Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a word that talks about a person or thing without saying exactly who or what it is. Words like "someone" and "everything" are indefinite pronouns.
What You'll Learn
- Use someone and something to talk about a person or thing you do not know
- Use everyone and everything to talk about all people or all things
- Choose the correct indefinite pronoun to complete a sentence
When to Use
- When you do not know who: "Someone left a bag on the bench."
- When you do not know what: "There is something in the box."
- When you mean all people: "Everyone in the class was happy."
- When you mean all things: "Mum packed everything into the bag."
How to Form
Choosing the Right Indefinite Pronoun
| You mean... | For a person | For a thing |
|---|---|---|
| One (not sure who/what) | someone | something |
| All | everyone | everything |
Where to Place Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns take the place of a noun. They can go where a noun usually goes in a sentence.
| Position | Example |
|---|---|
| At the start | Someone is knocking on the door. |
| After a verb | I can hear something in the garden. |
| After a word like "for" | This gift is for everyone. |
Key Rules
-
"Someone" and "something" are for one unknown person or thing: Use "someone" when you do not know who. Use "something" when you do not know what. "Someone took my pencil."
-
"Everyone" and "everything" are for all people or all things: Use "everyone" when you mean all people. Use "everything" when you mean all things. "Everyone likes recess."
-
Use a singular verb: Even though "everyone" means many people, it goes with a singular verb. Say "Everyone is here", not "Everyone are here".
-
Do not add "s" to the pronoun: These words never change form. It is always "someone", never "someones".
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone are ready. | Everyone is ready. | "Everyone" uses a singular verb |
| Someones took my eraser. | Someone took my eraser. | Never add "s" to indefinite pronouns |
| I want to eat anyone. | I want to eat something. | "Anyone" is for people; use "something" for things |
| Everybody thing is in the bag. | Everything is in the bag. | "Everything" is one word, not two |
Clue Words
Use "someone" / "something" when you see:
do not know, not sure, a certain, heard a noise, mystery
Use "everyone" / "everything" when you see:
all, whole class, the entire, nothing left out
Tip: If the sentence is about a person, pick a word ending in "-one" (someone, everyone). If it is about a thing, pick a word ending in "-thing" (something, everything).
Practice Tips
-
Person or thing? Read the sentence and ask yourself: "Is it about a person or a thing?" If it is a person, use "-one" words. If it is a thing, use "-thing" words.
-
One or all? Ask yourself: "Is it about one unknown person or thing, or about all of them?" One unknown = "some-". All = "every-".
-
Verb check: After writing your answer, check the verb. Indefinite pronouns always use a singular verb. "Everyone has" is correct, not "Everyone have".
-
Read it out loud: Say the sentence with your chosen word. Does it sound right? "Someone is at the door" sounds correct. "Something is at the door" might work too, but it changes the meaning!
Quick Reference
| Pronoun | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| someone | a person (not sure who) | Someone left this book on the table. |
| something | a thing (not sure what) | I smell something nice in the kitchen. |
| everyone | all people | Everyone enjoyed the school trip. |
| everything | all things | She put everything back on the shelf. |