Indefinite Pronouns

1. INDEFINITE
PRONOUNS
-siRrhoye’s

2. Just for fun…try this…

3. PRONOUN REVIEW
• Pronouns are words that replace nouns
or noun phrases.
• The word or words the pronoun replaces
is called the antecedent of the pronoun.
• Pronouns must agree with their antecedents –
singular antecedents are replaced with singular
pronouns, and plural antecedents are replaced
with plural pronouns.

4. But what if…
• You don’t
know the
antecedent?

5. For example…
Say you come home and
find a broken vase.
You have no idea how it
got broken, or who broke
it.
Your parents walk in, and
say “What happened?”

6. What do you say?
• “_____________ broke the vase.”
• What word do you put here, if you have
no idea who really did it?

7. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
• All of these pronouns are indefinite.
• They do not refer to a specific antecedent,
or the antecedent is unknown.
 Indefinite pronouns = pronouns for which the
antecedent is not clearly stated (or is unknown)

8. SINGULAR VS. PLURAL
• Some indefinite pronouns
are singular. Some are plural.
Some can be either singular
or plural.
• This is important, because
indefinite pronouns must
agree with their verbs.

9. HOW CAN YOU TELL?
• Indefinite pronouns often
fail the “sounds right test.”
Proper usage may sound
awkward, or weird.
• It is necessary to memorize
which pronouns are
singular, which are plural,
and which can be either/or.

10. Singular indefinite pronouns
each another
anybody somebody
much no one
something everyone
nobody neither
anything everything
either anyone
nothing someone
everybody

11. One idea….
• Create a chant to help you
remember the main singular
pronouns and the SANE (some,
any, no, every) pronouns:
• “Each, much, either, neither,
another, and all the ones, bodies,
and things”

12. Another idea…..
• Learn the first singular indefinite
pronouns: “each, much, either, neither
another” and the following chart:
some
any
no
every
body
one
thing
Any combination of words from the right and left side
make a singular indefinite pronoun.

13. Attack of the (IN)SANE BOT!
• You can remember the 12 “one, body,
thing” pronouns by the mnemonic
SANE BOT
Some
Any
No
Every
Body
One
Thing

14. Memorizing the singulars
• Try one of the
methods, or create
one of your own.
• Find some way to help
you remember the
singular indefinite
pronouns.

15. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
• There are only 5!
• Both
• Few
• Many
• Several
• Others

16. Try this one….
• Bears often sleep for months.
 both others several few many

17. Or create your own!
B F M S O

18. Either/or Indefinite pronouns
• Some indefinite pronouns can
be both singular and plural.
• These are called the SANAM
pronouns.
• Some All None Any Most

19. Using SANAM Pronouns
• When determining if a
SANAM pronoun is singular
or plural, look at how it’s
used in the sentence and
ask “Of what?”

20. SANAM Pronouns
• Some of the kittens have opened
their eyes.
• Ask “Some of what?”
• Kittens is plural, so this pronoun
is plural.

21. SANAM Pronouns
• Most of my talent is
wasted here.
• Ask “most of what?”
• Talent is singular, so
this pronoun is
singular.

22. Takeaways for today…
1. Indefinite pronouns do not refer to
specific antecedents, or the
antecedent is unknown.
2. Some indefinite pronouns are singular,
some plural, and some can be
either/or.
3. These pronouns MUST be memorized.
4. TONIGHT – look back over your notes
and determine what comprehension
aid (mnemonic, chant) you will use to
help you memorize your indefinite
pronouns.