Indefinite Pronouns
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Lesson 359
Indefinite Pronouns
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Indefinite Pronouns
We use indefinite pronouns to refer to people or things without saying exactly who or what they are.
E.g.
a) Everybody enjoyed the movie.
b) I opened the door but there was no one at home.
c) It was a very clear day. We could see everything.

Pronouns ending in –one, –body are used for people and those ending in –thing are used for things.
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Look at the following:
Something means a thing that is unknown. It is often used in positive sentences. E.g. Is there something you want to ask?
Anything means a thing of any kind. Use it in questions and negative sentences. E.g. Isn't there anything you want to ask?
Nothing means no single thing. It is used as a subject of a sentence or a question. E.g. I have nothing to ask.
Everything means all the things. Use in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences when we want to be inclusive. E.g. I have asked everything I had to.
Pick the correct option
Karen's hand writing is better than anyone else's in the class.
Karen's hand writing is better than anyone elses' in the class.
Pick the correct option:
There is anything in what you say.
There is something in what you say.
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Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at \'another\' in the following sentences:

E.g.
i) He has one job in the day and another at night. (another is a pronoun)
ii) I'd like another drink, please. (another is an adjective)
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Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be singular in one context and plural in another.

Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also agree (in number and gender).
Similarly, plural nouns need plural verbs:

Look at these examples:
i) Each of the players has a doctor. (Each is singular, hence the verb is 'has' (not have)).
ii) I met two girls. One has given me her phone number. ('One' is singular, hence the verb is 'has' (not have).
iii) Many have expressed their views. ('Many' is plural. Hence, the verb is 'have').
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Note: When we refer to an indefinite pronoun, however, we normally use a plural pronoun:

E.g.
a) Everybody enjoys concerts. They stand up and clap.

In the first sentence, 'enjoys' is the singular (3rd person) form of the verb 'enjoy'. It agrees with 'everybody' which is also treated as singular.
However, when we refer to 'everybody' in the second sentence, we use 'they' (a plural pronoun).
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Negation
In negative clauses, we use indefinite pronouns with no– as the subject.

E.g.
Nobody danced. (Not: Anybody did not dance)

Also, we do not add another negative in a clause with nobody, no one or nothing:

E.g.
Nobody did not dance – this is incorrect.
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Pick the correct option:
It was really dark and I couldn't see ______
anything
something
nothing
Pick the correct option:
This is boring. There is ______
nothing
not something
anything
Pick the correct option:
______
Has everyone
Have everyone
Arrange the jumbled words to form a sentence:
    • don't have
    • nothing to eat
    • anything to eat
    • I
    • something to eat
    Arrange the jumbled words to form a sentence
    • I can't
    • anyone
    • to go with me
    • find
    • no one
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    Many negative sentences that include an indefinite pronoun with 'any' can be turned into affirmative sentences with a negative meaning by using an indefinite pronoun with no.
    However, there is a change in meaning with this transformation.
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    'Has no one responded yet?' is stronger than 'Has anyone responded yet?'

    The sentence that includes an indefinite pronoun starting with 'no...' (no one/nobody) is stronger and can imply emotional content such as 'defensiveness', 'hopelessness', 'anger', etc.
    Pick the correct option:
    I don’t know ______
    anyone
    any
    everyone
    none
    Pick the correct option:
    Didn't you go ______
    anywhere
    nowhere
    Pick the correct option
    Aren't you looking for ______
    someone
    anyone
    Pick the correct option
    There was ______
    nothing
    anything
    Pick the correct option
    I won't tell your secret to ______
    anyone
    someone
    Pick the correct option
    ______
    Nobody
    Anybody
    Pick the correct option
    A: How many votes do we get as family members? B: Each ______
    has
    have
    Pick the correct option
    Much ______
    has
    have
    Pick the correct option
    You know that others ______
    has
    Pick the correct option:
    We can begin since everybody ______
    has
    have
    Pick the correct option:
    Less ______
    is
    are
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