Plural Indefinite Pronoun(7 Important Facts)

In this article we shall look in detail about plural indefinite pronoun. With the help of several plural indefinite pronoun examples we will get to know what they are, how, when, where, why they are used along with various other important facts.

Plural indefinite pronouns are pronouns which are used as replacements to the nouns that are not definite and specific. They substitute the nouns (people, objects, places) that are unspecific and do not have any particular count (the count can be two or more).

Do go through the following examples of plural indefinite pronouns.

  • 1. Very few attended the online training session today.
  • 2. Many have yet not submitted the proposal.
  • 3. All are invited for Kush’s birthday party.
  • 4. None of my team members have got a promotion.
  • 5. This movie has not been seen by several of us.

The italicized words in the above sentences are the plural indefinite pronouns as they have been used in the place of nouns that do not indicate any specific number (but definitely more than one).

Can indefinite pronouns be plural?

Yes, indefinite pronouns can obviously be plural as the number of the noun that they are substituting is not definite, it can be two or even more.

Example: Both of you are requested to meet me at my office after lunch.

‘Both’ is the plural indefinite pronoun in the above sentence, as it is used in the place of two nouns (names of two people). The plural indefinite pronoun ‘both’ represents the number as two.

When indefinite pronouns are plural?

Indefinite pronouns are plural when they are used as replacements to plural nouns. The number of the noun must be two or more than two for indefinite plural pronoun to be used as its substitute. 

Example: Others did not approve this idea.

In this sentence ‘others’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized to replace a non definite noun (the number of people who did not approve the idea can be 2 or more).

Example: Several applications have been received for the post of general manager.

In this sentence ‘others’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized to replace a non definite plural noun (several here can represent any number more than one).

Which indefinite pronouns are plural?

The indefinite pronouns that are plural include few, fewer, others, many, several, both, any, all, more, most, such, what, who, some, and none.

Example: Have any attended the interview?

‘Any’ in this sentence is the plural indefinite pronouns as here, it used as to replace a plural noun (names of two or more than two people).

Example: Few passed the entrance test.

In this sentence, ‘few’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized to replace a plural noun. The plural indefinite pronoun ‘few’ may represent any number more than one.

Example: Some take part in the cultural events very enthusiastically

‘Some’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in the above sentence. ‘Some’ here substitutes a plural noun and may represent two or more people.

plural indefinite pronoun
Plural Indefinite Pronoun Examples

Why are indefinite pronouns plural?

Indefinite pronouns are plural as they are used in the place of a noun that is plural with no definite number (unspecific noun). Only when indefinite pronouns are plural can they replace the nouns that are indefinite with more than one number.

Example: Others are requested to wait at the lobby until the discussion is over.

‘Others’ is the plural indefinite pronoun used in this sentence. ‘Others’ is plural and it is an indefinite pronoun as it has to replace an unspecific noun that has a plural number. Here ‘others’ may represent any number of people more than one.

Example: Many did not participate in the competitions they registered.

The plural indefinite pronoun in this sentence is ‘many’. ‘Many’ here is utilized in the place of a noun that is unspecific but plural in number and so ‘many’ may refer to a minimum of two people and a maximum of any number of people.

Which indefinite pronouns are always plural?

While there are a few indefinite pronouns that can either be singular or plural based on the context they are used and the noun they are replacing, there are some indefinite pronouns that can only be plural, no matter what. The indefinite pronouns which are always plural include few, fewer, many, others, both, and several.

Example: Why is none picking up the call?

‘None’ is the indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence, but it is not plural here as ‘none’ in the above sentence refers to each and every person (singular noun).

Example: None have packed their bags yet.

‘None’ is the indefinite sentence here and it is used as plural indefinite pronoun as it replaces a plural noun (a noun that can be two or more than two people).

Though in the above two examples, the same indefinite pronoun ‘none’ is utilized, it is used as singular indefinite pronoun and plural indefinite pronoun based on the context of the sentence and based on the number of the noun that it is replacing.

Example: Both have been shortlisted for the final round of the interview.

In the above sentence ‘both’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized. ‘Both’ here is used a replacement to names of two people (noun). ‘Both’ means two, hence this indefinite pronoun can only be plural always.

Example: Few are still joining as they have some network issue.

In the above sentence ‘few’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized. ‘Few’ here is used as replacement to the noun that has its number two or more than two. Hence the indefinite pronoun ‘few’ will always be only be plural as it can never be used to replace a singular noun.

Plural indefinite pronoun examples

The following are the examples of plural indefinite pronouns in sentences.

  • 1. Fewer are visiting the library to read nowadays.
  • 2. Many employees have still not filled their feedback forms.
  • 3.We should not get carried away by the words of others.
  • 4. All of them are highly qualified language experts.
  • 5. Several of us have not received our last month salary.
  • 6. Have both looked into the proposal and signed?

Plural indefinite pronoun examples with detailed explanations

Now we shall analyze and understand the plural definite pronoun in each and every sentence.

1. Fewer are visiting the library to read nowadays.

‘Fewer’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘Fewer’ is used as a replacement to the plural indefinite noun (the number of people can be anything more than one person).

2. Many employees have still not filled their feedback forms.

‘Many’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘Many’ is used to replace the plural indefinite noun ‘employees’ (the number of employees can be anything more than one person).

3. We should not get carried away by the words of others.

‘Others’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘Others’ is used as a replacement to the plural indefinite noun (the number of people can be anything more than one person).

4. All of them are highly qualified language experts.

‘All’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘All’ is used as a replacement to the plural indefinite noun ‘them’ (the number of people can range from two to any number).

5. Several of us have not received our last month salary.

‘Several’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘Several’ is used as a replacement to the plural indefinite noun (the number of people can be anything more than one person).

6. Have both looked into the proposal and signed?

‘Both’ is the plural indefinite pronoun utilized in this sentence. ‘Both’ is used as a replacement to the noun that has it’s number as two (the noun can be names of any two people as ‘both’ refer to only two).

Conclusion

Thus with the aid of various examples, explanations and facts, we came to know that plural indefinite nouns must be used when we have to replace a noun that is plural in number, indefinite and unspecific.