Indefinite pronouns in English

Indefinite pronouns are used when you don’t know about who, what or where.

These indefinite pronouns are singular.

Someone/Somebody

• Don’t know who the person is
• E.g. Someone is at the door.

Somewhere

• Don’t know where the place is
• E.g. I want to go somewhere on holiday.

Something

• Don’t know what a thing is
• E.g. I have something in my bag.

Anyone/Anybody

• Used in questions and negative sentences
• Used for people
• E.g. Is there anyone at home?

Anywhere

• Used for places in questions and negative sentences
• E.g. I don’t have anywhere to go.

Anything

• Used for things in questions and negative sentences
• E.g. Does anyone have anything to say?

No one/Nobody

• Used for negative meaning about people
• Don’t use another negative in the same sentence
• E.g. Nobody is home right now.

Nowhere

• Used for negative meaning about places
• Don’t use another negative in the same sentence
• E.g. We have nowhere to stay.

Nothing

• Used for negative meaning about things
• Don’t use another negative in the same sentence
• E.g. There is nothing in the box.

Everyone

• Used for people to talk about all people in a group
• E.g. Everyone is coming to the party.

Everything

• Used for all things in a group
• E.g. Everything is cheap in the shop.

Everywhere

• Used to talk about all places in a group
• E.g. I want to travel everywhere.