Indefinite Pronouns in English

Grammar
Introduction

Indefinite pronouns in English grammar

include something/somebody, anything/anybody, everything/everybody and nothing/
nobody. We use indefinite pronouns to speak generally about something rather than
mentioning a specific person, place or thing.

Learn the rules for using indefinite pronouns in English grammar online with Lingolia
then test yourself in the interactive exercises.

I am lost. Nothing looks familiar. Everything looks different.

There’s nobody in the street. I’d really like to ask someone. I’m sure anyone could help me to
get back to the city centre. But there isn’t anyone here I could ask. It seems that everyone’s
disappeared.

I think I heard something. Is there anyone there? I would do anything to get back to the city
centre.

Usage

Things or People

To refer to things, we use the indefinite pronouns that end in -thing.

Example:

everything, something, anything, nothing

For people, we use the indefinite pronouns that end in -body or -one.

Example:

everybody/everyone, somebody/someone, anybody/anyone, nobody/no one

Difference between every-, some-, any-, no-

indefinite pronoun usage example

everything every individual in a group, Everything looks different.

everybody/everyone all together It seems that everyone has
disappeared.

something an unspecified person or thing I would really like to ask someone.

somebody/someone I think I heard something.

anything one random person of a group, I am sure anyone could help me to

anybody/anyone one random thing get back to the city centre.
I would do anything to get back to
the city centre.

in negative sentences, But there isn’t anyone here I could

in the sense of nothing/nobody ask.

in questions whether there is Is there anyone there?

something/something

nothing not one single thing or person Nothing looks familiar.There

nobody/no one is nobody in the street.

Nothing/nobody or anything/anybody

Instead of nothing/nobody/no one we can also use not anything/anybody/anyone.

Example:

Nothing looks familiar.

I don’t see anything that looks familiar.

There is nobody here I could ask.

There isn’t anyone here I could ask.

Everything/everybody or anything/anybody

For foreign learners of English it is sometimes difficult to know whether to

use any- or every-.
If we are referring to any person or thing from a group, we need to use any-. To help
us remember this rule, we can imagine various people or things and put an or in
between them.

Example:

Anyone could help me: the man or the woman or the child or the old lady.

I will do anything if you help me: I will give you money or I will help you do the
washing up or I will go to the cinema with you.

However, if we truly mean every single individual or the entire group together, we
have to use every-. To help us remember this rule, we can imagine various people or
things and put an and in between them.

Example:

Everyone has disappeared: the man and the woman and the child and the old lady.

I will do everything if you help me: I will give you money and I will help you do the
washing up and I will go to the cinema with you.

Learn more about the difference between every and any.

Indefinite pronouns + they

The indefinite pronouns that end in -body/-one indicate a person. If we replace these
pronouns with personal or possessive pronouns we use the third person plural.

Example:

I would really like to ask someone if they knew the way.

Everybody should know their way home.

However, the indefinite pronouns that end in -thing do not refer to people and are
therefore replaced with the pronoun it.
Distributives: both, either, neither,
every, each, all, none

What are distributives?

Distributives are words that show how a group of people or things are divided or shared out.

The most common distributives in English are both, either, neither, every, each, all,
no and none of.

Master the use of distributives in English grammar with Lingolia’s quick and easy examples,
then put your knowledge to the test in the exercises.

Example

A: What shall we have for dinner?

B: Well, both of us are hungry, but neither of us wants to cook.

A: Let’s order something.

B: I want either Italian or Chinese.

A: You know I don’t like either of those, why do you suggest them every time?

B: Neither restaurant delivers anyway, so we have to choose something else.

A: We have to hurry up, all the restaurants close at eleven o‘clock so none of them
deliver after ten.

both, neither and either

The distributives both, neither and either always refer to two things or people.

both

Both means all in reference to two things. It is used before plural nouns.

Example:

Both restaurants close soon.

 not: Both restaurant close soon.Both restaurant close soon.

We can use both and both of before plural nouns with determiners such as the, a/an,
those, her, etc.

Examples:

Both the restaurants offer delivery service. = Both of the restaurants …

Both his grandchildren play baseball. = Both of his grandchildren …

However, we must use both of before object pronouns (us, them, etc.). The of is not
optional in this case.

Example:

Both of us are hungry.

not: Both us are hungry.Both us are hungry.

We can use both after a subject pronoun (you, they) to emphasise that we are
referring to two things or people.

In this case, both comes after an auxiliary verb or the verb be, but comes before
other verbs.

Example:

We are both hungry.

We both want to order food.

Both … and is used to connect two things.

We usually ensure that these things are of the same grammatical type so that
the sentence sounds balanced.

Example:

Both Italian and Chinese are out of the question. (noun + noun)

Their food is both vegan and gluten free. (adjective + adjective)

Both does not have a negative meaning, in negative clauses that refer to two things
or people we use neither (see below).
neither

Neither is the opposite of both. It also refers to two things but has
a negative meaning.

It means not one and not the other and is used before singular nouns.

Example:

Neither restaurant delivers.

= not the Chinese restaurant and not the Italian restaurant

Neither can be used alone as a short answer.

Example:

A: Do you drink tea or coffee?

B: Neither.

If we have an object pronoun (us, them, ours, etc.) or a plural noun with
a determiner (the, those, her, etc.), we must use neither of.

Examples:

Neither of us wanted to cook. (object pronoun)

Neither of the restaurants had a table. (plural noun with article)

Neither of her parents said goodbye. (plural noun with possessive pronoun)

neither … nor

Neither is combined with nor to connect two things or people.

Example:

Neither the Chinese restaurant nor the Italian delivers.

Neither my girlfriend nor my best friend remembered my birthday.

To express the idea of also not, we use neither followed by inverted word
order: neither + auxiliary + subject.

Example:

A: I don’t like Chinese.

 B: Neither do I.

We can also use not … either to express the same idea.

Example:

I don’t like Chinese either.

me neither vs. me either

In informal speech, we often use the short form me neither/me either to mean also
not.

Example:

A: I don’t like Chinese.

B: Me neither./Me either.

Both forms are informal and are very common in spoken English.

Me neither is more typical in British English, while me either is more typical in

American English.

Neither and either can be pronounced in two ways: with a long e sound /ˈʌɪðə/ or with
a long i sound /ˈiːðə/.

either

Either is used before singular nouns to mean one or the other. Either … or presents
a choice between two possibilities.

Example:

Either option is fine for me.

I want either Italian or Chinese.

Either can be used alone as a short answer.

Example:

A: Which do you prefer?

B: Either.

If we have an object pronoun (us, them, you, etc.) or a plural noun with
a determiner (the, a/an, my, these, etc.), we must use either of.
Example:

I don’t like either of them. (object pronoun)

You can ask either of the waitresses. (plural noun with article)

We didn’t like either of those films. (plural noun with demonstrative pronoun)
Either and neither: singular or plural?

The short answer: when we use either (of) or neither (of) in a sentence,
we conjugate the verb in the singular.

Example:

Neither restaurant delivers.

Either option is fine.

Apparently, neither of her daughters wants to come to the wedding.

The long answer: while it is never incorrect to use the singular form of the verb
with either (of) and neither (of), the reality is slightly more complicated.

Many native speakers use a verb in the plural with neither of and either of, especially
in spoken language.

Example:

Does either of them live in the city? = Do either of them live in the city?

Neither of them lives in the city. = Neither of them live in the city.

When neither … nor and either … or refer to two singular nouns, the verb is in the
singular. When the sentence contains two plural nouns, the verb is conjugated in the
plural.

Example:

Neither my mother nor my father speaks English. (two singular nouns = singular verb)

Neither my sisters nor my brothers like to cook for the family. (two plural nouns =
plural verb)

However, if one thing is singular and the other is plural, native speakers tend to
follow the rule of proximity: this means that the conjugation depends on which is
closest to the verb:
Example:

I think either the tortilla or the nachos are the best dishes on the menu.

The subject closest to the verb is plural, so the verb is conjugated in the plural.

I think either the nachos or the tortilla is the best dish on the menu.

The subject closest to the verb is singular, so the verb is conjugated in the singular.

each, every

We use each and every to mean all when referring to three or more things or people.
They can often be used interchangeably:

Example:

Each table in the restaurant was occupied.

Every table in the restaurant was occupied.

However, there are also some small differences between each and every.

each

Each is used with singular nouns to focus on separate things in a group.

It is used to emphasise individuals within a group and often appears with words such
as individually, personally, etc.

Example:

He thanked each guest personally.

There were ten competitors at the event and each winner was given a prize.

In this case every would be too general; each refers to a few

elements (winners) within a group (competitors).

Each usually refers to smaller numbers. Like both, it can also be used to refer to two
people or things.

Example:

I read two reviews of the restaurant and each review said the same thing.

We use each of before object pronouns (us, them, etc.) and nouns with determiners
(such as the, a/an, her, these, etc.)
Example:

We can find something for each of us. (object pronoun)

I told each of my parents individually. (noun with a possessive pronoun)

every

Every refers to all parts in a group of three or more. It can only be used with singular
nouns.

Unlike each, every is used for generalisations because it emphasises all elements
within a group.

Example:

Every restaurant in this area delivers.

Every can also be used in front of numbers and ordinal numbers to indicate how
often something happens.

Examples:

She works every third Saturday in the month.

We eat out every two weeks.

We use adverbs such as almost, nearly, practically, single, etc. with every rather
than each.

Examples:

Practically every restaurant has an online menu nowadays.

not: Practically each restaurant has an online menu nowadays.Practically each

restaurant has an online menu nowadays.

We cannot use every of. If we want to use every before a pronoun or a determiner,
we must use every one of.

Example:

I've seen every one of his movies.

not: I’ve seen every of his movies.

Read more about indefinite pronouns with every.

all, no, none of

all

All is used to refer to every element in a group of three or more people or things. It is
used with plural nouns.

Example:

All banks are closed on Sundays.

When we have a noun with a determiner such as the, these, your, my, etc., we can
use all or all of.

Example:

All the restaurants close soon. = All of the restaurants close soon.

However, only all of is possible before absolute pronouns that replace a noun, such
as them, us, theirs, mine, etc. Of is not optional in this case.

Example:

All of them close soon.

not: All them close soon.

We often use the construction not all with plural nouns to divide a group.

Example:

Not all restaurants deliver.

We can only use all with plural nouns. Use every to talk about singular nouns (see
above). The verb is conjugated accordingly.

Example:

All restaurants deliver to this area.

no

We use no before a noun to mean not any or not one. The verb is conjugated
accordingly.

Example:

No restaurants deliver after ten o’clock.

 No restaurant delivers after ten o’clock.

I have no time to cook.

none of

We use none of before pronouns (mine, them, us, ours, etc.) and before a noun with
a determiner (the, your, my etc.)

Example:

None of them deliver after ten o’clock. (object pronoun)

None of your emails arrived. (noun with a possessive pronoun)

It is a common myth than none of always takes a verb in the singular, however this is
not true.

In fact, the rule is very simple: when none of refers to a singular noun the verb is
conjugated in the singular, when it refers to a plural noun it is conjugated in the
plural.

Example:

None of the cake was eaten.

singular noun cake → verb in the singular

None of the restaurants deliver after ten.

plural noun restaurants → verb in the plural

Remember, no and none of refer to elements in groups of three or more, for two
things we use the distributive neither (see above).

Example:

None of the restaurants deliver after ten o’clock. (a group of more than 2 restaurants)

Neither of the restaurants delivers after ten o’clock. (2 restaurants)

What is a clause?
A clause is a part of a sentence. There are two main types: independent (main
clauses), dependent (subordinate clauses).

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

An independent clause is a complete sentence; it contains a subject and verb and

expresses a complete thought in both context and meaning.

For example: The door opened.

Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or

compound sentences.

CO-ORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

and but for

or nor so

yet

For example: Take two independent clauses and join them together with the
conjunction and: " The door opened." "The man walked in." = The door
opened and the man walked in.

DEPENDENT CLAUSES

A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and

verb but does not express a complete thought. They can make sense on their own,
but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and meaning. They
are usually joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

Dependent clauses often begin with a a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun

(see below) that makes the clause unable to stand alone.
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

after although as because

before even if even though if

in order that once provided that rather than

since so that than that

though unless until when

whenever where whereas wherever

whether while why

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

that which whichever

who whoever whom

whose whosever whomever

For example:

The door opened because the man pushed it.

Dependent clauses can be nominal, adverbial or adjectival.

A nominal clause (noun clause) functions like a noun or noun phrase. It is a group of
words containing a subject and a finite verb of its own and contains one of the
following: that | if | whether

For example:

 I wondered whether the homework was necessary.

Noun clauses answer questions like "who(m)?" or "what?"

An adverbial clause (adverb clause) is a word or expression in the sentence that
functions as an adverb; that is, it tells you something about how the action in the verb
was done. An adverbial clause is separated from the other clauses by any of the
following subordinating
conjunctions: after | although | as | because | before | if | since | that | though
| till | unless | until | when | where | while

For example:

 They will visit you before they go to the airport.

Adverbial clauses can also be placed before the main clause without changing the
meaning.

For example:

 Before they go to the airport, they will visit you.

!Note - When an adverb clause introduces the sentence (as this one does), it is set
off with a comma.

Adverb clauses answer questions like "when?", "where?", "why?"

An adjectival clause (adjective clause or relative clause) does the work of an

adjective and describes a noun, it's usually introduced by a relative
pronoun: who | whom | whose | that | which

For example:

 I went to the show that was very popular.

This kind of clause is used to provide extra information about the noun it follows. This
can be to define something (a defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but
interesting, added information (a non-defining clause).

For example:
  The car that is parked in front of the gates will be towed away. (Defining
relative clause.)

Information contained in the defining relative clause is absolutely essential in order

for us to be able to identify the car in question.

 My dog, who is grey and white, chased the postman. ( Non-defining relative
clause)

A non-defining relative clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
If you take away the non-defining clause the basic meaning of the sentence remains
intact.

For example:

 My dog chased the postman.

Adjective clauses answer questions like "which?" or "what kind of?"

SUMMARY
An adjective clause functions as an adjective (modifies a noun or pronoun); an
adverb clause functions as an adverb (describes a verb, adjective or other adverb); a
noun clause is used as a noun (subject of a verb, direct object, indirect object,
predicate nominative or object of the preposition).

!Note - The difference between a clause and a phrase is that a phrase does not
contain a finite verb.

RELATIVE CLAUSES

A relative clause follows the noun it modifies. It is generally indicated by a relative

pronoun at the start of the clause, although sometimes you can tell simply by word
order. The choice of relative pronoun, or choice to omit one, can be affected by the
following:-

HUMAN OR NON-HUMAN?

We make a distinction between an antecedent that is a human — who(m) — and

an antecedent which is a non-human — which.
Who(m) is used when the antecedent is a person.
That is used to refer to either a person or thing.
Which is used to refer to anything exept a person.

 I met a man and a woman yesterday. The woman, who had long blonde hair,
was very pretty.
 The man she was with, was the man that / who won the race.
 The race was the one that I lost.
 The man, to whom the winnings were given, was with the woman who was
very pretty.

!Note - Whom is not used much in spoken English.

RESTRICTIVE OR NON-RESTRICTIVE?

Restrictive relative clauses are sometimes called defining relative clauses, or

identifying relative clauses. Similarly, non-restrictive relative clauses are called non-
defining or non-identifying relative clauses.

In English a non-restrictive relative clause is preceded by a pause in speech or a

comma in writing, unlike a restrictive clause.

For example:-

The builder, who erects very fine houses, will make a large profit.
This example, with commas, contains a non-restrictive relative clause. It refers
to a specific builder, and assumes we know which builder is intended. It tells
us firstly about his houses, then about his profits.

The builder who erects very fine houses will make a large profit.
This second example uses a restrictive relative clause. Without the commas, the
sentence states that any builder who builds such houses will make a profit.

Restrictive Non-restrictive

Human Nonhuman Human Nonhuman

Subject who, that which, that who which

Object who, whom, that, Ø which, that, Ø who, whom which
After
whom which whom which
preposition
whose, of whom whose, of whose, of whose, of
Possessive
which whom which