indefinite pronoun

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to one or more unspecified beings, objects, or places.

List of English indefinite pronouns

Note that many of these words can function as other parts of speech too, depending on context. For example, in many disagree with his views the word "many" functions as an indefinite pronoun, while in many people disagree with his views it functions as a quantifier (a type of determiner) that qualifies the noun "people". In cases where confusion is most likely to arise, example sentences in which the word functions as an indefinite pronoun are given.

singular

• another – Thank you sir, may I have another?
• anybody – Anybody can see the truth.
• anyone
• anything
• each – From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
• either – Either will do.
• enough – Enough is enough.
• everybody
• everyone
• everything
• less – Less is known about this period of history.
• little – Little is known about this period of history.
• much – Much was discussed at the meeting.
• neither – In the end, neither was selected.
• no one
• nobody
• nothing
• one – One might see it that way.
• other – One was singing while the other played the piano.
• plenty – Thanks, that's plenty.
• somebody – Somebody has to take care of it.
• someone – Someone should fix that.
• something – Something makes me want to dance.
• you (in informal usage, in the sense of "one"^[1]) – You can understand why.

plural

• both – Both are guilty.
• few – Few were chosen.
• fewer – Fewer are going to church these days.
• many – Many were chosen.
• others – Others can worry about that.
• several – Several were chosen.
• they (in informal usage, in the sense of "people in general") – They say that smoking is horrible for you.

Singular or plural

• all – All is lost.
• any – Any will do.
• more – More is better.
• most – Most would agree.
• none^[2] – None of us will join.
• some – Some would agree.
• such – Such is life.

See also

• Generic you
• Number name
• One (pronoun)
• One (word)
• Pronoun
• Quantifier

References

1. ^ "Indefinite you, indefinite one", The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, 1993
2. ^ Some traditional grammars insist that "none" is always singular, but the plural sense is well established and widely accepted. See, for example, the COED usage note.

External links

Look up indefinite pronoun in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Using Indefinite Pronouns