Indefinite pronouns

A Short Story

Characters:

Nobody

Everybody Anybody

Somebody

A Short StoryThere was an important job to be done and

was sure that would do it

would have done it but did it. got angry about that because it was ‘s job. thought would do it but realized that wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that blamed when did what could have done.

A Short Story

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody would have done it but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Let’s answer the questions below:

1. Was there work done by the four friends?

2. Why wasn’t there any accomplishment?

3. What should Everybody have done?

4. If you were one of them, what would you have done?

5. What do you think would have happned if the work had been accomplished?

What words in the story do not point out to particular persons, places or things?

Some pronouns take the place of nouns that are either masculine or feminine or both. They are called Indefinite Pronouns.

Some pronouns take the place of nouns that are

either masculine or feminine or both. They are called Indefinite Pronouns.

Singular Plural Singular or Plural

anybody neitheranyone nobodyeach no oneeither oneeverybody someone

both few many most several

allnonesome

Use a singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun; use a plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun.

Use their when the antecedent is a plural indefinite pronoun; use his or her when the antecedent is a singular indefinite pronoun.

Examples:

Somebody submitted an electronic microscope.

No one knows who did it.

Few have started on their Science project.

One of the girls is beautiful.

Each of the women like handsome partners.

Each of the janitors is given an assignment.

One of the teachers wants to join the contest.

Make new sentences by substituting each of the words in the parentheses for the italicized word.

• Please go and see if somebody is in the room.someone nobody everybody

• No one is there.nobody someone everyone

• Nobody knows who the burglar is.everyone somebody no one

• Something has been takeneverything nothing

Let’s try!

Read the sentences. Tell the correct verb in the parentheses that agrees with each indefinite pronoun.1. Somebody (keep, keeps) on putting notes on my

desk.2. Nobody (know, knows) who is writing the notes.3. All the letters (ask, asks) the same thing.4. Each (invite, invites) me to the Valentine’s Day

Dance.

Let’s try!

5. Most (is, are) typed on white paper.6. However, one (was, were) written by hand in

green ink.7. Everybody (has, have) a theory about the

mysterious writer.8. Many (think, thinks) Pedro Rosales might be the

author.

Let’s try!

9. Others (smile, smiles) at the writer’s shyness.10. Certainly, someone (has, have) to step forward

before the dance.

Let’s try!

Read the paragraphs below. Copy the letterof the verb that agrees with each indefinite pronoun on your tickler.

Everyone in my class (a. has b. have) a pen pal. Several (a. write b. writes) to more than one person. Nobody (a. forget b. forgets) to send a letter every week.

Everybody (a. is b. are) alwayseager to check the mail. Something Usually (a. arrive b. arrives) in the mail for me. Each of my pen pals (a. is b. are) special. Both of my pen pals (a. live b. lives)In Africa. Some of us (a. read b. reads) the letters aloud to the class. Many (a. hope b. hopes) to visit their pen pals someday. All (a. enjoy b. enjoys) communicating with new friends.