Indefinite Pronoun (অনিদিষ্টবাচক সর্বনাম)
Indefinite Pronoun ( অনিদিষ্টবাচক সর্বনাম ) : যে Pronoun দ্বারা কোন ব্যক্তি বা বস্তুুকে অিদিষ্টভাবে বুঝায় তাকে Indefinite Pronoun বলে । যেমন : Anyone, Somewhere, Anybody, Anyway ইত্যাদি ।
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
|
s
i n g u l a r |
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
happened 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 somebodymurdered
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.
|
|
p
l u r a l |
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.
|
|
s
i n g u l a r / p l u r a l |
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.
|
* Some people say that "none" should always take a
singular verb, even when talking about countable nouns (eg five friends). They
argue that "none" means "no one", and "one" is
obviously singular. They say that "I invited five friends but none has come" is correct and "I
invited five friends but none have come" is incorrect. Historically and grammatically
there is little to support this view. "None" has been used for
hundreds of years with both a singular and a plural verb, according to the
context and the emphasis required.
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