ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is vague and
"not definite". Some typical indefinite pronouns are:

 all, another, any, anybody/anyone, anything, each, everybody/everyone, everything,

few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody/someone

Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at "another" in
the following sentences:

 He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)

 I'd like another drink, please. (adjective)

Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be singular
in one context and plural in another. The most common indefinite pronouns are listed below,
with examples, as singular, plural or singular/plural.

Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also
agree (in number and gender). Look at these examples:

 Each of the players has a doctor.

 I met two girls. One has given me her phone number.

Similarly, plural pronouns need plural agreement:

 Many have expressed their views.

pronoun meaning example

singular

another an additional or different person or That ice-cream was good. Can I

thing have another?

anybody/anyone no matter what person Can anyone answer this question?

anything no matter what thing The doctor needs to know if you

have eaten anything in the last
two hours.

each every one of two or more people or Each has his own thoughts.
things, seen separately

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

either one or the other of two people or Do you want tea or coffee? / I
things don't mind. Either is good for me.

enough as much or as many as needed Enough is enough.

everybody/everyone all people We can start the meeting because

everybody has arrived.

everything all things They have no house or

possessions. They lost everything
in the earthquake.

less a smaller amount "Less is more" (Mies van der

Rohe)

little a small amount Little is know about his early life.

much a large amount Much has happend since we met.

neither not one and not the other of two I keep telling Jack and Jill but
people or things neither believes me.

nobody/no-one no person I phoned many times but nobody

answered.

nothing no single thing, not anything If you don't know the answer it's
best to say nothing.

one an unidentified person Can one smoke here? | All the

students arrived but now one is
missing.

other a different person or thing from one One was tall and the other was
already mentioned short.

somebody/someone an unspecified or unknown person Clearly somebody murdered him.

It was not suicide.

something an unspecified or unknown thing Listen! I just heard something!

What could it be?

you an unidentified person (informal) And you can see why.

plural

both two people or things, seen together John likes coffee but not tea. I

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

think both are good.

few a small number of people or things Few have ever disobeyed him and
lived.

fewer a reduced number of people or Fewer are smoking these days.

things

many a large number of people or things Many have come already.

others other people; not us I'm sure that others have tried
before us.

several more than two but not many They all complained and several
left the meeting.

they people in general (informal) They say that vegetables are good
for you.

singular or plural

all the whole quantity of something or All is forgiven.

of some things or people All have arrived.

any no matter how much or how many Is any left?

Are any coming?

more a greater quantity of something; a There is more over there.

greater number of people or things More are coming.

most the majority; nearly all Most is lost.

Most have refused.

none not any; no person or persons They fixed the water so why is
none coming out of the tap?
I invited five friends but none
have come.*

some an unspecified quantity of Here is some.

something; an unspecified number Some have arrived.
of people or things

such of the type already mentioned He was a foreigner and he felt

that he was treated as such.

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

* Some people say that "none" should always take a singular verb, even when talking about
countable nouns (eg five friends). They argue that "none" means "no one", and "one" is
obviously singular. They say that "I invited five friends but none has come" is correct and "I
invited five friends but none have come" is incorrect. Historically and grammatically there is
little to support this view. "None" has been used for hundreds of years with both a singular and
a plural verb, according to the context and the emphasis required.

EXPLANATION No 2

EVERYONE (ÉVRI UÁN) = EVERYBODY (ÉVRI BÓDI) - TODOS/AS, TODO EL MUNDO

Everyone went to the party.

Todos fueron a la fiesta.

Everybody was dancing and singing.

Todo el mundo estaba bailando y cantando.

Everyone has problems.

Todo el mundo tiene problemas.

NO ONE (NÓU UAN) = NOBODY (NÓUBÓDI) - NADIE

The service was bad, but no one complained.

El servicio era malo pero nadie se quejó.

Nobody understands me.

Nadie me entiende.

I know nobody here.

No conozco a nadie aquí.

SOMEONE (SÁMOAN) = SOMEBODY (SÁM-BÓDI) - ALGUIEN

Someone arrived when I was going out.

Alguien llegó cuando yo estaba saliendo.

There is somebody at the door.

Hay alguien en la puerta.

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

Somebody tripped and everyone started laughing.

Alguien se tropezó y todos comenzaron a reírse.

ANYONE (ÉNI UÁN) = ANYBODY (ÉNI BÓDI) - ALGUIEN -AL PREGUNTAR-

Does anyone speak Spanish?

¿Alguien habla español?

Is there anybody in the building?

¿Hay alguien en el edificio?

Has anyone passed the test?

¿Alguien ha pasado la prueba?

ANYONE (ÉNI UÁN) = ANYBODY (ÉNI BÓDI) - CUALQUIERA -AL AFIRMAR-

With a little effort, anybody can become rich.

Con un poco de esfuerzo, cualquiera puede volverse rico.

Anyone who arrives late will be fired.

Cualquiera que llegue tarde será despedido.

This is a book for anyone that loves poetry.

Éste es un libro para cualquiera que guste de la poesía.

ANYONE (ÉNI UÁN) = ANYBODY (ÉNI BÓDI) - NADIE -AL NEGAR-

I don't know anybody in this city.

No conozco a nadie en esta ciudad.

The police searched the house but didn't find anybody.

Los policías revisaron la casa pero no encontraron a nadie.

They haven't invited anyone to their party yet.

Ellos no han invitado a nadie a su fiesta aún.

EVERYTHING (ÉVRI ZING) - TODO

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

Everything was ready for the wedding.

Todo estaba listo para la boda.

It is impossible to know everything.

Es imposible saber todo.

I heard everything they said.

Oí todo lo que ellos dijeron.

NOTHING (NÁZING) - NADA

He thinks that nothing is impossible.

El piensa que nada es imposible.

I can do nothing about your problem.

No puedo hacer nada acerca de tu problema.

The explanation was clear, but they understood nothing.

La explicación fue clara, pero ellos no entendieron nada.

SOMETHING (SÁM ZING) - ALGO

Something was wrong with the car.

Algo estaba mal con el auto.

Do you have something to eat?

¿Tienes algo para comer?

I want to tell you something.

Quiero decirte algo.

ANYTHING (ÉNI ZING) - ALGO -AL PREGUNTAR-

Did you say anything?

¿Dijiste algo?

Did they find anything interesting?

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)

ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS (FUERZA AÉREA BOLIVIANA)

¿Encontraron ellos algo interesante?

Have I done anything wrong?

¿He hecho algo malo?

ANYTHING (ÉNI ZING) - CUALQUIER COSA -AL AFIRMAR-

You can eat anything you wish.

Puedes comer cualquier cosa que desees.

Anything you say can be used against you.

Cualquier cosa que digas puede ser usada en tu contra.

They will do anything you want.

Ellos harán cualquier cosa que tú quieras.

ANYTHING (ÉNI ZING) - NADA -AL NEGAR-

I don't understand anything you say.

No entiendo nada de lo que dices.

I don't want to eat anything now. I'm not hungry.

No quiero comer nada ahora. No tengo hambre.

She doesn't remember anything about the accident.

Ella no se acuerda nada acerca del accidente

BY: JUAN JOSE RAMOS MIRANDA (ENGLISH TEACHER)