Indefinite pronouns Click for next slide. Indefinite Pronouns An indefinite pronoun refers to something that is not definite, not specific or not exact.

Indefinite pronouns

Click for next slide

Indefinite PronounsAn indefinite pronoun refers to something that

is not definite, not specific or not exact.

It’s something. Could be anything.

What is it?


Indefinite Pronouns

What can I get you?

Everything

Anything

Nothing

All

Some

None


Few

All Some

Several EachMany


I talk to everyone

I talk to everybod

y

Somebody talk to me!

Anybody?


Indefinite pronouns:

NOT definite

NOT specific

NOT exactClick for next slide

Examples of indefinite pronouns:

•Anybody

•Anyone

• Anything



•Everybody

•Everyone

•Everything



•Somebody

•Someone

• SomethingClick for next slide


•Nobody

•No one

•Nothing



•All•Many •Several•Some•Few



•One•Each•None


SINGULAR?Indefinite Pronouns

PLURAL?


Singular or Plural?Use “be” verbs to test your indefinite

pronouns:

(singular)is

are (plural)

Try any indefinite pronoun here


Singular or Plural?Try different indefinite pronouns…

(singular)is

are(plural)

Everyone

Everyone

Everyone is here.

Everyone sees you.Click for next slide


(singular)is

are(plural)

Anything

Anything

Anything is difficult at first.

Anything pleases me. Click for next slide


(singular)is

are(plural)

Someone

Someone

Someone is calling me.

Someone sits there.Click for next slide


(singular)is

are(plural)

Several

Several

Several are damaged.

Several require repairs. Click for next slide


(singular)is

are(plural)

Nobody

NobodyNobody is hurt.

Nobody needs help.


Most indefinite pronouns are singular.


Singular Pronouns

• Anybody

• Anyone

• Anything

• Everybody

• Everyone

• Everything

• Somebody

• Someone

• Something

• No one • Nobody• Nothing

All of the following indefinite pronouns are singular. They require verbs with “s” at the end:

knows

feels

looks

sees

seems

does

wants

needs

works

lives

starts

stays

Indefinite Pronouns Example verbs


Every student pays tuition.

Each & Every are singular, requiring verbs ending in s

Singular Pronouns

Each

Every

Each employee reports to work.


Either sandwich looks good to me.

Either & Neither are singular, requiring verbs ending in s

Singular Pronouns

Either

Neither

Neither student cheats on tests.

Click here for next slide

Plural Pronouns

• Both

• Several

• Many

• Some

• Few

The following indefinite pronouns are plural. Their verbs should not have an “s” at the end:

need

look

seem

go

travel

require

Indefinite Pronouns Example verbs


Some indefinite pronouns are both singular and plural, depending upon

the sentence.

AllSome

None

SingularPluralBOTH


Pronouns that are BOTH singular and plural

ALLcandy tastes good.

strawberries taste sour.

AllLook to the noun to determine the verb.

All(candy tastes)

(strawberries taste) Click for next slide


SOMEharsh language scares children.

PG movies scare children.

SomeLook to the noun to determine the verb.

Some(language scares)

(movies scare) Click for next slide


NONEof the food seems fresh.

of the engines seem repairable.

NoneLook to the noun to determine the verb.

None(food seems)

(engines seem) Click for next slide

Test

your knowledge…

of indefinite pronouns.


Which verb is correct?

Every camper in a tent. staystays

Every camper stays in a tent.

singular singular



Anybody bad after being up all night.looklooks

Anybody looks bad after being up all night.

singular singular



Several students in my math class the entire period.

sleepsleeps

Several students in my math class sleep the entire period. plural

plural(they sleep)



Everything larger under water.appearappears

Everything appears larger under water.

singular singular



Neither of my options to me. appealappeals

Neither of my options appeals to me.

Neither one appeals



Some of the soup chicken livers. containcontains

Some of the soup contains chicken livers.

Look to the noun to determine the verb.

(soup contains)



Everyone in both families the conflicts will end.

hopehopes

Everyone in both families hopes the conflicts will end.

singularsingular



Few people in the airport how many flights are coming and going.

realizerealizes

Few people in the airport realize how many flights are coming and going.

pluralplural


Indefinite pronouns

End of presentation.

Indefinite pronouns Click for next slide. Indefinite Pronouns An indefinite pronoun refers to something that is not definite, not specific or not exact.

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