Indefinite pronouns refer to an unspecified person, place, or thing. They can be singular, plural, or sometimes either, depending on how they are used in a sentence. Understanding their number is important for subject-verb agreement.
Understanding Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns stand in for nouns but do not specify which noun they are replacing. Unlike definite pronouns (like he, she, it, they), indefinite pronouns are non-specific. Their number (singular or plural) determines the form of the verb that follows them.
Based on common usage and grammatical rules, indefinite pronouns fall into three categories regarding their number: always singular, always plural, and those that can be either singular or plural depending on the context.
Here is a breakdown of indefinite pronouns by number, incorporating information from the provided reference:
| Category | Indefinite Pronouns |
|---|---|
| Always Singular | anyone, everyone, someone, anybody, somebody, nobody, each, one, either, neither |
| Always Plural | both, few, many, others, several |
| Singular or Plural | all, any, more, most, some |
Always Singular Indefinite Pronouns
These indefinite pronouns always take a singular verb, even when they seem to refer to multiple people or things. The reference lists the following as always singular: anyone, everyone, someone, anybody, somebody, nobody, each, one, either, and neither.
- Examples:
- Everyone is invited to the party.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- Each of the students has a book.
These pronouns are treated as grammatically singular because they refer to individuals within a group, one at a time, or imply a single, undivided unit.
Always Plural Indefinite Pronouns
These indefinite pronouns always refer to more than one item or person and therefore always take a plural verb. According to the reference, the always plural indefinite pronouns are: both, few, many, others, and several.
- Examples:
- Both are correct.
- Many of the questions were difficult.
- Several have arrived already.
These pronouns inherently denote a quantity greater than one.
Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Singular or Plural
Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to (often found in a phrase following the pronoun, like "of the..."). The reference identifies these as: all, any, more, most, and some.
- Examples:
- All of the cake was eaten (singular, refers to a single item).
- All of the students were present (plural, refers to multiple items).
- Some of the water is cold (singular, refers to an uncountable noun).
- Some of the apples are ripe (plural, refers to a countable noun).
For these pronouns, you need to look at the noun in the "of the..." phrase to determine whether the pronoun is functioning as singular or plural. If it refers to an uncountable noun or a single unit, it's singular. If it refers to a countable noun (plural), it's plural.
