Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that refer to people, things or amounts without naming them specifically. Words like someone, anything, everybody, few and none replace nouns whose identity is unknown, unimportant or general. They help speakers and writers talk about unspecified people or objects clearly and concisely, without needing exact details.
Types of indefinite pronouns
Universal (referring to all)
Refer to every person or thing in a group without exception.
e.g. everyone, everybody, everything
Existential (referring to some or any)
Refer to an unspecified but existing person, thing or amount.
e.g. someone, anybody, something
Negative (referring to none)
Refer to the absence of people, things or amounts.
e.g. no one, nobody, nothing, none
Distributive (referring to individuals in a group)
Refer to members of a group considered separately.
e.g. each, either, neither
Quantifying (referring to amount or number)
Indicate a general, unspecified quantity of something.
e.g. few, many, several, all, some
Rules to remember
- Most indefinite pronouns ending in -one, -body or -thing take a singular verb: 'Everybody knows the answer.'
- Use possessive forms with an apostrophe for compound indefinite pronouns, such as 'someone's coat' or 'nobody's fault'.
- 'None' can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the noun it replaces is countable or uncountable, though singular is preferred in formal writing.
- Distributive pronouns like 'each', 'either' and 'neither' are usually followed by singular verbs: 'Neither option is perfect.'
- Some indefinite pronouns, such as 'all', 'some', 'more' and 'most', can be singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to in context.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| Someone left their umbrella in the hallway. | 'Someone' is an existential pronoun referring to an unspecified person. |
| Everybody was surprised by the announcement. | 'Everybody' is universal and takes a singular verb. |
| I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find anything. | 'Anything' is used in a negative sentence to mean 'not any thing'. |
| Each of the students submitted their assignment on time. | 'Each' is distributive and treats members of the group individually. |
| None of the information was useful. | 'None' refers to an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb here. |
| Few of the guests stayed until the end of the party. | 'Few' is a quantifying pronoun indicating a small number. |
| Nobody's opinion was considered during the meeting. | The possessive form 'nobody's' shows ownership without naming a specific person. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Everybody are invited to the party.
Correct: Everybody is invited to the party.
Incorrect: Neither of the answers are correct.
Correct: Neither of the answers is correct.
Incorrect: Somebody forgot their's keys.
Correct: Somebody forgot their keys.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using indefinite pronouns accurately, especially matching them with the correct singular verb forms, shows grammatical control that examiners reward under the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion. Varying your language with pronouns like 'several', 'few' and 'none' instead of repeating specific nouns also demonstrates a wider vocabulary range, which can lift both your Speaking and Writing band scores when used correctly and naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What is an indefinite pronoun?
It is a pronoun that refers to unspecified people, things or amounts, such as someone, anything, everybody or none, rather than naming a specific noun.
Is 'none' singular or plural?
It depends on the noun it replaces: use a singular verb for uncountable nouns and it can take either singular or plural for countable nouns, though singular is safer in formal writing.
Do indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs?
No. Pronouns ending in -one, -body or -thing, and distributive pronouns like 'each' and 'neither', are singular, but others like 'some', 'all' and 'most' can be singular or plural depending on context.
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