Indefinite Pronoun

 Definition: If your plans for this weekend are indefinite, or not definite, then you are not sure. An indefinite pronoun is one that doesn't refer to a specific person or thing.

Indefinite Pronouns*
SingularPluralSingular or Plural
another
each
either
much
neither
one
other		anybody, anyone, anything
everybody, everyone, everything
nobody, no one, nothing
somebody, someone, something		both
few
many
others
several		all
any
more
most
none
some

*We'll cover the importance of the categories in the agreement lesson.

Here are some examples of indefinite pronouns:

Of these two sandwiches, neither looks like something I would eat.
Can no one tell me the answer to this math problem?
This solution is one of many.
Some are better than others.

Many indefinite pronouns can also be used as adjectives.

Pronoun: Either will be acceptable to my aunt.
Either stands alone as a pronoun.

Adjective: Either set of dishes will be acceptable to my aunt.
Either modifies the noun set.

Pronoun: There are 35 students in this class and several arrived late today.
Several stands alone as a pronoun.

Adjective: Several students arrived late today.
Several modifies the noun students.

There are a few indefinite pronouns that can be combined to form reciprocal pronouns. They are each other and one another. The word reciprocal means that an action is moving in two directions. For example, if I brush your hair and you brush mine, the action is reciprocal; we are brushing each other's hair. Reciprocal pronouns are used so that we don't have to repeat people's names when talking about who did what.

To replace two nouns, use each other.

Jorge and Melanie help each other study for tests.
Stephanie and Laurie bumped into each other in the hall.

To replace three or more nouns, use one another.

The police, firefighters, and paramedics help one another respond to emergencies.
Students always bump into one another in our crowded hallways.

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