Definite and Indefinite Pronouns

 

 

Definite Pronouns

Definite Pronoun: replaces a noun that’s identity has been clearly given.

Function: eliminates repetition or unnecessary naming of a known or identified noun(s).

There are two types of definite pronouns:

1) personal:  I, you, she, he, it, we, they, you, me, her, him, us, them

Example: Would you like to study together after class?

2) demonstrative: this, that, these, those

Example: There 10 cherry trees outside the school gate.  Those are my favorite trees at our school.

Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is vague and "not definite". Some typical indefinite pronouns are:

• all, another, any, anybody/anyone, anything, each, everybody/everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody/someone

Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at "another" in the following sentences:

• He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)
• I'd like another drink, please. (adjective)

Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be singular in one context and plural in another. The most common indefinite pronouns are listed below, with examples, as singular, plural or singular/plural.
Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also agree (in number and gender). Look at these examples:

• Each of the players has a doctor.
• I met two girls. One has given me her phone number.

Similarly, plural pronouns need plural agreement:

• Many have expressed their views.

pronoun	meaning	example
singular
another	an additional or different person or thing	That ice-cream was good. Can I have another?
anybody/anyone	no matter what person	Can anyone answer this question?
anything	no matter what thing	The doctor needs to know if you have eaten anything in the last two hours.
each	every one of two or more people or things, seen separately	Each has his own thoughts.
either	one or the other of two people or things	Do you want tea or coffee? / I don't mind. Either is good for me.
enough	as much or as many as needed	Enough is enough.
everybody/everyone	all people	We can start the meeting because everybody has arrived.
everything	all things	They have no house or possessions. They lost everything in the earthquake.
less	a smaller amount	"Less is more" (Mies van der Rohe)
little	a small amount	Little is known about his early life.
much	a large amount	Much has happend since we met.
neither	not one and not the other of two people or things	I keep telling Jack and Jill but neither believes me.
nobody/no-one	no person	I phoned many times but nobody answered.
nothing	no single thing, not anything	If you don't know the answer it's best to say nothing.
one	an unidentified person	Can one smoke here? | All the students arrived but now one is missing.
other	a different person or thing from one already mentioned	One was tall and the other was short.
somebody/someone	an unspecified or unknown person	Clearly somebody murdered him. It was not suicide.
something	an unspecified or unknown thing	Listen! I just heard something! What could it be?
you	an unidentified person (informal)	And you can see why.
plural
both	two people or things, seen together	John likes coffee but not tea. I think both are good.
few	a small number of people or things	Few have ever disobeyed him and lived.
fewer	a reduced number of people or things	Fewer are smoking these days.
many	a large number of people or things	Many have come already.
others	other people; not us	I'm sure that others have tried before us.
several	more than two but not many	They all complained and several left the meeting.
they	people in general (informal)	They say that vegetables are good for you.
singular or plural
all	the whole quantity of something or of some things or people	All is forgiven. All have arrived.
any	no matter how much or how many	Is any left? Are any coming?
more	a greater quantity of something; a greater number of people or things	There is more over there. More are coming.
most	the majority; nearly all	Most is lost. Most have refused.
none	not any; no person or persons	They fixed the water so why is none coming out of the tap? I invited five friends but none have come.*
some	an unspecified quantity of something; an unspecified number of people or things	Here is some. Some have arrived.
such	of the type already mentioned	He was a foreigner and he felt that he was treated as such.