Indefinite Pronouns

DEFINITION

Indefinite pronoun: a pronoun that does

not refer to a specific person, place, or thing.

Each thinks about the story.

 USAGE – ALL PRONOUNS MUST
AGREE IN NUMBER
Indefinite pronouns can be either SINGULAR or
PLURAL.

Why is this important?

If you use an indefinite pronoun as a
subject, then your verb must AGREE
with it.
SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT
Each thinks about the story.

Singular Singular
indefinite verb
pronoun
SO, how can we determine which indefinite
pronouns are SINGULAR and WHICH are
plural?
Unfortunately for most, you can’t. You
have to memorize them.  So here they
are. . .
 SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

S A N E S A N E S A N E
One
O N O V O N O V O N O V
M Y E M Y E M Y E Neither

E R E R E R Each

Y Y Y
ONE BODY THING Another
Someone Somebody Something Much
Anyone Anybody Anything Either
No one Nobody Nothing
everyone everybody Everything
 SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUN ANTECEDENTS
• ALL PRONOUNS IN THE SENTENCES MUST AGREE IN NUMBER.

EXAMPLE:

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USES PRONOUNS CORRECTLY?

EACH OF THE SISTERS GAVE THEIR MOTHER A GIFT.

OR
EACH OF THE SISTERS GAVE HER MOTHER A GIFT.
 SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUN ANTECEDENTS

EACH (OF THE SISTERS) GAVE HER MOTHER A GIFT.

Plural INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

Many
Few
Both
Others
Several
 ANTECEDENT – PLURAL
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
• ALL PRONOUNS IN THE SENTENCES MUST AGREE IN NUMBER.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USES PRONOUNS CORRECTLY?

____ Few from the class studied his or her notes before the test.

Or

____ Few from the class studied their notes before the test.
 ANTECEDENTS – PLURAL
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

• ____ Few (from the class) studied their notes before the test.
 INDEFINITE PRONOUNS that can be
Either Singular or plural
Some these pronouns are singular or plural depending on how
they are modified by prepositional phrases.
All
Most All of the students do their homework. (plural)
Any All of the class does his or her homework.
(singular)
None

How do we determine if these indefinite pronouns are singular

or plural? Use the two examples above to help you.
 GUIDED PRACTICE
Identify each indefinite pronoun as S or P. Then select
the appropriate verb.

1. Each (think, thinks) about the plot.

S
2. Many of the students (do, does) their homework.
p
3. Most of the students (is, are) reliable.
P

4. Several (is, are) presenting their speeches.

P
 GUIDED PRACTICE
Identify each indefinite pronoun as S or P. Then select
the appropriate pronoun.

1. Everyone studies (his or her, their) book.

S
2. Each has (their, his or her) point of view.
s
3. Several offer (his or her, their) advice.
P

4. All of the students give (his or her, their) opinions, too.

P