Indefinite Pronouns
As the name suggests indefinite, these pronouns are used when we refer to people, things, or places without specifically saying who or what they are.
For example, instead of saying Budi, Andi, and Siti are knocking on the door, we can say Someone is knocking on the door. The word Someone here is an Indefinite Pronoun.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
The most commonly forgotten grammar rule is: most Indefinite Pronouns are considered SINGULAR. This means they must be followed by a singular verb (like is, was, has, or Verb+s).
This group usually ends with -one, -body, or -thing.
| People | Things |
|---|---|
| someone / somebody | something |
| anyone / anybody | anything |
| everyone / everybody | everything |
| no one / nobody | nothing |
Examples of usage with singular verbs:
- Everyone is happy today. (Not Everyone are).
- Someone has stolen my wallet. (Not Someone have).
- Nothing matters anymore. (Uses Verb+s).
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
There are only a handful of Indefinite Pronouns that are always considered PLURAL and take plural verbs (like are, were, have, or base Verbs).
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| both | the two of them |
| few | a small number of people/things |
| many | a large number of people/things |
| several | more than two but not many |
Sentence examples:
- Both are good options.
- Many have tried to climb that mountain.
- Few know the real truth.
Pronouns that can be Singular OR Plural
There are a few special Indefinite Pronouns that can be singular OR plural, depending on what noun follows them (usually connected by the preposition of).
These words are often remembered by the acronym SANAM:
- Some
- All
- None
- Any
- Most
The rule: Look at the noun after the word of. If the noun is singular or uncountable (uncountable nouns), use a singular verb. If the noun is plural, use a plural verb.
Example 1 (Singular - because water is uncountable):
- All of the water is gone.
Example 2 (Plural - because students is countable and plural):
- All of the students are here.
Conclusion: Indefinite Pronouns are extremely useful when the exact identity of a subject / object is unknown or not important to mention. Always pay attention to whether the pronoun requires a singular or plural verb!