Micro-listening
Indefinite Pronouns: Rules and Examples
What are indefinite pronouns and how do they work?
Indefinite pronouns such as someone, anything, everyone and nowhere refer to unnamed people, things or places. Use some- for existence and polite offers, any- for open questions and negative verbs, every- for all members, and no- for complete absence. For example, 'Everybody needs a ticket.' These pronouns take singular verbs.
Key points
- Use -one and -body for unnamed people.
- Use -thing for objects, facts and situations.
- Use -where for unnamed physical locations.
- Compound indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| some- words | Affirmative statements and polite offers | Would you like something to eat? |
| any- words | Open questions and negative verbs | Did anyone call the office? |
| every- words | All members of a group | Everything looks ready. |
| no- words | Complete absence with affirmative verbs | Nobody answered the door. |
| -one, -body, -thing, -where | People, things and places | Is there anywhere nearby? |
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
An indefinite pronoun refers to an unnamed person, thing, or place. The prefix indicates whether the entity exists, is open to question, includes all members, or represents zero quantity. The suffix clarifies whether you are talking about an individual person (-one, -body), an object (-thing), or a physical location (-where).
Someone left an umbrella in our conference room.
Why it works: Someone identifies an unnamed person and takes the singular verb left.
3 more examples
-
Does anybody have an extra charging cable for this phone?
Anybody appears in an open question where the speaker does not know if a person has the item.
-
Everything is organized in the blue cabinet near the reception desk.
Everything encompasses all items and correctly takes the singular verb is.
-
Nobody was late for our morning shift briefing.
Nobody makes the clause negative without adding a second negative word, and it takes the singular verb was.
Read the full guide
Select the ending based on people, things, or places
Before choosing a compound word, decide what category of information is missing from your sentence. Use -body or -one when you refer to an unnamed human being, such as a visitor or colleague. Choose -thing when referring to an object, fact, or situation. When you describe an unknown location, select -where. Recognizing this fundamental distinction prevents confusing a location with an individual or an object.
-
Someone knocked on the apartment door late last night.
Why it works: The ending -one shows the unknown subject is a person.
-
Is there anywhere we can sit down and review these invoices?
Why it works: The ending -where asks about an unnamed location.
-
We packed everything into three sturdy cardboard boxes.
Why it works: The ending -thing refers to all the objects being moved.
Your turn
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence: 'Did ___ leave a jacket on the conference table?'
Answer: anyone
Show the answer
Answer: anyone
A jacket belongs to a person, so the pronoun must end in -one or -body rather than -where or -thing.
Use some when an unnamed person or item exists
Choose words beginning with some- when you know that a person, object, or place exists, even if you do not know the exact identity. These words appear most often in affirmative statements. For example, if you hear footsteps in the hallway, an actual person is walking there. Stating that somebody is outside confirms their presence without requiring you to know their personal name.
-
Somebody left the breakroom refrigerator open during lunch.
Why it works: Somebody confirms that an actual person performed the action without naming them.
-
I noticed something strange about the computer monitor display.
Why it works: Something indicates that a specific condition or object caught the speaker's attention.
You can practise this again in Reciprocal Pronouns: Rules for Shared Actions and present perfect tense: rules and daily examples.
Your turn
Which word fits best in this affirmative sentence: 'We found ___ helpful in the filing cabinet'?
Answer: something
Show the answer
Answer: something
The sentence describes discovering an actual helpful item, making the affirmative pronoun 'something' the correct choice.
Use any for open questions and negative statements
Switch to words starting with any- when you ask an open question or make a negative statement with not. In an open question, you do not know whether the person or item exists at all. In a negative statement, words like anyone or anything combine with a negative verb to express a complete absence. This pattern keeps your tone objective and open.
-
Did anybody call the supplier about our missing delivery?
Why it works: Anybody fits this neutral question where the speaker does not assume an answer.
-
The technician could not find anything wrong with the network router.
Why it works: Anything pairs with the negative auxiliary 'could not find' to show zero faults.
Your turn
Complete the negative sentence: 'I did not see ___ at the bus stop this morning.'
Answer: anybody
Show the answer
Answer: anybody
Negative verbs like 'did not see' combine with any- words like 'anybody' to indicate that zero people were seen.
Use every to include all members of a group
Select words beginning with every- when you want to refer to all individuals, objects, or locations in a specific group. Although words like everyone and everything encompass the entire collection, they consider the group member by member. This individual focus explains why these words function grammatically as singular units in standard sentence structures, unlike plural words like all or both.
-
Everyone in the training room received a printed handbook.
Why it works: Everyone includes every single person in the room individually.
-
The maintenance staff inspected everything on the weekly safety checklist.
Why it works: Everything refers to all checklist items without skipping any detail.
Your turn
Which pronoun refers to all items in an entire collection without exception?
Answer: Everything
Show the answer
Answer: Everything
Everything refers to the total set of items, whereas something refers to an unspecified part and nothing means zero.
State zero quantity without adding a second negative
Words starting with no- express a complete absence of people, objects, or places. Because words such as nobody, nothing, and nowhere already carry negative meaning, pair them with an affirmative verb form. Combining a no- word with not, never, or cannot creates an unnecessary double negative in standard English, which confuses listeners about whether an action occurred.
-
Nobody answered the telephone when the client called at five.
Why it works: Nobody makes the sentence negative on its own, so the verb answered remains affirmative.
-
There was nothing left on the shelves after the weekend rush.
Why it works: Nothing expresses zero items without requiring a negative verb like was not.
Your turn
Which sentence follows standard English negative rules?
Answer: We saw nobody in the hallway.
Show the answer
Answer: We saw nobody in the hallway.
Standard English pairs negative pronouns like nobody with affirmative verbs like saw to avoid a double negative.
Pair compound indefinite pronouns with singular verbs
Compound indefinite pronouns ending in -one, -body, and -thing are grammatically singular subjects. Always pair them with third-person singular verbs such as is, was, has, or verbs ending in -s in the present tense. Learners often make mistakes with everyone and everybody because their meaning refers to many people, but their grammatical structure remains strictly singular.
-
Everyone is prepared to begin the morning safety inspection.
Why it works: Everyone takes the singular verb is, not the plural form are.
-
Has anyone found the remote control for the projector?
Why it works: The question uses has to agree with the singular subject anyone.
Your turn
Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence: 'Everybody ___ to submit the report by Friday.'
Answer: needs
Show the answer
Answer: needs
Everybody is grammatically singular, so it requires the third-person singular present verb needs.
Use some instead of any for polite offers and requests
Although questions generally use any- words, polite offers and requests use some- words instead. When you offer tea, coffee, or assistance to a visitor, you expect or encourage an affirmative answer. Using someone or something in these conversational contexts sounds warm and welcoming, whereas using any- can make the offer feel distant, doubtful, or purely procedural.
-
Would you like something cold to drink after your long drive?
Why it works: Something is preferred in this polite offer because the speaker expects or encourages a yes.
-
Can somebody hold the elevator door for a moment, please?
Why it works: Somebody functions as a polite request expecting positive assistance.
Your turn
Which sentence represents a polite host offering refreshment to a guest?
Answer: Could I get you something warm to drink?
Show the answer
Answer: Could I get you something warm to drink?
Polite offers typically use something to encourage an affirmative and hospitable response.
Refer back to indefinite pronouns using they and their
When you need a pronoun later in a sentence to refer back to someone, anyone, or everyone, standard modern English uses they, them, or their. Even though the indefinite pronoun takes a singular verb at the beginning of the clause, repeating he or she later sounds unnatural. Using singular they provides a smooth, neutral reference that native speakers use in both speech and writing.
-
If anyone calls while I am out, please take their contact number.
Why it works: Their refers back to the singular subject anyone naturally without specifying gender.
-
Everyone brought their own laptop to the workshop this morning.
Why it works: Their smoothly links back to everyone without repeating clumsy phrasing.
Your turn
Choose the natural pronoun to complete the sentence: 'Somebody left ___ notebook on the front desk.'
Answer: their
Show the answer
Answer: their
Modern everyday English naturally uses their to refer back to singular indefinite pronouns when gender is unknown or general.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
Everybody need to register online.Say: Everybody needs to register online.
Everybody is grammatically singular, so it takes the third-person singular verb needs.
-
Not this:
I didn't find nobody in the waiting room.Say: I didn't find anybody in the waiting room.
A negative verb combines with an any- word; alternatively, use 'I found nobody'.
-
Not this:
Everyone have received the updated timetable.Say: Everyone has received the updated timetable.
Everyone takes a singular verb, so use has, not have.
Questions about "Indefinite Pronouns: Rules and Examples"
Is there any difference between words ending in -one and -body?
Words ending in -one, such as someone and everyone, mean the same thing as somebody and everybody. Forms ending in -one are slightly more common in formal writing, while forms ending in -body appear frequently in informal conversation. Both follow the same grammar rules and require singular verbs.
Someone left their coat on the bench.
Somebody left their coat on the bench.
Why do native speakers use 'they' or 'their' after 'everyone' if the verb is singular?
Grammatically, everyone takes a singular verb like 'is' or 'has'. However, when referring back to everyone later in the sentence, using 'he or she' can sound clumsy and formal. Modern English uses singular 'they' and 'their' to refer back to people of unspecified gender smoothly.
Everyone must present their passport at the boarding gate.
If anyone calls, tell them that I will return soon.
Can I use 'something' or 'someone' in a question instead of 'anything' or 'anyone'?
Yes, you can use some- words in questions when making offers, making requests, or expecting a positive response. When you ask a neutral question without expecting a specific outcome, use any-. For example, an offer of food naturally uses 'something'.
Would you like something hot to drink before we leave?
Do you have anything to eat in your backpack?
Why is 'I do not know nobody' incorrect in standard English?
In standard English, words like nobody, nothing, and nowhere are already negative. If you combine them with another negative verb like 'do not', you create a double negative. To express that zero people are known, use either 'I know nobody' or 'I do not know anybody'.
I did not hear anything during the presentation.
I heard nothing during the presentation.
Before you go
Remember this
Identify the category through the ending, choose the prefix based on whether you are stating existence, asking an open question, or stating absence, and maintain singular verb agreement. When you refer back to an indefinite pronoun in later clauses, use they or their for a smooth and natural sentence.
Stage 2 of 5
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Listening 1 of 4
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0:00
Read the transcript
Someone is waiting near our front entrance.
Someone refers to an unknown individual and functions as a singular subject with the verb is.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Nothing is broken inside our supply box.
Nothing expresses zero items and pairs with the affirmative singular verb is.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Everyone is here early because we have something urgent on our schedule. Please open your folder and review page six.
Everyone takes the singular verb is, and something describes an unnamed priority on the agenda.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
Read the transcript
Everyone is welcome in our main hall this morning. Our team organized sixty boxes on each table, so someone is always available near every aisle. Has anyone in our group seen our volunteer roster? If you notice anything unusual near our entrance, inform our team immediately. We must ensure that nothing is missing before our visitors arrive.
The speaker uses indefinite pronouns for group members (everyone), unknown helpers (someone, anyone), unnamed items (anything), and zero items (nothing), all following singular agreement rules.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Someone is waiting near our front entrance.
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Describe a recent workplace or household task where several people shared the work. Explain what someone did, what everyone agreed on, and whether anything went wrong.
Use: indefinite Pronouns: Rules and Examples
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