What Are Indefinite Pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person, thing, or amount. Instead of naming exactly who or what we are talking about, they refer to something general or unknown.
For example:
- Someone is at the door.
- Nothing is in the box.
- Everyone enjoyed the party.
In these sentences, we do not know exactly who someone is, what nothing refers to, or which people are everyone. That is why they are called indefinite (not definite or specific).
Indefinite pronouns are very common in everyday English, so understanding them is important for both speaking and writing.
1. Common Indefinite Pronouns
Here is a list of common indefinite pronouns:
People
- someone / somebody
- anyone / anybody
- no one / nobody
- everyone / everybody
Things
- something
- anything
- nothing
- everything
Amount or Quantity
- all
- some
- any
- none
- much
- many
- few
- several
- each
- either
- neither
- one
2. Indefinite Pronouns Referring to People
These words end in -one or -body. They mean the same thing.
- someone = somebody
- anyone = anybody
- everyone = everybody
- no one = nobody
Examples:
- Someone left their bag here.
- Everyone is ready.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- Anybody can join the club.
Important Grammar Rule
These pronouns are singular, even though they refer to many people.
Correct:
- Everyone is here.
- Someone has my pencil.
Incorrect:
- Everyone are here. ❌
Even though “everyone” means many people, the verb must be singular.
3. Indefinite Pronouns Referring to Things
These include:
- something
- anything
- nothing
- everything
Examples:
- I need something to drink.
- Is there anything in the fridge?
- There is nothing in my bag.
- Everything looks good.
These are also singular.
- Everything is ready.
- Nothing was broken.
4. Using “Some” and “Any”
“Some” and “any” can function as indefinite pronouns.
“Some” – usually in positive sentences
- Some are missing.
- I bought apples, but some were rotten.
“Any” – often in questions and negative sentences
- Are there cookies? Yes, but I didn’t eat any.
- I don’t have any.
However, sometimes “any” can be used in positive sentences to mean “it doesn’t matter which.”
- Any student can answer.
5. Indefinite Pronouns Showing Quantity
(1) All
- All are welcome.
- All of the cake is gone.
“All” can be singular or plural depending on what it refers to.
- All of the water is cold. (water = uncountable)
- All of the students are here. (students = plural)
(2) None
“None” can be singular or plural.
- None of the milk is left.
- None of the students are late.
Both forms are acceptable in modern English.
(3) Many / Few / Several
These are plural.
- Many are called, but few are chosen.
- Few understand the problem.
- Several were absent.
These take plural verbs.
- Many are waiting.
- Few have tried.
(4) Much
“Much” is used with uncountable nouns and takes a singular verb.
- Much has changed.
- Not much is left.
(5) Each / Either / Neither
These are singular.
- Each has a ticket.
- Either is fine.
- Neither was correct.
Even though they refer to two or more items, the verb is singular.
Incorrect:
- Each have a ticket. ❌
Correct:
- Each has a ticket.
6. Indefinite Pronouns with Adjectives
When an adjective describes an indefinite pronoun, the adjective comes after it.
Correct:
- I need something cold.
- Is there anyone famous here?
Incorrect:
- I need cold something. ❌
The structure is:
indefinite pronoun + adjective
7. Indefinite Pronouns and Possessive Forms
To show possession, add ’s.
- Someone’s phone is ringing.
- Nobody’s car is outside.
8. Indefinite Pronouns and “They”
Traditionally, singular indefinite pronouns used “he” as a pronoun:
- Everyone forgot his book.
Today, it is common and natural to use they as a singular pronoun:
- Everyone forgot their book.
- Someone left their jacket.
This is called singular they, and it is widely accepted in modern English.
9. Double Negatives with Indefinite Pronouns
Be careful with words like “nothing” and “nobody.” They are already negative.
Correct:
- I saw nothing.
- Nobody came.
Incorrect:
- I didn’t see nothing. ❌ (double negative in standard English)
Instead say:
- I didn’t see anything.
10. Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using plural verbs
Incorrect:
- Everybody know the answer. ❌
Correct:
- Everybody knows the answer.
Mistake 2: Wrong word order with adjectives
Incorrect:
- I need interesting something. ❌
Correct:
- I need something interesting.
Mistake 3: Confusing “no one” and “none”
- No one refers to people.
- None can refer to people or things.
Correct:
- No one is here.
- None of the cookies are left.
11. Practice Sentences
Fill in the blank:
- __________ is knocking at the door.
- I don’t have __________ to say.
- __________ was happy with the results.
- __________ of the students are absent.
- There is __________ wrong with the computer.
Possible answers:
- Someone
- anything
- Everyone
- Some
- something
Conclusion
Indefinite pronouns are words that refer to people or things in a general or non-specific way. They are very common in English and include words like someone, anything, nothing, each, many, all, and none.
The most important things to remember are:
- Many indefinite pronouns are singular (everyone, someone, each).
- Some are plural (many, few, several).
- Some can be singular or plural depending on meaning (all, none).
- Adjectives come after indefinite pronouns.
- Avoid double negatives with words like nothing or nobody.
Mastering indefinite pronouns will make your English more natural and grammatically correct. They are small words, but they are powerful and used every day in conversation and writing.
不定代名詞（Indefinite Pronouns）とは何か
不定代名詞とは、特定の人・物・数量をはっきり示さない代名詞のことです。だれか、なにか、いくつか、のように「はっきりしない」ものを表します。
例えば：
- Someone is at the door.
→ だれかがドアのところにいます。 - Nothing is in the box.
→ 箱の中には何もありません。 - Everyone enjoyed the party.
→ みんながパーティーを楽しみました。
これらの文では、「だれが」「何が」などが具体的ではありません。そのため「不定（indefinite）」と呼ばれます。
1. よく使われる不定代名詞
人を表す語
- someone / somebody（だれか）
- anyone / anybody（だれでも・だれか）
- no one / nobody（だれも～ない）
- everyone / everybody（みんな）
物を表す語
- something（何か）
- anything（何でも・何か）
- nothing（何も～ない）
- everything（すべて）
数量を表す語
- all（すべて）
- some（いくつか）
- any（いくらか・どれでも）
- none（ひとつも～ない）
- much（たくさん〔不可算〕）
- many（たくさん〔可算〕）
- few（ほとんど～ない／少しの）
- several（いくつかの）
- each（それぞれ）
- either（どちらか一方）
- neither（どちらも～ない）
- one（ある人・ひとつ）
2. 人を表す不定代名詞
「-one」や「-body」で終わる語は意味が同じです。
- someone = somebody
- anyone = anybody
- everyone = everybody
- no one = nobody
例文
- Someone left their bag here.
→ だれかがここにバッグを置いていきました。 - Everyone is ready.
→ みんな準備ができています。 - Nobody knows the answer.
→ だれも答えを知りません。 - Anybody can join the club.
→ だれでもそのクラブに入れます。
重要ポイント：単数扱い
これらは意味は複数でも、文法的には単数です。
- Everyone is here.
- Someone has my pencil.
❌ Everyone are here.（間違い）
3. 物を表す不定代名詞
- something
- anything
- nothing
- everything
例文
- I need something to drink.
→ 何か飲み物が必要です。 - Is there anything in the fridge?
→ 冷蔵庫に何かありますか。 - There is nothing in my bag.
→ バッグの中には何もありません。 - Everything looks good.
→ すべてよさそうです。
これらも単数扱いです。
- Everything is ready.
- Nothing was broken.
4. some と any の使い方
some（主に肯定文）
- Some are missing.
→ いくつかなくなっています。 - I bought apples, but some were rotten.
→ りんごを買いましたが、いくつかは腐っていました。
any（疑問文・否定文でよく使う）
- I don’t have any.
→ 何も持っていません。
肯定文で「どれでも」という意味でも使えます。
- Any student can answer.
→ どの生徒でも答えられます。
5. 数量を表す不定代名詞
(1) all
- All are welcome.
→ みなさん歓迎です。
「all」は指すものによって単数・複数が変わります。
- All of the water is cold.
- All of the students are here.
(2) none
- None of the milk is left.
- None of the students are late.
単数でも複数でも使われます。
(3) many / few / several
これらは複数扱いです。
- Many are waiting.
- Few understand the problem.
- Several were absent.
(4) much
不可算名詞と使い、単数扱いです。
- Much has changed.
(5) each / either / neither
これらは単数扱いです。
- Each has a ticket.
- Either is fine.
- Neither was correct.
6. 形容詞の位置
不定代名詞を修飾する形容詞は後ろに置きます。
- I need something cold.
- Is there anyone famous here?
❌ cold something（間違い）
7. 所有形
’ s をつけて所有を表します。
- Someone’s phone is ringing.
- Nobody’s car is outside.
8. 単数の they
現代英語では、everyone や someone に対して they / their を使うのが自然です。
- Everyone forgot their book.
- Someone left their jacket.
これは「単数の they」と呼ばれます。
9. 二重否定に注意
nothing や nobody はすでに否定の意味を持っています。
✔ I saw nothing.
❌ I didn’t see nothing.
正しくは：
- I didn’t see anything.
10. まとめ
不定代名詞は、特定しない人・物・数量を表す重要な語です。
覚えておくポイント：
- 多くは単数扱い（everyone, someone, each など）
- 複数扱いのものもある（many, few, several）
- 単数・複数どちらも可能なものもある（all, none）
- 形容詞は後ろに置く
- 二重否定に注意する
不定代名詞を正しく使えるようになると、英語の会話や作文がより自然になります。とてもよく使われる文法項目なので、しっかり練習しましょう。
