Indefinite Indefinite PronounsPronouns

I can correctly use I can correctly use indefinite pronouns indefinite pronouns & their verbs in my & their verbs in my

speaking and speaking and writing.writing.

An indefinite pronoun:An indefinite pronoun:Does not refer to a Does not refer to a particular person, place, particular person, place, thing, or ideathing, or idea

It can be used alone or It can be used alone or with nouns, like possessive with nouns, like possessive nouns are used.nouns are used.

Examples:Examples:

Has Has anyany student read student read this Native American this Native American folktale?folktale?

Have Have anyany read “The read “The Voice of the River”?Voice of the River”?

Always SingularAlways Singularanotheranotheranybodyanybodyanythinganything

eacheachotherothereithereither

everybodyeverybodyeveryoneeveryoneeverythingeverythingmuchmuchneitherneithernobodynobody

Always SingularAlways Singularno oneno onenothingnothingoneonesomebodysomebodysomeonesomeonesomethingsomething

Always PluralAlways Pluralbothbothfewfewmanymanyothersothersseveralseveral

Change their numberChange their numberallallanyanymostmostnonenonesomesome

Why does singular or Why does singular or plural matter?plural matter?

When you are using a When you are using a present tense verb, you present tense verb, you have to know whether to have to know whether to make it make it

singularsingular (use an –s)(use an –s) or or pluralplural (do not use –s).(do not use –s).

How do you decide?How do you decide?Look at the prepositional phrase Look at the prepositional phrase

after the indefinite pronoun.after the indefinite pronoun.If the object of the preposition is If the object of the preposition is

singular, use a singular verb.singular, use a singular verb.If the object of the preposition is If the object of the preposition is

plural, use a plural verb.plural, use a plural verb.

Examples of changingExamples of changingSomeSome of the people of the people areare familiar with this folktale. familiar with this folktale. (plural)(plural)

MostMost of this tale of this tale takestakes place place in Africa. (singular)in Africa. (singular)

MostMost of the characters of the characters areare animals. (plural)animals. (plural)

Possessive Pronouns WITH Possessive Pronouns WITH IndefinitesIndefinites

Possessive pronouns Possessive pronouns often have indefinite often have indefinite pronouns as their pronouns as their antecedents. The two antecedents. The two must agree in number.must agree in number.

ExamplesExamples

ManyMany are happy to are happy to share share theirtheir folktales. folktales. (plural)(plural)

EachEach must be willing to must be willing to wait wait his or herhis or her turn. turn. (singular)(singular)

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite Try it! Choose the correct indefinite pronoun.pronoun.

(Everyone, Many) likes to (Everyone, Many) likes to read an exciting myth.read an exciting myth.

(One, Others) from Greece (One, Others) from Greece is about a father and a son.is about a father and a son.

(Anyone, Few) were able to (Anyone, Few) were able to guess the myth’s ending.guess the myth’s ending.

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite Try it! Choose the correct indefinite pronoun.pronoun.

(All, Anybody) enjoy the myth (All, Anybody) enjoy the myth of Daedalus and Icarus.of Daedalus and Icarus.

(Both, One) of the mythical (Both, One) of the mythical characters live on the island of characters live on the island of Crete.Crete.

Daedalus has artistic talents: Daedalus has artistic talents: (none, nobody) denies that.(none, nobody) denies that.

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite Try it! Choose the correct indefinite pronoun.pronoun.

(Few, Somebody) match (Few, Somebody) match Daedalus’s skill in design.Daedalus’s skill in design.

(Some, Each) of these (Some, Each) of these students model their work on students model their work on his art.his art.

(Each, Both) of the characters (Each, Both) of the characters is interesting.is interesting.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive pronoun so that it matches its possessive pronoun so that it matches its

antecedent.antecedent.Most of the people (praise, Most of the people (praise,

praises) Daedalus’s ideas for praises) Daedalus’s ideas for the huge palace.the huge palace.

Few know (his, their) craft as Few know (his, their) craft as well as Daedalus.well as Daedalus.

No one (is, are) more pleased No one (is, are) more pleased than King Minos.than King Minos.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive pronoun so that it matches its possessive pronoun so that it matches its

antecedent.antecedent.Although many may try, no Although many may try, no

one (escape, escapes) the one (escape, escapes) the king’s maze.king’s maze.

Everything (changes, change) Everything (changes, change) when Daedalus tells the secret.when Daedalus tells the secret.

At last someone finds At last someone finds (his or her, their) way out.(his or her, their) way out.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive pronoun so that it matches its possessive pronoun so that it matches its

antecedent.antecedent.Some of the readers (knows, Some of the readers (knows,

know) the rest of the story; the know) the rest of the story; the king forbids Daedalus to leave.king forbids Daedalus to leave.

Something (take, takes) shape Something (take, takes) shape in Daedalus’s skilled hands - in Daedalus’s skilled hands - wax wings for himself and wax wings for himself and Icarus.Icarus.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive pronoun so that it matches its possessive pronoun so that it matches its

antecedent.antecedent.Both (plans, plan) an escape Both (plans, plan) an escape

across the sea.across the sea.Each puts on (his, their) pair of Each puts on (his, their) pair of

waxy wings.waxy wings.At first everything (goes, go) well At first everything (goes, go) well

for the pair. for the pair. Several (see, sees) them flying in Several (see, sees) them flying in

the sky.the sky.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or possessive pronoun so that it matches its possessive pronoun so that it matches its

antecedent.antecedent.One (flies, fly) too close to the One (flies, fly) too close to the

sun; the wax melts, and he sun; the wax melts, and he plunges to his death.plunges to his death.

Which one (lands, land) safely in Which one (lands, land) safely in Sicily?Sicily?

When someone tries to do the When someone tries to do the impossible, disaster can strike impossible, disaster can strike (him or her, them).(him or her, them).