Indefinite Pronouns

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Indefinite Pronouns

• AP Language Composition

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What is an indefinite pronoun?

• They are words that replace nouns without
  specifying which noun they replace (remember- a
  noun is a person, place, or thing)
• Ex another, everybody, everyone, everything,
  each, either, somebody, someone, something, both,
  few, many, all, most, none

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Indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural

• Singular another, everybody, everyone,
  everything, each, either, somebody, someone,
  something
• Plural both, few, many, others, several
• Singular or plural all, any, more, most, some

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Singular Indefinite Pronouns

• Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs
  or singular personal pronouns.
• Correct Each of the members has one vote.
• (The subject, each, is singular. Use has.)
• Incorrect One of the girls gave up their seat.
• Correct One of the girls gave up her seat.
• (Her refers to one, which is singular.)

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Plural Indefinite Pronouns

• Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs or
  plural personal pronouns.
• Correct A few of the justices were voicing their
  opposition.
• (Few is plural, so are were and their.)
• Incorrect Both of the men was going to work.
• (Both is plural, but was is not.)

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Singular or plural indefinite pronouns

• For indefinite pronouns that can be singular or
  plural, it depends on what the indefinite pronoun
  refers to.
• Correct All of the people clapped their hands.
• (All refers to people, which is plural.)
• Correct All of the newspaper was soaked.
• (Here all refers to newspaper, which is
  singular.)

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Can you find the indefinite pronoun(s) in the
sentence?

• I wanted to see them all.
• All
• She wanted to go to the movies to see someone.
• Someone
• Something woke me up.
• Something

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Can you identify if these indefinite pronouns are
singular or plural?

• There is something outside.
• Something singular
• All of my friends are at the movies.
• All refers to friends, which is plural)
• Both of the roads are closed.
• Both plural
• Can we see some of the movie?
• Some refers to movie which is singular

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Is the indefinite pronoun used correctly?

• All of the people was watching the show.
• No
• I see someone in the house.
• Yes
• Most of the movie is over.
• Yes
• Is most of the people outside?
• No
• Both of the kids is riding bikes.
• no

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Remember

• Indefinite pronouns are words that replace nouns,
  but are not specific
• They can be singular or plural, depending on what
  they are referring to (singular- one noun
  plural- more then one noun)
• Indefinite pronouns and their verbs must agree
  (plural indefinite pronoun plural verb and
  singular indefinite pronoun singular verb)