Indefinite Pronouns

We use indefinite pronouns to talk about people, things and ideas without specifying them.

The most common indefinite pronouns are: ‘some‘, ‘any‘, ‘one‘ and their derivatives, as well as ‘all‘, ‘every‘, ‘each‘, ‘few‘, ‘little‘, ‘many‘/’much‘, ‘both‘, ‘either‘.

Indefinite pronouns may have different forms depending on their use in statements, negative sentences and questions.

• Someone gave me a call this evening.
• Is there anybody at home?
• There’s nothing left on the table.

What indefinite pronouns denote

Indefinite pronouns may denote different things or ideas.

Animate objects

Indefinite pronouns denoting animate objects are formed using ‘-body’/’one’:

– to talk about a person, use ‘anybody’, ‘somebody’, ‘anyone’ and ‘someone’:

• Peter doesn’t know anybody in his new school.
• I saw somebody walking down the street.
• You can ask someone to help you with your bags.

– to talk about all people in a group, use ‘everyone’ and ‘everybody’:

• I would like everyone to attend our next meeting.
• The room is empty. Where is everybody?

– to talk about no person, use ‘nobody’ and ‘no one’:

• Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen.
• No one in the class could answer the teacher’s question.

Things or ideas

Indefinite pronouns denoting things or ideas are formed using ‘-thing’

– to talk about availability of things or ideas, use ‘something’ and ‘anything’:

• There is something special about Mary.
• Is there anything I can do for you?

– to talk about unavailability of things or ideas, use ‘nothing’:

• James and Timothy have absolutely nothing in common.
• We did a great job and there is nothing left to do.

– to talk about availability of all things or ideas, use ‘everything’:

• I’m leaving for Paris and I want to see everything there.
• Becky is back to school, everything is fine with her.

Places

Indefinite pronouns denoting places are formed using  ‘-where’: ‘everywhere’, ‘anywhere’, ‘nowhere’ and ‘somewhere’:

• Let’s go somewhere special.
• This road leads to nowhere.
• You can go anywhere you like.
• Emily couldn’t find her phone, though she looked everywhere.

We can also use pronouns beginning with ‘any-’ in statements to mean all people or things, when it doesn’t matter who, what or where:

• Anyone can play this game.
• You are free to take anything you like from my clothes.

Note: Don’t put two negative words in one sentence. – I didn’t see anything. Correct: I saw nothing. NOT: I didn’t see nothing.

How to use indefinite pronouns

1. We normally use ‘somebody’, ‘someone’, ‘something’ and ‘somewhere’ in statements and questions:

• Yesterday I’ve met someone special.
• We heard a loud noise from somewhere in the street.
• Could somebody let me know what to do?
• Can I have something to drink?

2. We use ‘anybody’, ‘anyone’, ‘anything’ and ‘anywhere’ in negative sentences and questions:

• There isn’t anything you can do in this situation.
• When Peter had arrived, he couldn’t find anyone at home.
• Is there anybody going to listen to my story?
• Would you like to travel anywhere next month?

3. We use ‘nobody’, ‘no one’, ‘nothing’ and ‘nowhere’ in statements and questions:

• Nobody can understand me better than you.
• This poor guy has nowhere to live.
• Why is there no one in the office?
• You always keep silent, do you have nothing to say?

4. We usually use ‘everybody’, ‘everyone’, ‘everything’ and ‘everywhere’ in statements:

• Everybody knows this prominent artist.
• I need everyone to leave this room immediately!
• This is everything you need to know about her.
• Spring is everywhere!

Note: ‘Everyone’, ‘everybody’ and ‘everything’ are always followed by a singular verb. – Everybody was at the meeting. NOT: Everybody were at the meeting.

Indefinite pronouns can take singular or plural verbs. Please note:

Here’s an interesting video from EngVid explaining a tricky thing – agreement of indefinite pronouns:

See also:

Pronouns and Determiners: Each, Every, Either, Neither, Both, Half, All

Reflexive Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns