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4.2.2: Indefinite Pronouns

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    269605
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    Indefinite Pronouns

    An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that doesn’t specifically identify what it is referring to. For example, the word someone is an indefinite pronoun in the sentence Someone left a book in the classroom. We know that the pronoun someone refers to a person, but we don’t know any other information about them.

    anybody anyone anything someone
    everybody everyone everything something
    nothing somebody no one nobody

    These pronouns can be used in a couple of different ways:

    • They can indicate the non-existence of people or things. (Nobody thinks that.)
    • They can refer to a person, but are not specific as to first, second or third person in the way that the personal pronouns are. (Someone took the last cookie.)

    Please note that all of these pronouns are singular. Notice how there are no "s" endings on the verbs.

    Some of these may feel “more singular” than others, but they all are technically singular. Note the third-person singular form of the verb that follows an indefinite pronoun:

    • Everyone likes the new textbook for our class.
    • No one comes to campus on Sundays.
    • Something is wrong with the printer.
    • Does anyone have an extra pencil?

    Exercise 2.11: Indefinite Pronouns

    Fill the blanks with an appropriate indefinite pronouns. Some questions may have two possible answers.

    1. I invited a few friends over for a barbeque, but so far ________________ has arrived.

    2. ________________ should always do his or her best.

    3. ________________ forgot to turn off the heater before going to bed last night.

    4. When our flight was delayed, some passengers became angry, but ________________ had to wait.

    5. You look very busy. Is there ________________ I can do to help?

    6. The dessert you made for supper was delicious. Is there ________________ left?

    7. This test on pronouns is easy. ________________ can pass it.

    8. It doesn't matter which taxi service we call. ________________ will be fine.

    10. We'll be arriving at the airport soon. Has ________________ got his or her passport?

    11.________________ left this scarf in the classroom, so I'll take it to the lost and found.

    12. I could not answer any of the questions. _______________________ was too difficult for me.


    Adapted from ELC Study Zone by University of Victoria's English Language Centre is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License


    This page titled 4.2.2: Indefinite Pronouns is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.

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