indefinite pronouns

 

The indefinite pronouns are:

somebody someone something
anybody anyone anything
nobody no one nothing
everybody everyone everything

We use indefinite pronouns to refer to people or things without saying exactly who or what they are. We use pronouns ending in -body or -one for people, and pronouns ending in -thing for things:

Everybody enjoyed the concert.
I opened the door but there was no one at home.
It was a very clear day. We could see everything.

We use a singular verb after an indefinite pronoun:

Everybody loves Sally.
Everything was ready for the party.

When we refer back to an indefinite pronoun we normally use a plural pronoun:

Everybody enjoyed the concert. They stood up and clapped.
I will tell somebody that dinner is ready. They have been waiting a long time.

We can add -'s to an indefinite pronoun to make a possessive.

They were staying in somebody’s house.
Is this anybody’s coat?

We use indefinite pronouns with no- as the subject in negative clauses (not pronouns with any.)

Anybody didn’t come >> Nobody came.

We do not use another negative in a clause with nobody, no one or nothing:

Nobody came.
Nothing happened.

We use else after indefinite pronouns to refer to people or things in addition to the ones we already mentioned.

All the family came, but no one else.
If Michael can’t come we’ll ask somebody else.
So that's eggs, peas and chips. Do you want anything else?

Exercise

Comments

kraiemohamed's picture

hello everybody, thank you for the amazing lesson!

toibuonme's picture

i'm terrible.
My score is 24%.
please help me!

semantica's picture

I can't believe it! I have 100% in this exercise. Thank you for the possibility to improve our English. This site is amazing!

rihana's picture

Hi,I was little confused bt still i scored 100% in first attempt

ShaiqGenius's picture

I like this. My score is 50%

j_amarildo's picture

Very good thiss class, but I neet to know what is the difference between somebody and anybody, someone and anyone and between something and anyfing.
I'll be grateful for a reply.

S Kumar's picture

Hello j_amarildo!
When you use anybody, anyone, anything, the scope is not limited. But with somebody, someone, something, you are referring to something particular.
 
Let me explain it with an example.
 
Can anybody lend me some money?
indicates that you believe every person in the audience to be kind enough to lend you some money. 
 
Can somebody lend me some money?
indicates that you don't believe every person in the audience to be kind enough to lend you some money. You believe that a few might help you.
 

j_amarildo's picture

Dear S Kumar,
Thank You very much for your explain.

lncjojo's picture

got 100%! And wondered that there could be two possible answers for some questions.

Advocaat's picture

In the second question, I think there are two possible answers:
1. There's nothing about that man.
2. There's something about that man.
Is that true?
Thanks in advance for answering.