Indefinite

Pronouns
I can correctly use
indefinite pronouns
& their verbs in my
speaking and

An indefinite pronoun:
Does

not refer to a
particular person, place,
thing, or idea
It can be used alone or
with nouns, like possessive
nouns are used.

Examples:
Has

any student read

this Native American
folktale?
Have any read The
Voice of the River?

Always Singular
another

everybody

anybody

everyone

anything

everything

each

much

other

neither

either

nobody

Always Singular
no

one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something

Always Plural
both
few
many
others
several

Change their number

all
any
most
none
some

Why does singular or

plural matter?
When you are using a
present tense verb, you
have to know whether to
make it
singular (use an s) or
plural (do not use s).

How do you decide?

Look

at the prepositional phrase

after the indefinite pronoun.
If the object of the preposition is
singular, use a singular verb.
If the object of the preposition is
plural, use a plural verb.

Examples of changing
Some

of the people are

familiar with this folktale.
(plural)
Most of this tale takes place
in Africa. (singular)
Most of the characters are
animals. (plural)

Possessive Pronouns WITH

Indefinites
Possessive

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

Examples
Many

are happy to share

their folktales. (plural)
Each must be willing to
wait his or her turn.
(singular)

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite

pronoun.

(Everyone,

Many) likes to
read an exciting myth.
(One, Others) from Greece
is about a father and a son.
(Anyone, Few) were able to
guess the myths ending.

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite

pronoun.
(All,

Anybody) enjoy the myth

of Daedalus and Icarus.
(Both, One) of the mythical
characters live on the island of
Crete.
Daedalus has artistic talents:
(none, nobody) denies that.

Try it! Choose the correct indefinite

pronoun.
(Few,

Somebody) match
Daedaluss skill in design.
(Some, Each) of these
students model their work on
his art.
(Each, Both) of the characters
is interesting.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or

possessive pronoun so that it matches its
antecedent.

Most

of the people (praise,

praises) Daedaluss ideas for
the huge palace.
Few know (his, their) craft as
well as Daedalus.
No one (is, are) more pleased
than King Minos.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or

possessive pronoun so that it matches its
antecedent.

Although

many may try, no

one (escape, escapes) the
kings maze.
Everything (changes, change)
when Daedalus tells the secret.
At last someone finds
(his
or her, their) way out.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or

possessive pronoun so that it matches its
antecedent.

Some

of the readers (knows,

know) the rest of the story; the
king forbids Daedalus to leave.
Something (take, takes) shape
in Daedaluss skilled hands wax wings for himself and
Icarus.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or

possessive pronoun so that it matches its
antecedent.

Both

(plans, plan) an escape across

the sea.
Each puts on (his, their) pair of waxy
wings.
At first everything (goes, go) well for
the pair.
Several (see, sees) them flying in
the sky.

Try it! Choose the correct form the verb or

possessive pronoun so that it matches its
antecedent.

One

(flies, fly) too close to the sun;

the wax melts, and he plunges to
his death.
Which one (lands, land) safely in
Sicily?
When someone tries to do the
impossible, disaster can strike (him
or her, them).