Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that have no specific antecedents. Although an indefinite pronoun may refer to someone or something identifiable, it refers to them in general with the notion of all, some, any, or none.

Indefinite pronouns obey the rule of concord in grammar in that singular indefinite pronouns are only used with singular verbs while plural indefinite pronouns only go with plural verbs. Examples are given below in sentences.

Examples:

1.       Singular                -              Somebody says he/she likes the book.

       Plural                   -              Many were saying that they liked the book.

2.       Singular                -              John gave me another bottle of Coke yesterday.

Plural                    -              Several men gave me bottles of Coke yesterday.

3.       Singular                -              Someone/Everyone here wants to see you.

Plural                    -              Some of us here want to see you.

4.       Singular                -              Nobody here knows what is next.

Plural                    -              Many here know what is next.

Look at the following sentences:
Every student are in the class (WRONG)
Every student is in the class. (CORRECT)

Few mango is in the fridge. (WRONG)
Few mangoes are in the fridge. (CORRECT)

Neither of the shoes are good for me. (WRONG)
Neither of the shoes is good for me. (CORRECT)

There are two types of indefinite pronouns: Singular and plural indefinite pronouns.

The singular indefinite pronouns include:

another, both, everything, nothing, any, each, neither, one, anybody, either, nobody, somebody, anyone, everybody, none, someone, anything, everyone, no one, something.

The plural indefinite pronouns include:

                all, few,  more, much, several, both, many, most, plenty, some.

NOTE: Indefinite pronouns can only be classified as pronouns if they are used alone. If they are used with a noun, then they become indefinite adjectives.

Examples:

Pronoun:             Both agreed that surgery was the only solution.

Adjective:           Both doctors agreed that surgery was the only solution.

"Both" becomes an indefinite adjective in the second sentence because it modifies the noun "doctors."

Pronoun:             Several have marvelled at the new the look of Lagos.

Adjective:           Several tourists have marvelled at the new look of Lagos.

"Several" becomes an indefinite adjective in the second sentence because it modifies the noun "tourists."