An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, thing or amount without naming it specifically, such as someone, everything or few. Learners generally recognize the common ones quickly, but two questions keep coming up: which indefinite pronouns are singular, and which are plural, since getting this wrong is one of the most common subject-verb agreement mistakes in English.
This article gives the definition of an indefinite pronoun, a full list by category, which ones are always singular, examples in context, common mistakes, and exercises with answers.
Definition of an indefinite pronoun
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to an unspecified person, thing, or amount, rather than one identified by name or by a previous mention in the conversation.
Example: Someone left a message for you. – the speaker does not know or specify who.
Indefinite pronouns are used when the exact identity or quantity is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally left general.
List of indefinite pronouns by category
Compound pronouns with “-one,” “-body” and “-thing”
everyone, everybody, everything, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything, no one, nobody, nothing
Quantifier-type indefinite pronouns
all, any, some, none, both, each, either, neither, few, fewer, many, much, several, most, other, others
Compound pronouns with “where” (less common, indicating place)
everywhere, somewhere, anywhere, nowhere – these are technically indefinite adverbs rather than pronouns, but they follow the same “every-/some-/any-/no-” pattern and are often grouped together in teaching materials for convenience.
Examples of an indefinite pronoun in sentences
Here are a few examples of an indefinite pronoun, and an example indefinite pronoun for each category, used in full sentences.
- Everyone is invited to the party.
- I don’t have anything to wear tonight.
- Few of the guests arrived on time.
- Both of them passed the exam.
- There isn’t anyone in the office right now.
- Several of the applications were rejected.
Which indefinite pronoun is always singular?
This is one of the most searched questions about indefinite pronouns, because the answer affects subject-verb agreement directly.
Always singular
The following indefinite pronouns are always treated as singular, regardless of how many people or things they seem to refer to: everyone, everybody, everything, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything, no one, nobody, nothing, each, either, neither, one.
Example: Everybody is ready. Each of the students has a laptop. Neither of the answers is correct.
Always plural
A smaller group is always treated as plural: both, few, many, several, others.
Example: Both are correct. Many of the students have finished the test.
Can be singular or plural depending on context
Some indefinite pronouns change number depending on the noun they refer to: all, any, more, most, none, some.
Example: Some of the cake is gone. (uncountable noun “cake,” singular verb) Some of the cookies are gone. (countable noun “cookies,” plural verb)
Quick reference table
| Always singular | Always plural | Depends on context |
| everyone, everybody, everything | both | all |
| someone, somebody, something | few | any |
| anyone, anybody, anything | many | more |
| no one, nobody, nothing | several | most |
| each, either, neither, one | others | none, some |
Indefinite pronoun agreement
Because most indefinite pronouns are singular, the verb that follows must also be singular, which is a common point of confusion since the meaning can feel plural.
Example: Everyone has submitted their assignment. (not “have”)
This rule connects directly to the broader topic of subject-verb agreement, covered in more depth in our dedicated article, since indefinite pronouns are one of the trickiest categories for matching subjects and verbs correctly. A practical way to check your own writing, sometimes organized as an indefinite pronoun agreement worksheet in classrooms, is to go through a short text and underline every indefinite pronoun together with its verb, checking each pair against the singular and plural lists above.
Is there such a thing as a “definite pronoun”?
Some learners search for definite pronoun and indefinite pronoun expecting a matching pair of categories, similar to definite and indefinite articles (“the” versus “a/an”). In standard grammar terminology, “definite pronoun” is not a widely used formal category. The pronouns that refer to something specific, such as personal pronouns (he, she, it, they) and demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), serve the role that “definite” suggests, since they point to an identified person or thing rather than leaving it general. It is more accurate to contrast indefinite pronouns with these specific categories than to look for a single formal “definite pronoun” class.
Indefinite pronouns followed by “of”
Many indefinite pronouns are commonly followed by “of + a specific noun phrase,” which narrows down the group being referred to while keeping the pronoun itself general.
Example: Some of the students stayed after class. Each of the boxes was labeled carefully. None of the information was accurate.
In this pattern, the verb agrees with the indefinite pronoun itself in most cases (singular pronouns like each and neither keep a singular verb), except for pronouns such as all, some, any, most and none, where the verb depends on whether the following noun is countable or uncountable, as shown earlier in the “depends on context” category.
Common mistakes with indefinite pronouns
- Treating singular indefinite pronouns as plural. Writing Everyone are here instead of Everyone is here.
- Mismatching pronouns later in the sentence. Writing Everyone should bring their own book is now widely accepted in modern English as a gender-neutral choice, but some formal style guides still prefer his or her; check which convention your context requires.
- Confusing “each” with “all.” Each refers to individual members of a group one at a time and is singular, as in Each student has a locker, while all refers to the group as a whole and can be plural, as in All students have lockers.
- Using “few” and “a few” interchangeably. Few suggests a limited, often disappointing number (Few people came), while a few suggests a small but adequate number (A few people came), a nuance that is easy to overlook.
- Forgetting that “none” can be singular or plural. Many style guides accept both None of them is ready and None of them are ready, depending on emphasis and formality.
Indefinite pronoun exercises with answers
Exercise 1: Choose the correct verb
- Everybody ______ (is / are) welcome to join.
- Few of the answers ______ (was / were) correct.
- Each of the players ______ (has / have) a uniform.
- Some of the water ______ (has / have) evaporated.
Sample answers: 1. is – 2. were – 3. has – 4. has
Exercise 2: Identify the indefinite pronoun
- Nobody answered the phone. → Nobody
- Several of the books are missing. → Several
- I need something to drink. → something
Exercise 3: Find and correct the error
- Everyone have finished their homework. → correct to has.
- Each of the teams were given a trophy. → correct to was.
- Neither of the options are good. → correct to is.
Using an indefinite pronoun worksheet or PDF for practice
An indefinite pronoun worksheet, often shared as an indefinite pronoun pdf for printing, typically mixes fill-in-the-blank, identification and agreement exercises similar to those above, sometimes grouped by the singular, plural and “depends on context” categories so learners can practice one group at a time before mixing them together.
An indefinite pronoun refers to an unspecified person, thing or amount, and the main challenge is remembering which ones are always singular, always plural, or dependent on the noun they refer to. Since most indefinite pronouns are singular, checking subject-verb agreement carefully, especially with words like everyone, each and neither, prevents one of the most frequent grammar mistakes in English.
See also: Collocation in English: What it means, the main types and how to learn them
Frequently asked questions
What is an indefinite pronoun?
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person, thing or amount that is not specifically identified, such as someone, everything, few or several. It is used when the exact identity or quantity is unknown, unimportant or intentionally general.
Which indefinite pronoun is always singular?
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, everybody, everything, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything, no one, nobody, nothing, each, either and neither are always treated as singular, so they take a singular verb even when the meaning feels plural, as in “Everyone is ready.”
Is there a “definite pronoun” to contrast with an indefinite pronoun?
Not as a standard formal category. Pronouns that refer to something specific, such as personal pronouns (he, she, it, they) and demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), fill the role that “definite” suggests, but “definite pronoun” itself is not a commonly used grammatical term in the way “indefinite pronoun” is.
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