What are Indefinite Pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific people, places, or things. They don't point to a particular individual or object. Here are some common ones:
* Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
* *each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody*
* Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
* *both, few, many, several, all, some*
* Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
* *any, none, most, some* (Their number depends on the context)
Rules for Using Indefinite Pronouns:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement:
* Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs:
* *Everyone is here.*
* *Somebody has left the door open.*
* *Neither of the choices is correct.*
* Plural indefinite pronouns require plural verbs:
* *Several are coming to the party.*
* *Both of the students have completed their assignments.*
* Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural require the verb to agree with the noun they refer to:
* *Most of the students are here.* (students is plural)
* *Most of the food is gone.* (food is singular)
2. Pronoun Agreement:
* Indefinite pronouns must agree in number with the noun or pronoun they refer to:
* Incorrect: *Everyone brought their own lunch.*
* Correct: *Everyone brought their own lunch.* (Everyone is singular, so use the singular pronoun "his or her" or "their" for more inclusive language)
* Correct: *Both of the students brought their own lunches.* (Both is plural, so "their" is correct)
3. Avoiding Ambiguity:
* Make sure it's clear which noun or pronoun an indefinite pronoun is referring to:
* Ambiguous: *Someone left their phone on the table.* (Who left the phone?)
* Clear: *John left his phone on the table.*
Examples of Indefinite Pronouns in Sentences:
* Singular: *Everyone* loves a good story.
* Plural: *Many* people attended the concert.
* Singular or Plural: *Most* of the students *are* happy with their grades. (The verb "are" agrees with the plural noun "students")
* Singular or Plural: *None* of the cake *is* left. (The verb "is" agrees with the singular noun "cake")
Key Takeaway: Indefinite pronouns add variety to your writing, but be careful to ensure agreement with verbs and other pronouns.