Indefinite pronouns are used to talk about general things instead of referring to a specific thing, person, place. Indefinite pronouns in English grammar include something/somebody, anything/anybody, everything/everybody and nothing/nobody.
Usage
Rule 1: We use the indefinite pronouns that end in -thing to refer to things, and the indefinite pronouns that end in -body or -one to refer to people.
Rule 2: Depending on the purpose, we can use every-, some-, any-, or no- when referring to people, things, or places.
Here is a short overview to help you understand the difference between every-, some-, any-, no-:
| Indefinite Pronoun | Usage |
|---|---|
| everything / everybody / everyone | every individual in a group, all together |
| something / somebody / someone | an unspecified person or thing |
| anything / anybody / anyone | one random person of a group, one random thing / in negative sentences / in questions if there is something/someone |
| nothing / nobody / no one | not one single thing or person |
Rule 3: We can use not anything / anybody / anyone instead of nothing / nobody / no one.
Rule 4: We use any- when referring to any person or thing in a group, but we use every- if we refer to every single individual or the entire group together.
Rule 5: As the indefinite pronouns that end in -body or -one indicate a person, we use the third person plural when we replace them with personal or possessive pronouns.
Note: The indefinite pronouns that end in -thing do not refer to people and are therefore replaced with the pronoun it.
Quiz
1/4Choose the right indefinite pronoun. I hope to finish ___ on time.