What Are Indefinite Pronouns Definition Types Rules and Examples
Indefinite pronouns are important in school English, exams, and everyday writing. They help you mention people or things without naming them specifically. Understanding these pronouns can improve your clarity, confidence, and marks in English grammar.
| Indefinite Pronoun | Type (Singular/Plural/Both) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone | Singular | Everyone is here early. |
| Many | Plural | Many were absent today. |
| Some | Both | Some of the water is gone. Some of the players are tired. |
| Nothing | Singular | Nothing seems right. |
| Few | Plural | Few remembered the answer. |
What Are Indefinite Pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns in English grammar are pronouns that refer to unspecific people or things. Instead of pointing out a particular person or object, they give a general meaning. For example, “everyone” and “somebody” do not indicate a specific individual.
List of Common Indefinite Pronouns
These pronouns help when you want to talk about people or things in a general sense. Below is a list separated by type.
- Always Singular: anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, someone, somebody, something, another
- Always Plural: both, few, many, others, several
- Singular or Plural (depends on meaning): all, any, more, most, none, some
Twenty Indefinite Pronouns in Sentences
Using indefinite pronouns in real sentences helps you understand them better. Here are examples for your school and daily writing practice:
- Someone left a book on the table.
- Everyone is ready for the test.
- No one answered the phone.
- Anyone can join the club.
- Everything looks perfect today.
- Nothing is impossible if you try.
- Somebody called your name.
- Something smells delicious.
- Many have read this novel already.
- Several want to participate in sports.
- Few understood the chapter well.
- All are invited to the event.
- Some of the juice is left.
- Most have finished their homework.
- Each must bring their notebook.
- Any of these pens will do.
- None of the answers were correct.
- Anybody can answer this question.
- Both like to play chess.
- Others arrived late to class.
Singular, Plural, and Both: How Indefinite Pronouns Work
Some indefinite pronouns always use singular verbs (e.g., “Everyone is here”). Others take plural verbs (“Few are coming”). A few, such as “some” or “none”, depend on the noun they refer to.
- Singular: “Each of the boys has a book.”
- Plural: “Several were present at the meeting.”
- Both: “Some of the apples are fresh.” / “Some of the water is cold.”
Common Mistakes and Quick Tips for Indefinite Pronouns
Students often use plural verbs with singular indefinite pronouns. Remember, “Everybody is happy,” not “Everybody are happy.” Verbs must match the type of pronoun.
- Words ending in -body, -one, -thing (“somebody”, “everyone”, “anything”) are usually singular.
- “Few”, “both”, “many”, “others”, and “several” are always plural.
- Check the noun after “some”, “all”, “none”: is it countable or uncountable?
Practice Worksheet: Indefinite Pronouns
Try these for extra practice. For more exercises, visit the Pronoun Exercises page on Vedantu.
| Exercise Type | Sample Question | Your Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the blank | __________ has eaten the last piece of cake. | [someone] |
| Choose the correct sentence | a) Everyone are happy. b) Everyone is happy. |
[b] |
| Error correction | Few is interested in the show. | Few are interested in the show. |
Indefinite pronouns let you refer to people or things in a general way. They can be singular, plural, or either, based on context. Mastering their use is key for clear writing, good grammar, and strong performance in school and exams.
FAQs on Indefinite Pronouns in English Grammar
1. What are indefinite pronouns in English?
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that refer to people or things in a general or non-specific way. They do not point to a particular person or object. Common examples include:
- someone, anyone, everyone, no one
- something, anything, nothing
- somebody, anybody, nobody
- each, everyone, everything
2. What are some common examples of indefinite pronouns?
Common examples of indefinite pronouns include words that refer to unspecified people or things. These include:
- People: someone, anyone, everyone, no one, somebody, nobody
- Things: something, anything, nothing, everything
- Quantity: each, either, neither, several, many, few, all, some
3. Are indefinite pronouns singular or plural?
Most indefinite pronouns are grammatically singular, but some are plural and others can be both.
- Singular: everyone, someone, each, anybody, nobody → Everyone is ready.
- Plural: many, few, several → Many are absent.
- Both (depends on context): all, some, none → All of the cake is gone. / All of the students are here.
4. Why are indefinite pronouns usually followed by singular verbs?
Indefinite pronouns like everyone and someone take singular verbs because they are grammatically singular. Even though they refer to many people, the form is singular.
- Correct: Everyone is happy.
- Incorrect: Everyone are happy.
5. What is the difference between someone and anyone?
The difference between someone and anyone is that “someone” is usually used in positive sentences, while “anyone” is common in questions and negative sentences.
- Positive: Someone called you.
- Question: Did anyone call me?
- Negative: I didn’t see anyone.
6. What is the difference between everyone and everybody?
There is no meaning difference between everyone and everybody; both are singular indefinite pronouns meaning “all people.” They are interchangeable in most contexts.
- Everyone is invited.
- Everybody is invited.
7. How do you use indefinite pronouns in sentences?
You use indefinite pronouns as the subject or object of a sentence when the person or thing is not specific.
- As subject: Someone is knocking at the door.
- As object: I met someone interesting.
8. Can indefinite pronouns refer to both people and things?
Yes, indefinite pronouns can refer to people, things, or quantities depending on the word used.
- People: anyone, everyone, nobody
- Things: something, anything, nothing
- Quantities: all, some, many, few
9. What are common mistakes with indefinite pronouns?
Common mistakes with indefinite pronouns include incorrect verb agreement and pronoun reference.
- Wrong verb: Everyone are ready. → Correct: Everyone is ready.
- Unclear reference: Someone left his or her phone. (Formal) / Someone left their phone. (Modern usage)
10. Do indefinite pronouns need apostrophes?
Indefinite pronouns do not normally need apostrophes unless showing possession. Words like someone and everyone are not contractions.
- Correct: Someone’s bag is on the table. (possessive)
- Incorrect: Someone’s coming. (should be “Someone is coming.”)
