Indefinite Pronouns:
An indefinite pronoun is a kind of
Pronoun
that doesn't point to a particular thing. It's like when we say "someone" in a sentence like "Someone ate the last piece of pizza." We understand that "someone" is talking about a person, but we don't have any more details about who that person is. Indefinite pronouns are like they talk about people or things in a general way without getting too specific.
What are Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a word that doesn't point to a specific person or thing. It's a word like "someone" in the sentence, "Someone is here." This word tells us there's a person, but we don't know exactly who that person is. Indefinite pronouns are used when we want to talk about people or things in a general or unspecific way.
Somebody, Nobody, Anybody, Everyone, Nothing, Something, Nowhere etc are some common examples of Indefinite Pronouns.
Indefinite Pronoun Definition
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an indefinite pronoun is a word that doesn't talk about a specific person or thing. It's a bit like saying "someone" without telling us who that someone is.
The Oxford Learners' Dictionary says the same thing. An indefinite pronoun is a word like "anything" or "everyone" that doesn't point to any one particular person or thing.
And if we check the Macmillan Dictionary, we learn that an indefinite pronoun is a word like "anybody" or "anything" that doesn't tell us exactly who or what it's talking about.
So, an indefinite pronoun is a word we use when we're not talking about a specific thing or person. And we can use these words in both singular and plural forms.
List of All Indefinite Pronouns With Examples
Check the list of all Indefinite Pronouns in the table given below:
|
List of All Indefinite Pronouns with Examples
|
|
Indefinite Pronoun
|
Singular Example
|
Plural Example
|
|
Someone
|
Someone is at the door.
|
People
are waiting for the bus.
|
|
Anyone
|
Anyone can join the club.
|
All
are welcome to attend.
|
|
Nobody
|
Nobody knows the answer.
|
None
of them saw it happen.
|
|
Everybody
|
Everybody loves a good story.
|
All
are excited.
|
|
Something
|
I found something interesting.
|
They left behind
things
in the park.
|
|
Nothing
|
There's nothing in the box.
|
They discovered
nothings
of value.
|
|
Anybody
|
Does anybody want dessert?
|
All
are welcome to play.
|
|
Everyone
|
Everyone enjoyed the movie.
|
All
want to go.
|
|
Anything
|
You can choose anything you like.
|
They can have
anythings
they find.
|
|
None
|
None of the cookies were left.
|
No
have been sold.
|
|
Each
|
Each student must complete the task.
|
They read
each
of the books.
|
|
Both
|
Both shirts are on sale.
|
They like
both
colors.
|
|
Either
|
You can take either book.
|
We can use
either
pen.
|
|
Neither
|
Neither of them won the game.
|
We bought
neither
of the dresses.
|
|
Several
|
Several friends came to the party.
|
They have invited
several
guests
|
How to Use Indefinite Pronouns
1. Subject of a Sentence:
Indefinite pronouns can be the subject of a sentence, just like regular nouns or pronouns. For example:
"Someone" is at the door.
"Everybody" loves a good story.
2. Object of a Verb:
You can use indefinite pronouns as the object of a verb. For example:
I found "something" interesting.
They invited "everyone" to the party.
3. Possession:
Indefinite pronouns can also show possession. You can add to show something belongs to someone. For example:
Is this "anybody's" backpack?
"Nobody's" book is on the table.
4. As Part of a Prepositional Phrase:
Indefinite pronouns can be used in prepositional phrases. For example:
You can sit with "anyone" you like.
I looked under the bed, but I didn't find "anything."
5. Emphasis:
Indefinite pronouns can be used to emphasize a lack of specificity. For example:
"None" of the cookies are left.
"Nothing" is impossible if you try your best.
6. Comparison:
Indefinite pronouns can be used for comparison. For example:
"Both" options seem good.
"Either" color will work for the project.
7. Singular or Plural:
Keep in mind that some indefinite pronouns can be used in both singular and plural forms, like "everyone" (singular) and "all" (plural). It depends on the context of your sentence.
Indefinite Pronouns Worksheet
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Please pass the salt to __________.
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__________ wants to go to the beach this weekend.
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There's __________ in the box you can use for your project.
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__________ of the students completed their homework.
-
I haven't seen __________ like this before.
-
__________ knows the answer to the riddle.
-
You can choose __________ from the menu.
-
I invited __________ to the party, but only a few came.
-
__________ was surprised by the sudden rainstorm.
-
__________ is welcome to attend the workshop.
-
__________ is happy to help you with your math problems.
-
I'll meet you __________ you like.
-
__________ has seen the new movie in town.
-
__________ of the cakes were delicious.
-
Would you like tea or coffee, or perhaps __________?
Answers:
-
anybody
-
somebody
-
something
-
none
-
anything
-
nobody
-
anything
-
everybody
-
everybody
-
anyone
-
anybody
-
wherever
-
nobody
-
both
-
neither
