Indefinite Pronouns

I can correctly use

indefinite pronouns &
their verbs in my
speaking and writing.
 An indefinite pronoun:
Does not refer to a particular
person, place, thing, or idea
It can be used alone or with
nouns, like possessive nouns
are used.
 Examples:
Has any student read this
Native American folktale?
Have any read “The Voice
of the River”?
 Always Singular
another everybody
anybody everyone
anything everything
each much
other neither
either nobody
 Always Singular
no one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something
 Always Plural
both
few
many
others
several
 Change their number
all
any
most
none
some
 Why does singular or plural
matter?
When you are using a
present tense verb, you have
to know whether to make it
singular (use an –s) or
plural (do not use –s).
 How do you decide?
Look at the prepositional phrase
after the indefinite pronoun.
If the object of the preposition
is singular, use a singular verb.
If the object of the preposition
is plural, use a plural verb.
 Examples of changing
Some of the people are familiar
with this folktale. (plural)
Most of this tale takes place in
Africa. (singular)
Most of the characters are
animals. (plural)
 Possessive Pronouns WITH
Indefinites
Possessive pronouns often
have indefinite pronouns as
their antecedents. The two
must agree in number.
 Examples
Many are happy to share
their folktales. (plural)
Each must be willing to
wait his or her turn.
(singular)
 Try it! Choose the correct indefinite
pronoun.
(Everyone, Many) likes to read
an exciting myth.
(One, Others) from Greece is
about a father and a son.
(Anyone, Few) were able to
guess the myth’s ending.
 Try it! Choose the correct indefinite
pronoun.
(All,
Anybody) enjoy the myth of
Daedalus and Icarus.
(Both, One) of the mythical
characters live on the island of
Crete.
Daedalus has artistic talents:
(none, nobody) denies that.
 Try it! Choose the correct indefinite
pronoun.
(Few, Somebody) match
Daedalus’s skill in design.
(Some, Each) of these students
model their work on his art.
(Each, Both) of the characters
is interesting.
 Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive
pronoun so that it matches its antecedent.
Most of the people (praise, praises)
Daedalus’s ideas for the huge
palace.
Few know (his, their) craft as well
as Daedalus.
No one (is, are) more pleased than
King Minos.
 Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive
pronoun so that it matches its antecedent.
Although many may try, no one
(escape, escapes) the king’s maze.
Everything (changes, change)
when Daedalus tells the secret.
At last someone finds (his or
her, their) way out.
 Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive
pronoun so that it matches its antecedent.

Some of the readers (knows,

know) the rest of the story; the
king forbids Daedalus to leave.
Something (take, takes) shape in
Daedalus’s skilled hands - wax
wings for himself and Icarus.
 Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive
pronoun so that it matches its antecedent.
 Both (plans, plan) an escape across the
sea.
 Each puts on (his, their) pair of waxy
wings.
 At first everything (goes, go) well for the
pair.
 Several (see, sees) them flying in the
sky.
 Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive
pronoun so that it matches its antecedent.
One (flies, fly) too close to the sun; the
wax melts, and he plunges to his
death.
Which one (lands, land) safely in Sicily?
When someone tries to do the
impossible, disaster can strike (him or
her, them).