrase to be<\/em>.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indefinite Pronouns: Partitives<\/h2>\n

When an indefinite pronoun indicates parts of a whole, it acts as a partitive. Partitive indefinite pronouns include words such as any, anyone, either, <\/em>and neither.<\/em><\/p>\n

Anyone<\/u> can sign up for the free hula hoop lesson. <\/em>(The indefinite pronoun anyone <\/em>suggests individual members of an unknown, nonspecific group; while the difference may be subtle, this pronoun has a more segmented meaning than everyone<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

Either<\/u><\/em> may stand watch at the gate. <\/em>(The indefinite pronoun either<\/em> suggests an unknown, unspecific pair of people; the key here as in the universal both <\/em>above is that the sentence does not have a clear antecedent, which makes the pronoun indefinite.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indefinite Pronouns: Determiners<\/h2>\n

Indefinite pronouns can serve as determiners, which modify nouns rather than act or stand in for them.<\/p>\n

Some<\/u> senior citizens like amusements parks. <\/em>(Some <\/em>is a determiner acting as an adjective modifying senior citizens<\/em>; compare this usage with some<\/u> like amusement parks<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

Few<\/u> musicians become millionaires.<\/em> (Few <\/em>is a determiner acting as an adjective modifying musicians<\/em>; compare this usage with few<\/u> become millionaires.<\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

English includes different kinds of pronouns, such as personal, demonstrative<\/a>, relative, reflexive<\/a>, possessive<\/a>, and interrogative<\/a> pronouns. In this review, we took a closer look at indefinite pronouns.<\/p>\n

Related Topic<\/h3>\n

Anymore, Any more; Anyone, Any one; Everyone, Every one; Everybody, Every body<\/a>
\nSubject and Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns<\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Identify any indefinite pronouns in the following sentences.<\/p>\n

1. Don’t worry\u2014another will step in to provide a solution.<\/p>\n

2. If you spend enough nights on this island, you will find that most are filled with stars.<\/p>\n

3. Something must be done about these shoelaces that won’t stay tied.<\/p>\n

4. She is an astute student who prepares well for exams.<\/p>\n

5. If you’re making me decide, I’ll say that neither is qualified to operate that forklift.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. Don’t worry\u2014another<\/strong> will step in to provide a solution.<\/p>\n

2. If you spend enough nights on this island, you will find that most<\/strong> are filled with stars.<\/p>\n

3. Something<\/strong> must be done about these shoelaces that won’t stay tied.<\/p>\n

4. She is an astute student who prepares well for exams. no indefinite pronoun<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. If you’re making me decide, I’ll say that neither<\/strong> is qualified to operate that forklift.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An indefinite pronoun is one that refers to an unspecified or unidentified person or thing. Unlike a definite pronoun, it is vague, and it does not have an antecedent. She drives the car. (The pronoun reference is specific to a person.) Anyone can drive the car. (The pronoun reference is general; no particular person is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pronouns"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5281"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6225,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281\/revisions\/6225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}