Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are a helpful component of the English language. They replace nouns when too many nouns would become clunky or repetitive. As indefinite words, they don’t point to someone or something specific. Examples of singular indefinite pronouns include “someone,” “no one,” and “everyone.” Plural indefinite pronouns include words like “several,” “many,” and “others.”

1. Words that end in -one, -body, or -thing

Ex. everyone, nobody, something, etc.

2. Either, Neither, Another, Much, Less, Each, Every

When choosing verbs and pronouns within sentences with singular indefinite pronouns, you must choose singular verbs and pronouns.

Example: Everyone should open his/her backback.

Both

Few

Fewer

Many

Others

Several

When choosing verbs and pronouns within sentences with plural indefinite pronouns, you must choose plural verbs and pronouns.

Example: Both boys have their jackets.

Some pronouns are either singular or plural depending on the nouns that follow them.

None

Some

More

Most

Any

All

Example: None of the pie IS missing.

None of the newspapers ARE missing.