Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns

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Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. They refer to any or all of a group.

• They can be singular or plural. Some can be either, depending how they're used in the sentence.

• If the indefinite pronoun is the subject of the sentence, the verb (predicate) must agree with it in number.

Ex. Does anyone know the story of King Midas?

• Everyone discusses the plot. (S)

• Both talk about King Minos. (P)

• All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (S)

• All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (P)

Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns must agree in number.

• Each of the characters has his or her motive.

• Several have conflict with their rivals.

  
  

Identify the indefinite pronoun in each sentence.

Multiple Choice

I could not get anything done because of the noise.

• I

• anything

• done

• noise

Multiple Choice

All of my shoes are old and worn.

• all

• my

• shoes

• and

Multiple Choice

A few did not want to attend the meeting.

• a

• few

• attend

• meeting

Multiple Choice

Did you study everything in the book?

• did

• you

• study

• everything

Multiple Choice

Each of us has a role to fill.

• each

• us

• role

• to

Identify whether the highlighted indefinite pronoun is singular or plural.

If the indefinite pronoun is the subject of the sentence, use the given verb to help you.

Multiple Choice

We saw something behind the tree.

• singular

• plural

Multiple Choice

Nobody witnessed the accident.

• singular

• plural

Multiple Choice

Some of my questions were not answered.

• singular

• plural

Multiple Choice

There are only a few of us who know the secret.

• singular

• plural

Multiple Choice

Was anyone at home when you knocked on the door?

• singular

• plural

A pronoun must match its antecedent in gender, number, and person. An antecedent is the word or phrase for which the pronoun replaces.

Amiya and Emily read their poems.

The antecedent for the pronoun their is Amiya and Emily.

If you go outside in the snow without waterproof gloves, most children will complain of hands that hurt. 

Can you tell what is wrong with this sentence?

If you go outside in the snow without waterproof gloves, most children will complain of hands that hurt.

Pronouns must match in person.

There are two ways to correct this sentence.

1. If children go outside in the snow without waterproof gloves, most of them will complain of hands that hurt.

2. If you go outside in the snow without waterproof gloves, most of you will complain of hands that hurt.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• If you study hard, most students will do well on the test.

• If you study hard, you will do well on the test.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• The students received his reward.

• The students received their reward.

The kids built a snowman and he put a carrot on the snowman for a nose.

Can you tell what is wrong with this sentence?

The kids built a snowman and they put a carrot on the snowman for a nose.

Pronouns must agree in number.

Multiple Choice

Which pronoun would correctly match the underlined antecedent?

Nate writes ___own mystery stories.

• his

• its

• their

Multiple Choice

At the trial, each of the witnesses told ____________ story.

• his or her

• their

Multiple Choice

None of the students had ________ proper supplies.

• his or her

• their

Multiple Choice

Is there anybody who will donate _______________ time?

• his or her

• their

Multiple Choice

Each of the children (was, were) giggling or laughing.

• was

• were