Sabtu, 24 November 2012

Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is vague and "not definite". Some typical indefinite pronouns are:
  • all, another, any, anybody/anyone, anything, each, everybody/everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody/someone
Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at "another" in the following sentences:
  • He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)
  • I'd like another drink, please. (adjective)
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be singular in one context and plural in another. The most common indefinite pronouns are listed below, with examples, as singular, plural or singular/plural.
Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also agree (in number and gender). Look at these examples:
  • Each of the players has a doctor.
  • I met two girls. One has given me her phone number.
Similarly, plural pronouns need plural agreement:
  • Many have expressed their views.
pronounmeaningexample
singular
anotheran additional or different person or thingThat ice-cream was good. Can I have another?
anybody/anyoneno matter what personCan anyone answer this question?
anythingno matter what thingThe doctor needs to know if you have eaten anything in the last two hours.
eachevery one of two or more people or things, seen separatelyEach has his own thoughts.
eitherone or the other of two people or thingsDo you want tea or coffee? / I don't mind. Either is good for me.
enoughas much or as many as neededEnough is enough.
everybody/everyoneall peopleWe can start the meeting because everybody has arrived.
everythingall thingsThey have no house or possessions. They lost everything in the earthquake.
lessa smaller amount"Less is more" (Mies van der Rohe)
littlea small amountLittle is known about his early life.
mucha large amountMuch has happend since we met.
neithernot one and not the other of two people or thingsI keep telling Jack and Jill but neither believes me.
nobody/no-oneno personI phoned many times but nobody answered.
nothingno single thing, not anythingIf you don't know the answer it's best to say nothing.
onean unidentified personCan one smoke here? | All the students arrived but now one is missing.
othera different person or thing from one already mentionedOne was tall and the other was short.
somebody/someonean unspecified or unknown personClearly somebody murdered him. It was not suicide.
somethingan unspecified or unknown thingListen! I just heard something! What could it be?
youan unidentified person (informal)And you can see why.
plural
bothtwo people or things, seen togetherJohn likes coffee but not tea. I think both are good.
fewa small number of people or thingsFew have ever disobeyed him and lived.
fewera reduced number of people or thingsFewer are smoking these days.
manya large number of people or thingsMany have come already.
othersother people; not usI'm sure that others have tried before us.
severalmore than two but not manyThey all complained and several left the meeting.
theypeople in general (informal)They say that vegetables are good for you.
singular or plural
allthe whole quantity of something or of some things or peopleAll is forgiven.
All have arrived.
anyno matter how much or how manyIs any left?
Are any coming?
more a greater quantity of something; a greater number of people or thingsThere is more over there.
More are coming.
mostthe majority; nearly allMost is lost.
Most have refused.
nonenot any; no person or personsThey fixed the water so why is none coming out of the tap?
I invited five friends but none have come.*
somean unspecified quantity of something; an unspecified number of people or thingsHere is some.
Some have arrived.
suchof the type already mentionedHe was a foreigner and he felt that he was treated as such.
* Some people say that "none" should always take a singular verb, even when talking about countable nouns (eg five friends). They argue that "none" means "no one", and "one" is obviously singular. They say that "I invited five friends but none has come" is correct and "I invited five friends but none have come" is incorrect. Historically and grammatically there is little to support this view. "None" has been used for hundreds of years with both a singular and a plural verb, according to the context and the emphasis required.

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