Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are words that refer to people, things, or places without saying exactly who, what, or where. They help us talk about someone or something without naming them.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, you will learn to:
- Use an expanded range of indefinite pronouns: anyone, nobody, nothing, anything, no one, and everybody
- Choose the correct indefinite pronoun to complete a sentence
- Tell the difference between similar-sounding pronouns like "anyone" and "everyone"
- Use indefinite pronouns with the correct verb form
When to Use
- Talking about an unknown person: "Does anyone know the answer to this question?"
- Saying that zero people are involved: "Nobody was at the playground during the heavy rain."
- Talking about zero things: "There is nothing left in the fridge after dinner."
- Asking about things in general: "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
- Talking about every person in a group: "Everybody enjoyed the school excursion to the Science Centre."
How to Form
Indefinite Pronoun Families
Indefinite pronouns are built by combining a base word with -one, -body, or -thing.
| Base | + one | + body | + thing |
|---|---|---|---|
| every | everyone | everybody | everything |
| some | someone | somebody | something |
| any | anyone | anybody | anything |
| no | no one | nobody | nothing |
Choosing the Right Family
| Family | Meaning | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| every- | all people or things | positive statements about a whole group | Everyone passed the spelling test. |
| some- | an unknown person or thing | positive statements, offers, requests | Someone left a bag in the canteen. |
| any- | it does not matter who or what | questions, negative sentences, "it does not matter" | Has anyone seen my pencil case? |
| no- | zero people or things | negative meaning (but the sentence itself has no "not") | Nobody was late for assembly today. |
Key Rules
-
Singular verbs always: The indefinite pronouns in this lesson — the some-, any-, no-, and every- families — all take a singular verb. Say "Everyone is here," not "Everyone are here."
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"No-" pronouns replace "not...any-": "Nobody came" means the same as "Not anybody came." Do not use both "not" and "nobody" in the same sentence.
-
"Any-" for questions and negatives: Use "anyone," "anything," and "anybody" in questions and after "not." Use "someone," "something," and "somebody" in positive statements.
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"-one" and "-body" mean the same thing: "Anyone" and "anybody" can be swapped freely. "Everyone" and "everybody" mean the same thing too.
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"No one" is two words: Unlike "nobody," "nothing," and "nowhere," "no one" is always written as two separate words.
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Do not double the negative: Say "I saw nothing" or "I did not see anything." Never say "I did not see nothing."
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone are ready. | Everyone is ready. | "Everyone" always takes a singular verb |
| I don't know nothing. | I don't know anything. | Do not use "not" and "no-" together (double negative) |
| Somebody want to play? | Does anybody want to play? | Use "any-" in questions, and add the helping verb |
| Noone was home. | No one was home. | "No one" is always two separate words |
| Nobody were listening. | Nobody was listening. | "Nobody" is singular, so use "was" |
| I did not see nobody. | I did not see anybody. | Avoid double negatives; use "any-" after "not" |
Clue Words
Use "some-" (someone, somebody, something) when you see:
positive statements, offers, polite requests
Use "any-" (anyone, anybody, anything) when you see:
questions, "not," "never," "without," "hardly"
Use "no-" (nobody, no one, nothing) when you see:
negative meaning WITHOUT the word "not" in the sentence
Use "every-" (everyone, everybody, everything) when you see:
all, whole group, entire, the full set
Tip: If the sentence already has "not" or "never," reach for an "any-" pronoun. If there is no negative word but you want a negative meaning, reach for a "no-" pronoun.
Practice Tips
- The verb check: After writing an indefinite pronoun, check that the verb is singular. Cover the pronoun and replace it with "he" or "she" -- if it sounds right, your verb is correct.
- The double-negative scan: Read your sentence aloud. If you hear "not" AND a "no-" word, you have a double negative. Change the "no-" word to an "any-" word.
- The question test: If your sentence is a question, switch any "some-" pronoun to an "any-" pronoun and see if it sounds better.
- The swap test: Try replacing "-one" with "-body" (or the other way round). If the meaning stays the same, you have used the right family.
Quick Reference
| Pronoun | Refers To | Example |
|---|---|---|
| everyone / everybody | all people | Everyone loves the hawker centre's chicken rice. |
| everything | all things | Everything in my bag is wet from the rain. |
| someone / somebody | an unknown person | Someone left the classroom door open. |
| something | an unknown thing | There is something under the table. |
| anyone / anybody | any person (questions / negatives) | Does anyone have an extra ruler? |
| anything | any thing (questions / negatives) | I cannot find anything in this messy room. |
| no one / nobody | zero people | No one was absent from school today. |
| nothing | zero things | There is nothing wrong with your answer. |