Indefinite Pronouns

Form

An indefinite pronoun stands for a person, thing or place without saying which one, and most are built from some-, any-, no- or every- plus -one, -body, -thing or -where (someone, anybody, nothing, everywhere).

The -one and -body forms mean exactly the same, with -body a little more casual (Someone called / Somebody called). Every one of them counts as singular, so it takes a singular verb even when it covers a whole group (Everyone is here; Nothing works), but a word that points back to it is usually they, them or their (Someone left their keys). Each one already names the person or thing, so a verb can follow it straight away (Everyone enjoys cooking), while every still needs a noun after it (every student).

When to Use It

1. 1

   Use the some- forms in positive statements, when the person or thing exists but you cannot say which one

   Somebody left a bag on the train.

2. 2

   Use the no- forms to make the sentence negative by themselves, which is why the verb stays positive

   Nobody is in the office right now.

3. 3

   Use the every- forms for the whole group with no exceptions, still with a singular verb

   Everybody had already read the report.

4. 4

   Use the any- forms after a negative verb, in questions and after if, though offers and requests keep the some- forms

   I don't know anyone in this city and If anybody calls while I'm out, please take a message.

5. 5

   Point back with they, them or their, even after someone, everyone or nobody and even though the verb stays singular

   Everyone has packed their bags.

6. 6

   Put a describing word or else after the pronoun, not before it

   There is something wrong with the printer and Let's ask someone else.

Common Mistakes

• Pairing a no- form with a negative verb: write I don't have anything to say or I have nothing to say, not I don't have nothing to say — one negative per clause is enough.
• Giving an indefinite pronoun a plural verb: write Everyone needs a ticket and Almost everything was damaged, not Everyone need or everything were.
• Keeping a some- form in a negative sentence: write I haven't seen anyone here before, not I haven't seen someone here before.
• Running every one of together: write Every one of us got a ticket, not Everyone of us got a ticket — when of follows, it splits back into two words.
• Writing no one as one word: in American English it stays two words — write No one answered the phone, not Noone answered the phone, even though nobody, nothing and nowhere are each a single word.