Pronouns : Indefinite Pronouns
Like any other pronoun, indefinite pronouns are used to replace nouns
An indefinite pronoun refers to a non-specific person or object.
The indefinite pronouns in most common use are: all, any, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, and someone.
- To be happy and is something that everybody wants.
- Everything comes to he who waits.
- Nothing happened when I turned the light out.
- Anything is better than nothing.
- The few were sacrificed for the benefit of the many.
Again, many of these words can be used as adjectives to modify nouns, it’s tricky…
When a word like some, many or each is used as an adjective, it is known as an indefinite adjective.
- All can benefit from the new technology. – indefinite pronoun
- All children enjoy playing on the swings at that park. – indefinite adjective (modifies children)
- Many find themselves wondering how to survive in the modern world. – indefinite pronoun
- Many hands make light work.- indefinite adjective (modifies hands)
One of the problems with the use of indefinite pronouns is to know whether they are singular or plural. Below is a table containing many of the most common indefinite pronouns and indicathing whether they are singular or plural
| Singular Indefinite Pronouns | Plural Indefinite Pronouns | Indefinite Pronouns (Can be Singular or Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| another anybody anyone anything each either enough everybody everyone everything less little much neither nobody no-one nothing one other somebody someone something |
both few fewer many others several |
all any more most none some such |