In brief
- Definition: indefinite pronouns refer to people, things or places in a non-specific way.
- Four series: some, any, every, no combined with -one, -body, -thing, -where.
- Agreement: all pronouns in -one, -body, -thing are grammatically singular, even those that seem to refer to a group.
- Some vs any: some in affirmations and polite requests, any in neutral questions and negations.
- No and double negation: nobody, nothing, nowhere are sufficient on their own to express negation. Never combine them with not.
- Other indefinites: each, every, either, neither, both, few, many, several, all, one.
Indefinite pronouns in English replace a noun without specifying it. They serve to speak in a general or vague way, without identifying the person or thing in question. They are divided into two main groups: pronouns formed from the bases some, any, every, no, and independent indefinite pronouns like each, both, few, many, either, neither.
Compound pronouns: complete table
The most common indefinite pronouns are constructed by combining four prefixes with four suffixes. Each combination produces a pronoun with a precise meaning.
| -one / -body (people) | -thing (things) | -where (places) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| some- | someone / somebody | something | somewhere |
| any- | anyone / anybody | anything | anywhere |
| every- | everyone / everybody | everything | everywhere |
| no- | no one / nobody | nothing | nowhere |
Someone and somebody are interchangeable in almost all contexts. The same equivalence applies to anyone/anybody, everyone/everybody and no one/nobody. No one is written as two separate words; this is the only exception in this series.
Some: affirmations and polite requests
Pronouns in some are used in affirmative sentences to designate a quantity or entity that is non-specific but real.
There’s something on the table for you. : There is something on the table for you.
She went somewhere quiet to read. : She went somewhere quiet to read.
Everybody enjoyed the concert. : Everyone enjoyed the concert.
In questions, some is used when you expect a positive answer or when the question is a polite request or suggestion. This is one of the most important distinctions for French speakers.
Would you like to go somewhere this weekend? : Would you like to go somewhere this weekend? (suggestion)
Is someone sitting here? : Is someone sitting here? (you assume yes)
Any: neutral questions and negative sentences
Pronouns in any are used in open questions (without presupposing the answer) and in negative sentences formed with not.
Is there anything I can do? : Is there anything I can do?
Did you go anywhere last weekend? : Did you go anywhere last weekend?
I didn’t see anyone at the party. : I didn’t see anyone at the party.
She couldn’t find anything useful. : She couldn’t find anything useful.
Any can also be used in affirmatives with the meaning of “anyone / anything / anywhere”, without restriction.
You can sit anywhere you like. : You can sit anywhere you like.
Call me anytime. : Call me anytime.
Every: totality without exception
Pronouns in every designate the totality of a set, each person, each thing, each place.
I’ve tried everything. : I have tried everything.
The news is everywhere. : The news is everywhere.
Everything is ready. : Everything is ready.
No: total absence
Pronouns in no express complete absence, no person, no thing, no place. They are used with a verb in the affirmative form, because the negation is carried by the pronoun itself.
There’s nothing left. : There is nothing left.
I have nowhere to go. : I have nowhere to go.
No one knows the answer. : No one knows the answer.
French speaker trap: double negation
In French, negation is constructed with two elements: “ne… personne”, “ne… rien”, “ne… nulle part”. In English, the pronoun no is sufficient. Adding not creates an incorrect double negation.
I didn’t see nobody. ✗ I saw nobody. ✓
There isn’t nothing left. ✗ There is nothing left. ✓
She didn’t go nowhere. ✗ She went nowhere. ✓
Grammatical agreement: the surprising singular
All pronouns in -one, -body, -thing are grammatically singular. This applies even to everyone and everybody, which seem to refer to multiple people. The verb that follows them therefore takes the form of the third person singular.
| Sentence | Agreement |
|---|---|
| Everyone is here. | ✓ singular |
| Everyone are here. | ✗ incorrect plural |
| Nobody knows the truth. | ✓ singular |
| Something is wrong. | ✓ singular |
| Somebody has taken my bag. | ✓ singular |
The possessive pronoun with indefinite pronouns
When referring to the possession of a person designated by an indefinite pronoun in -one or -body, contemporary usage accepts their as a neutral possessive pronoun, even though the indefinite pronoun is grammatically singular. This is the standard in modern English, both written and spoken.
Everybody brought their own lunch. : Everyone brought their own lunch.
Nobody wants to lose their job. : No one wants to lose their job.
The form his or her is grammatically rigorous but often perceived as cumbersome in speech. Their is preferred in informal contexts and increasingly accepted in formal contexts.
Each and every: two close but distinct indefinites
Each and every are both translated as “each” in French, but their usage differs. Each considers elements one by one, individually. Every considers the set as a collective whole.
| Each (individual) | Every (collective) |
|---|---|
| Each student received a certificate. Each student received a certificate. (one by one) |
Every student passed the exam. Every student passed the exam. (without exception) |
| Each of the answers was different. Each of the answers was different. |
Every answer must be justified. Every answer must be justified. |
Each can be used with of followed by a determinate noun group: each of the students, each of them. Every is not used directly with of in this sense.
Either and neither: two elements at play
Either and neither are used exclusively when two elements are at play. They do not apply to three or more elements.
| Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| either | One or the other (of the two) | Either option works for me. Either option works for me. |
| neither | Neither one nor the other | Neither answer was correct. Neither answer was correct. |
Neither of them knew the answer. : Neither of them knew the answer.
You can take either seat. : You can take either seat.
Both, few, many, several, all
| Pronoun | Meaning | Agreement | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| both | Both | Plural | Both were wrong. |
| few | Few (insufficient) | Plural | Few attended the lecture. |
| a few | A few (sufficient) | Plural | A few stayed after class. |
| many | Many (countable) | Plural | Many have tried, few succeeded. |
| several | Several | Plural | Several were absent. |
| all | All, everyone | According to the noun | All is well. / All were present. |
| none | None | Singular or plural | None of them came. |
The distinction between few and a few is important: few alone has a negative connotation (not enough), while a few is neutral or positive (a few, which is sufficient). The same logic applies to little and a little for uncountables. To deepen the difference between countable and uncountable quantifiers, see the guide on much or many: the difference.
One: the impersonal indefinite pronoun
One functions as an impersonal indefinite pronoun to express a generality that applies to people in general, including potentially the speaker. It often corresponds to the French “on” in its generalizing sense.
One never knows what the future holds. : One never knows what the future holds.
One can learn a great deal from failure. : One can learn a great deal from failure.
One is formal and more common in careful writing or in a formal register. In everyday speech, American English speakers often prefer you in the same impersonal sense: You never know what might happen.
One is also used as a substitution pronoun to avoid repetition of a singular countable noun. In the plural, the form is ones. To learn more about the uses of another and one as substitution pronouns, see the guide on another in English.
I don’t like these shoes. Show me the black ones. : I don’t like these shoes. Show me the black ones.
Common pitfalls for French speakers
I saw anyone interesting at the party. ✗
I saw someone interesting at the party. ✓
In an affirmation without the sense of “anyone”, it is some that must be used.
Everyone are ready. ✗ Everyone is ready. ✓
Everyone and everybody are always grammatically singular.
Every of the students passed. ✗ Each of the students passed. ✓
Every is not constructed directly with of. It is each of that is used in this structure.
Neither of the three options works. ✗
None of the three options works. ✓
When there are three or more elements, none is used instead of neither.
Indefinite pronouns share certain constructions with possessive adjectives and pronouns. For a complete reminder of my, your, his, her, its, our, their and their uses, see the guide on possessive pronouns and adjectives in English.
Practical exercise
Test your knowledge of English indefinite pronouns:
Question 1. Which sentence is correct?
Question 2. Which sentence contains an incorrect double negation?
Question 3. Why is something used in this question: “Would you like something to eat?”?
Question 4. What is the difference between “few students attended” and “a few students attended”?
Question 5. Which of these sentences correctly uses each of?
Question 6. Which indefinite pronoun should be used to talk about three options, none of which work?
Question 7. Which sentence illustrates the use of one as a substitution pronoun?
Your score
