What Are Indefinite Pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns are words we use to talk about people,
objects or places without specifying exactly who, what or
where they are.
To talk about
• people: we use indefinite pronouns ending in -
body or -one
• objects: we use indefinite pronouns ending in -
thing
• places: we use indefinite pronouns ending in -
where
The Prefixes: ‘Some’ / ‘Any’ /
‘Every’ / ‘No’
Indefinite pronouns can start with ‘Some’, ‘Any’,
‘Every’ or ‘No’:
somebody anybody everybody nobody
someone anyone everyone no one
something anything everything nothing
somewhere anywhere everywhere nowhere
Basic Rules
Indefinite pronouns can be used as subjects or objects in a
sentence:
“Someone was talking to him.”
“I saw someone talking to him.”
Avoid double negatives.
Incorrect: She didn’t hear nobody talking during the
exam.
(Double negative)
Correct: She didn’t hear anybody talking during
the exam.
The Prefix ‘Some’
We use indefinite pronouns starting with ‘some’ in affirmative
sentences:
• when we don’t have the exact
information
“I know my diary is around here
somewhere.”
(I don’t know exactly where.)
The Prefix ‘Some’
We use indefinite pronouns starting with ‘some’ in affirmative
sentences:
• when we don’t give the exact
information
“I have something important to
tell you.”
(I’ll give you the exact information
later.)
The Prefix ‘Some’
We use indefinite pronouns starting with ‘some’ in affirmative
sentences:
• when the exact information isn’t
important
“Somebody called the police.”
(It’s not important who made the
call.)
The Prefix ‘Some’
We can also use indefinite pronouns starting with ‘some’ in
questions when we expect a positive answer:
“Are you going “Would you like
somewhere?” something to drink?”
The Prefix ‘Some’
We can use indefinite pronouns starting with ‘some’ to define
people, objects or places:
Example: Name something that you can find in a
classroom.
a whiteboard a bookcase
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Some’
Complete the prompt for these pictures using an indefinite
pronoun.
Name something that goes very fast.
. .
a sports car a speedboat
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Some’
Complete the prompt for these pictures using an indefinite
pronoun.
Name somewhere that you can go to relax.
. .
a spa a lake
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Some’
Complete the prompt for these pictures using an indefinite
pronoun.
Name someone/somebody that wears a uniform.
. .
a firefighter a doctor
The Prefix ‘Any’
We use indefinite pronouns starting with
‘any’ in:
• questions:
“Has anybody got a pencil I can borrow?”
“Do you need anything from the shop?”
• sentences with a negative verb:
“No thanks, I don’t want anything to eat.”
“I can’t find my keys anywhere.”
• affirmative sentences when the meaning is
similar to ‘every’:
“This exam is so easy, anyone could pass!”
“You can do anything if you believe in yourself.”
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Any’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
“Can I help you with
anything?”
. .
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Any’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
There isn’t anyone/anybody on the
train.
.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Any’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
You can go anywhere. in the city on the
underground.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Any’
Write down three questions you can ask a partner using the
indefinite pronouns: anything / anyone / anybody /
anywhere.
Example:
Are you going
anywhere this
weekend?
Next, pair up and take turns to ask and answer
the questions.
The Prefix ‘Every’
We use pronouns starting with ‘every’ to talk about all the
people, objects or places, with a singular verb form:
• “Is everybody here today?”
• “Everything I need is in this bag.”
• “I’ve looked everywhere for my glasses.”
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Every’
Make a sentence about the picture using an indefinite pronoun.
Everybody / Everyone is wearing
. a
mask.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Every’
Make a sentence about the picture using an indefinite pronoun.
She’s got everything
. on the
shopping list.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Every’
Make a sentence about the picture using an indefinite pronoun.
She’s looked everywhere for the car
key..
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘Every’
Write down three sentences using the indefinite pronouns:
everything / everyone / everybody / everywhere.
Example:
Everybody in my
family lives in this city.
Now take turns to read your sentences out to the
class.
The Prefix ‘No’
We use pronouns starting with ‘no’ to talk about none of the
people, objects or places, with a singular verb form:
• “Nobody / No one has finished the exercise yet.”
• “I have nothing to say.”
• “There is nowhere like home.”
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘No’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
There is nobody / no one on the
sunbeds.
.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘No’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
There is nothing
. in
the box.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘No’
Complete the sentence about the picture using an indefinite
pronoun.
There is nowhere
. to
park.
Your Turn! The Prefix ‘No’
Write down three sentences using the indefinite pronouns:
nothing / no one / nobody / nowhere.
Example:
There’s nothing in
my fridge. I have to
go to the
supermarket!
Now take turns to read your sentences out to the
class.
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate indefinite
pronoun.
anythin somewhe anyon no
g re e one
nothin somethi someon everyon
g ng e e
1. Someone
Someone
. left
lefttheir
theirnotebook
notebookon
onthe
thetable.
table.IsIsitityours?
yours? Reveal
2. II don’t
don’t think
think anyone
anyone else
else is
is here
here yet.
yet. We’re
We’re the
the first
first to
to Reveal
arrive.
arrive. .
. Reveal
3. The
The last
last
.
question
question was
was so
so difficult
difficult that
that no
no one
one knew
knew the
the Reveal
answer.
answer.
4. Anyone
Anyone can
can learn
learn aa second
second language
language –– it’s
it’s just
just aa question Reveal
.
question
of practice.
of practice.
5. We’re
We’re going
going to
to invite
invite everyone
everyone to
tothe
theevent.
event.The
Themore
more
people,
people, the
the better!
better!
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
anythin somewhe anyon no
g re e one
nothin somethi someon everyon
g ng e e
6. I’m looking for something
. special for my friend’s Reveal
birthday.
Reveal
7. I have to go shopping. There’s. nothing in the fridge.
. Reveal
8. Is there anything I can help you with?
. Reveal
9. Let’s go somewhere this weekend. Maybe the beach?
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
anywhe everywh everythi nobo
re ere ng dy
somethi anybo nowhe someon
ng dy re e
1. Can anybody
anybodytell
tellme
methe
theanswer
answertotothis
thisquestion?
question?Put
Put Reveal
your hand
.
up if you know.
2. We can go anywhere
anywhere
. you
youlike
like- -I don’t
I don’tmind.
mind. Reveal
3. Today’s a public holiday - there’s nobody
nobody
. ininthe
theoffice.
office. Reveal
4. Can I help you? Are you looking for someone?
someone?
. Reveal
5. I think I’ve got everything
everythingI need
I needfor
forthe
thetrip.
trip. Reveal
.
6. It’s a shame there’s nowhere
nowhere
. for
forchildren
childrentotoplay
playininthis Reveal
area.
this area. Reveal
7. Would you. like to order something
somethingtotodrink
. drinkwith
withyour
your
Reveal
meal?
8. Everywhere
Everywherewe
wewent,
went,the
thepeople
peoplewere
weresosofriendly.
friendly.
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
Click on a picture and take turns to ask and answer the questions.
Is there anyone
If you could live
you haven’t spoken
anywhere in the
to in a while that
world, where would
you’d like to
it be?
reconnect with?
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
Click on a picture and take turns to ask and answer the questions.
Is there something What advice would
you’ve never tried you give someone
but would like to? starting a new job?
Your Turn! Indefinite Pronouns
Click on a picture and take turns to ask and answer the questions.
Name somewhere Talk about
you would go if you everyone that
had a week off. makes you happy.
