Indefinite Pronouns

6th Grade English

Objective

• To identify singular and plural indefinite pronouns.

• CCSS – 6.L.1

An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that may

or may not be specifically named.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

alleach other

fewnobody

someone

more

Most indefinite pronouns are singular, but some are plural, and some could be either depending on the meaning of the sentence.

When the indefinite pronouns is used as

the subject of a sentence, the verb must agree with it in number.

So…

Many words that are used as indefinite pronouns can also be used as adjectives.

Both cats are coming to their food dishes.

Both are eating their cat food.

Indefinite

pronoun

Adjectiv

e

Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents.

Then, the pronouns must agree in number even if words are between the indefinite pronouns and the possessive pronoun.

Each of the students did (his or her, their) best work on the project.

Be careful to avoid sexist pronoun use with indefinite pronouns. •Everyone open his book.

Today, experienced writers try to avoid those masculine pronouns when referring to an entire population or part of a population.

Traditionally, masculine pronouns (he, him, his) were always used with singular indefinite pronouns when the gender of the antecedent was unknown.

Each of the students has his or her opinion about the moral of the fairy tale. or

All of the students have their own opinions about the moral of the fairy tale.

An alternative, - use the indefinite article a or an:

Each student has an interesting opinion about the moral of the fairy tale.

Indefinite PronounsSingular

another nobodyanybody no oneanyone nothing anything one each somebody either someoneevery somethingeverybodyeveryoneeverythingmuchneither

Pluralbothfewmanyothersseveral

Singular or Pluralallany

moremostnonesome

Each of the piñatas is made of clay or papier-mache. Some of them is quite fragile, so be careful when handling them. Many are shaped like animals, and each has their center filled with toys, nuts, and other treats. First, someone hang the piñata with a rope. Each of the players are blindfolded and then hit the piñata with a stick. Finally, when one breaks the piñata, all of the players collects their scattered presents.

Each is hoping for an excellent grade on the test.

Both of the boys forgot to bring their computers to class.

When spring break arrives for students, most forget about their studies.

As for the furniture, most is much too expensive for me.