Indefinite pronoun
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An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to one or more unspecified beings, objects, or places.
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[edit] 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". Example sentences in which the word functions as an indefinite pronoun are given.
[edit] Singular
- another – Thanks, I'll have another.
- anybody – Anybody can see the truth.
- anyone – Anyone can see this.
- anything – Anything can happen if you just believe.
- each – From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
- either – Either will do.
- enough – Enough is enough.
- everybody – Everybody was invited.
- everyone – Everyone had a cup of coffee.
- everything – Everything is permitted
- 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 – No one thinks that you are mean
- nobody – Nobody wants to be one of the contestants.
- nothing – Nothing is true.
- 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.
- they – Tell them to cut it out. (See: Singular they)
- whatever – Take whatever you like.
- whoever – Whoever did this?
- whichever – Choose whichever is better.
- you (in informal usage, in the sense of "one")[1] – You can understand why.
[edit] 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 bad for you.
[edit] Singular or plural
- all – All is lost.
- any – Any will do.
- more – More is better.
- most – Most would agree.
- none – None of those people are related to me.[2]
- some – Some of the biscuits have been eaten.
- such – Such is life.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Indefinite you, indefinite one", The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, 1993
- ^ Some traditional grammars insist that "none" is always singular, but the plural sense is well established and widely accepted. See, for example, a blog entry by Michael Quinion or none in the Compact Oxford English Dictionary.
- Haspelmath, Martin. 1997. Indefinite pronouns. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
[edit] External links
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Look up indefinite pronoun in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
