Is Indefinite Pronoun Singular:7 Facts You Should Know

In this article we are going to look into the matter ‘Is Indefinite Pronoun Singular: 7 Facts You Should Know’.

There are some particular indefinite pronouns which refer to some non- particular singular subject, noun, noun phrase or word group. Those singular indefinite pronouns have some facts related to their use in sentence formation.

When indefinite pronoun is singular?

Identification of indefinite pronoun as singular indefinite pronoun is completely depends on the subject to which the indefinite pronoun is referring. If the subject or the noun phrase to which the indefinite pronoun is referring is in singular number then the indefinite pronoun is also in singular number. Another point is the speaker can use a indefinite pronoun as singular number or plural number by way of speaking or using that particular indefinite pronoun.

Let’s use the indefinite pronoun ‘some’ to show the above mentioned situation.

Example 01 – I have cooked plenty of food for dinner. Please, have some.

Example 02 – I have cooked plenty of food for dinner. Some are good in taste while some are medium. You have to taste and tell me the quality of the food.

Explanation – Here, the same indefinite pronoun ‘some’ has been used in two ways in two examples. In the first example, the word ‘some’ has been used as singular indefinite pronoun while in the second example, the same word has been used as plural indefinite pronoun.

Which indefinite pronoun is always singular?

Indefinite pronouns which always act as singular indefinite pronoun are as follows.

• First, Much
• Second, Each
• Third, Either
• Fourth, Enough
• Fifth, Everyone
• Sixth, Everything
• Seventh, Less
• Eighth, Little
• Nine, Another
• Tenth, Anyone
• Eleventh, Anything
• Twelfth, Neither
• Thirteenth, No one
• Fourteenth, Nothing
• Fifteenth, Someone
• Sixteenth, Something
• Seventeenth, Other

Example with ‘Neither’ – Neither Pijush nor Sandip went to the fair to buy some toys for their niece.

Example with ‘Either’ – Either Pijush or Sandip will go to the fair to buy some toys for their niece.

Example with ‘Someone’- Someone of the family will go to the fair to buy some toys for their niece.

Example with ‘Something’ –Pijush will go to the fair to buy something for their niece.

Example with ‘Each’ – Each one of the family is interested to go to the fair to buy some toys for Riya.

Why are indefinite pronouns singular?

Some indefinite pronouns are marked as singular indefinite pronouns because those pronouns refer to singular subject, noun, noun phrase or equivalent. Pronouns must match with subject, noun, noun phrase or equivalent in the sense of number and gender. Thus indefinite pronouns which match with singular subject are called singular indefinite pronoun.

Example – Any of the teacher can guide to your towards your hall.

Explanation – Here, the indefinite pronoun ‘any’ is in use as singular indefinite pronoun.

Which pronoun can be either singular or plural?

We all know that pronouns which are not determined to any particular living or non-living object can be categorized as indefinite pronoun. Now , there are some indefinite pronouns which can be used both as singular indefinite pronoun and plural indefinite pronoun based on the nature of the subject.

Pronouns which can be used both as singular and plural are

1. more,
2. most,
3. any,
4. some,
5. such, and
6. none.

Example 01 (The indefinite pronoun ‘none’ as plural indefinite pronoun): None of the cooks are as good as master chef Vikas who can cook extremely delicious food.

Example 02 (The indefinite pronoun ‘none’ as singular indefinite pronoun): I am waiting for my friends to do homework but none came.

Explanation – Here, we can see use of same indefinite pronoun in two different ways. In the first example, the indefinite pronoun ‘none’ is in use as plural indefinite pronoun and in the second example, the indefinite pronoun ‘none’ is in use as singular indefinite pronoun.

What are the two types of indefinite pronouns?

Indefinite pronouns can be divided into two groups based on their uses. First group is ‘Singular Indefinite Pronoun’ and second group is ‘Plural Indefinite Pronoun’. All indefinite pronouns mainly belong to these two types of pronouns. But some indefinite pronouns can be used as both singular indefinite pronoun and plural indefinite pronoun.

Example 01 – Any good book can be your best guide for life.

Example 02 – All good books are your friends for life.

Explanation – In the first example, the indefinite pronoun ‘any’ is in use as singular indefinite pronoun. In the second example, the indefinite pronoun ‘all’ is in use as plural indefinite pronoun.

How to identify indefinite pronoun?

Identification of indefinite pronoun is as easy as identification of any vague object.

First, of all we need to identify the pronoun in the sentence.

Second, we need to check the noun, noun phrase or the subject of the sentence.

Third, we need to check that the pronoun is referring to any particular living or non-living object or is referring to any vague noun, noun phrase or equivalent.

Fourth, if the pronoun of the sentence is not determining any particular living or non-living object, rather is speaking for mass can be easily identified as indefinite pronoun.

Example – You can give me any pen from your box.

Explanation – Here, the speaker is not selecting any particular pen in the box of the addressed person. Thus, the pronoun can be called indefinite pronoun as it is not identifying or marking any particular living or non-living object.

Conclusion

With all these above discussions we can say that an indefinite pronoun can be used as singular indefinite pronoun on the basis of noun, noun phrase, word or word group to which the indefinite pronoun is addressing.