DEFINITE

INDEFINITE
PRONOUN
 DEFINITE

Definite Pronoun

A definite pronoun would be a pronoun that

refers to specific person or thing,
so a personal pronoun would also be a definite
pronoun.
 INDEFINITE
These are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person or thing.

Singular word + singular verb (is, was, has, does, takes)

Plural word + plural verb (are, were, have, do, take)
 Definite vs Indefinite Pronoun
I would like to go to Paris this summer. I would like to go somewhere this summer.
Jim gave me this book. Someone gave me this book.
I won't tell your secret to Sam. I won't tell your secret to anyone.
I bought my school supplies at the mall. I bought everything at the mall.

Antecedent vs No Antecedent
They sometimes have antecedent.
The players practiced in the rain. Some were sick.
Players is the antecedent for the indefinite pronoun some.

No antecedent
Everything you say is true. Someone is waiting for you.
Something is better than nothing. Everything is getting expensive nowadays.
 Singular Indefinite Pronoun
Singular word + singular verb (is, was, has, does, takes)
is
There___nothing to eat. was
Everyone____sleeping in my bed at that time.
Does
_______anyone know what time it is? has
Someone____given me this book.
has
Everybody________certain inalienable rights.
takes
Everyone_____(take) experiences
a shower in the morning. Everyone_________(experience) challenges in life.
is
Each of the citizens____(be) missing his or her rights.
Even though the noun citizens is plural, the indefinite pronoun each is singular, so you can’t
use the plural possessive their. Use the singular possessive his or her.
Plural Indefinite Pronoun
Plural word + plural verb (are, were, have, do, take)
Both have driver's licenses. are
Both____delicious
win have
Several of his friends____(have) a plan not to
Only a select few_____(win)the Pulitzer Prize.
attend the party.
are
Many of the citizens_____(be) missing their rights.
In this sentence, it's necessary to use the plural possessive pronoun their because of the plural
indefinite pronoun many (not because of the noun citizens).
 Singular or Plural Indefinite (Proclivity Pronoun)
All of the cake has been eaten.
There is only one cake.
is
All of the cake____missing its frosting.
All of the cake is a singular quantity.
You have only one cake.
are
All of the students____missing their notebooks.
All of the students is a plural quantity,
you can count the students.
is
Most of the gasoline____finished.
has
None of the meat______spoiled.
is
All of the cake____gone.
All of the cookies have been eaten.
There are many cookies.
are
All of the cake slices_____missing their frosting.
All of the slices is a plural quantity. You can count
how many slices of cake there are.
are
All______welcome to come to the birthday party
tonight.
were
All_______late to the party last night.
are
Most of the cars____new.
have
None of the apples______spoiled.
are
All of the cupcakes_____gone.

Possessive Indefinite Pronoun

an indefinite pronoun that refers to a person can become possessive by taking the ending ’s
I found somebody’s wallet on the hiking path.
The server brought everyone’s order except Tim’s.
 Someone/Somebody vs Anyone/Anybody
Everyone vs Everybody

Someone/Somebody Anyone/Anybody Everyone/Everybody

Used in positive statements Used in negative statements Used to refer to all people

Used in requests and offers Used in information questions Related to a group/situation

There’s someone at the office. I don’t think anyone is at the Everyone in our class
office. graduated.
Could you send someone to Has anybody seen my keys? It was great to see everybody
help me? at the reunion!
Would you like to talk to Why hasn’t anyone returned Everybody had a great time.
somebody? my calls?

}
ONE - One sounds more formal than –body.
vs - We can use them interchangeably.
BODY - Choose according to syllables (for poetry, music lyrics, etc)
 I’m looking for somewhere I can store my bike. Don' t go anywhere, okay?
Nobody was interested in the talk. (or No one was)
Nobody, no one, nothing, nowhere are stronger than not anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere:
I did nothing. She told no one, not even her mother.
(stronger than I didn’t do anything.) (stronger than She didn’t tell anyone ..)
I knew nobody at the party. There was nowhere to park the car. I have no money.
Nothing will make me change my mind.
You usually have to wait for a long time. Nothing happens quickly.
 We don’t use nobody, no one, nothing, nowhere after no, not, never or other words which
have a negative meaning (hardly, seldom, little, never, only, scarcely and seldom). We use
anyone, anybody, anything, anywhere :

I can’t do anything. Not: ----------------------

I can’t do nothing.
She talks to hardly anyone. ------------------------------
Not: She talks to hardly no one.

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We don’t use not + anyone/anything/anywhere as the subject of a sentence :

Nothing will make me change my mind.

Not : -------------------------------------------------
Not anything will make me change my mind.

Nobody ever goes to see her. She’s very lonely.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Not : Not anybody ever goes to see her. She’s very lonely.