Indefinite pronouns have many purposes. However, the most important one is to generalize things to ease the interaction.
Imagine having to address everybody’s name during a large meeting, like;
“Good morning, Suzy, Robert, Ali, Sofia, Darren, ……..”
Or maybe, having to list down all the things you’ve lost during a robbery, like;
“The robber stole my wallet, keys, makeup pouch, hand sanitizer…”
That would be awkward – not to mention it’d waste a lot of time. In that situation, you need to use indefinite pronouns.
What is indefinite pronoun, and what are examples of them? Continue reading to know more.
Indefinite Pronoun: Way to Simplify Your Sentence
Indefinite pronouns are everywhere. You can find them in verbal interaction or in writing. In fact, you may already use them in your daily conversation.
Like all pronouns, it’s used to replace a noun. However, an indefinite pronoun replaces the noun that is uncertain or vague.
For example, instead of saying;
“Good morning, Suzy, Robert, Ali, Sofia, Darren, ……..”
You can just say;
“Good morning everyone.”
Moreover, indefinite pronouns aren’t limited to referring to a person but also any other objects, amount, or place – as long as it’s vague.
Indefinite Pronouns List and Their Types
What is considered an indefinite pronoun?
Before we dive into the explanation, it’s important to understand that there are three types of indefinite pronouns: plural, singular, and singular/plural.
Typically, when you use plural indefinite pronouns, you’ll follow them with plural verbs. Furthermore, the same principle also applies to singular indefinite pronouns.
However, there are also some singular/plural indefinite pronouns that you can use in both contexts.
Don’t be confused, here are some indefinite pronouns examples:
1. Plural
- “Both of his brothers are involved in the accident.”
- “Where have you been? I called you many times!“
2. Singular
- “I broke up with him because he cheated with another girl.“
- “Either you finish the whole meal or starve until dinner.”
3. Plural/Singular
- “None of you really know her,” or “None of the avocados are ripe.”
- “All is forgotten, not forgiven,” or “All of the students are safe.”
Need more examples? Here are some of them:
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular/Plural |
|
|
Either |
Everybody |
Others |
Any |
|
Neither |
Everyone |
Both |
Some |
|
Anything |
Somebody |
One |
None |
|
Nothing |
Someone |
Several |
All |
|
Anybody |
Something |
Few |
Most |
|
Anyone |
Another |
Many |
More |
|
Nobody |
Each |
They |
Such |
|
Less |
Little |
||
|
Much |
|||
Why Do We Use Indefinite Pronouns?
What is the purpose of indefinite pronouns? There are many. Take a look at these examples to understand them:
1. To Show Absence
- “Nobody attended my birthday party last night.”
- “Let’s go to the store. There’s nothing left in the refrigerator.”
2. Refer to a Non-specific Object
- “I don’t want to open the drawer. There’s something inside, and it’s moving.”
- “Someone was in your basement last night. You may want to put surveillance there.”
3. Show Multiple Probabilities
- “Does anybody want to bring Wes home? He’s super drunk.”
- “Is there any medicine that tastes good? I doubt it.”
4. Show Quantities
- “Take some of my books. You’ll need it for the exam.”
- “You give me a gallon of lemonade when I only need half of it.”
5. Rule Out Something from a Group
- “Neither of her daughters is getting into the basketball team this year.”
- “Get me some oranges. It’s only a dollar each.“
6. To Refer to All
- “Everything for the trip is ready.”
- “Wait a minute, I need to say hi to everybody.“
Want to Learn More About Indefinite Pronouns?
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