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Indefinite pronouns replace specific nouns without identifying them. They can be singular or plural and must agree with other parts of the sentence. Singular pronouns include someone and each, while plural ones include both and several. Indefinite pronouns can also function as adjectives. It may be better to use a plural form, and some pronouns have both singular and plural forms. The context of the writing should indicate whether the subject is singular or plural.
An indefinite pronoun is an article of speech that replaces a specific noun without mentioning what that noun is. The noun in question may be mentioned elsewhere in the sentence, or elsewhere in the context of writing, usually within the paragraph containing it. An indefinite pronoun can be plural or singular, but regardless of your choice, it’s important to make sure that all other parts of the sentence agree grammatically with the pronoun.
Singular indefinite pronouns include another, someone, anyone, each, nobody, and many others. These indefinite pronouns do not necessarily directly identify the objects they refer to. For example, saying, “One got lost on the way to town,” doesn’t identify the one thing that was lost. However, the clue to what the indefinite pronoun was referring to should be found somewhere else in the context of the writing. The verb form with these pronouns is singular.
Plural indefinite pronouns include other, both, many, several, few, and many. The verb form, in this case, is plural, even if the subject can appear singular. In some cases, it can be difficult for writers to tell the difference, and sentence construction could help lead to confusion, so writers should be careful to make sure the subject and verb match.
Another somewhat unique concept of an indefinite pronoun is that it can also function as an adjective in another context or sentence. For example, consider the sentence, “We’ll save it for another day.” While another can sometimes be an indefinite pronoun, in this particular context it functions as an adjective because it further identifies or describes a noun. If asked to identify the different articles of speech, it may not always be correct to assume that a word always represents a certain thing.
Something worth considering when using indefinite pronouns is whether it is better or more useful to use a plural form rather than a singular form. Using a singular form can sometimes be awkward, as seen in the sentence “Everyone should check their card.” It might be easier and more efficient to say, “Everyone should check their papers.”
In some cases, it may be possible for an indefinite pronoun to have both a singular and a plural form. These include all, most, most, any, some, and the like, among others. As in other situations, the context of the writing should provide enough clue to warn the reader whether the subject is plural or singular.
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