Indefinite Pronouns

Just for fun….try this….

Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases

The word or words the pronoun replaces is called the antecedent of the pronoun

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents – singular antecedents are replaced with singular pronouns, and plural antecedents are replaced with plural pronouns

Pronoun review

You don’t know the antecedent?

But what if……

Say you come home and find a broken vase. You have no idea how it got broken, or who broke it. Your parents walk in, and say “What happened?”

For example…..

“_____________ broke the vase.”

What word do you put here, if you have no idea who really did it?

What do you say??

Somebody

Something

Someone

No one Nobody

Everybody

Everyon

e

Anyone Anybody

All of these pronouns are indefinite. They do not refer to a specific antecedent,

or the antecedent is unknown.

Indefinite pronouns

in=not definite=clearly stated Indefinite pronouns=pronouns for

which the antecedent is not clearly stated (or is unknown)

Singular vs. Plural

Some indefinite pronouns are singular. Some are plural. Some can be either singular or plural

This is important, because indefinite pronouns must agree with their verbs.

Indefinite pronouns often fail the “sounds right test.” Proper usage may sound awkward, or weird.

It is necessary to memorize which pronouns are singular, which are plural, and which can be either/or.

How can you tell?

each anotheranybody somebodymuch no onesomethingeveryonenobody neitheranything everythingeither anyonenothing someone everybody

Singular indefinite pronouns

Can you separate these into

categories to make them easier to

remember?

Create a chant to help you remember the main singular pronouns and the SANE (some, any, no, every) pronouns:

“Each, much, either, neither, another, and all the ones, bodies, and things”

One idea….

Learn the first singular indefinite pronouns: “each, much, either, neither another” and the following chart:

Another idea…..

someanynoevery

bodyonething

Any combination of words from the right and left side make a singular indefinite pronoun

You can remember the 12 “one, body, thing” pronouns by the mnemonic SANE BOT

INDEFINITE

Attack of the (IN)SANE BOT!

SomeAnyNoEvery

BodyOneThing

Try one of the methods above, or create one of your own

Find some way to help you remember the singular indefinite pronouns

Memorizing the singulars

There are only 5!

Both Few Many Several Others

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Can you create a mnemonic to help

you remember them?

Bears often sleep for months.

Try this one….

both others several few many

B F M S O Or create your own!

Some indefinite pronouns can be both singular and plural.

These are called the SANAM pronouns

Some All None Any Most

Either/or Indefinite pronouns

When determining if a SANAM pronoun is singular or plural, look at how it’s used in the sentence and ask “Of what?”

Using SANAM Pronouns

Some of the kittens have opened their eyes.

Ask “Some of what?” Kittens is plural, so this pronoun is plural.

SANAM Pronouns

Most of my talent is wasted here. Ask “most of what?” Talent is singular, so this pronoun is singular

SANAM Pronouns

1. Indefinite pronouns do not refer to specific antecedents, or the antecedent is unknown

2. Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some plural, and some can be either/or

3. These pronouns MUST be memorized.4. TONIGHT – look back over your notes and

determine what comprehension aid (mnemonic, chant, etc.) you will use to help you memorize your indefinite pronouns.

Takeaways for today