Indefinite

pronouns

A Short Story
Characters:
Everybody

Nobody

Anybody

Somebody

A Short Story
There was an important job to be done and
was sure that
would do it
would have done it but
did it.
got angry
about that because it was s job. thought
would do it but
It ended up that
could have done.

realized that
blamed

when

wouldnt do it.
did what

A Short Story
There was an important job to be done and Everybody
Somebody would do it.

was sure that

Anybody would have done it but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybodys job. Everybody
thought Anybody would do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldnt
do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what
Anybody could have done.

Lets answer the questions below:

1. Was there work done by the four friends?
2. Why wasnt there any accomplishment?
3. What should Everybody have done?
4. If you were one of them, what would you
have done?
5. What do you think would have happned if the
work had been accomplished?

What words in the story do not point out to

particular persons, places or things?

Some pronouns take the place of nouns that are

either masculine or feminine or both. They are
called Indefinite Pronouns.

Some pronouns take the place of nouns that are either

masculine or feminine or both. They are called Indefinite
Pronouns.

Singular
anybody
anyone
each
either
everybody

neither
nobody
no one
one
someone

Plural
both
few
many
most
several

Singular or
Plural
all
none
some

Use a singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun; use a

plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun.
Use their when the antecedent is a plural indefinite pronoun; use
his or her when the antecedent is a singular indefinite pronoun.

Examples:
Somebody submitted an electronic microscope.
No one knows who did it.
Few have started on their Science project.

One of the girls is beautiful.

Each of the women like handsome partners.
Each of the janitors is given an assignment.
One of the teachers wants to join the contest.

Make new sentences by substituting each of the

words in the parentheses for the italicized word.
Please go and see if somebody is in the
room.
someone nobody everybody
No one is there.
nobody someone everyone
Nobody knows who the burglar is.
everyone somebody no one
Something has been taken

Lets
try!

Lets
Read
the sentences. Tell the correct verb in
try!
the parentheses that agrees with each
indefinite pronoun.
1. Somebody (keep, keeps) on putting notes on
my desk.
2. Nobody (know, knows) who is writing the
notes.
3. All the letters (ask, asks) the same thing.
4. Each (invite, invites) me to the Valentines
Day Dance.

Lets
try! (is, are) typed on white paper.
5. Most

6. However, one (was, were) written by

hand in green ink.
7. Everybody (has, have) a theory about
the mysterious writer.
8. Many (think, thinks) Pedro Rosales
might be the author.

Lets
try!

9. Others (smile, smiles) at the writers

shyness.
10. Certainly, someone (has, have) to
step forward before the dance.

Read the paragraphs below. Copy the

letter
of the verb that agrees with each
indefinite
pronoun on your tickler.
Everyone in my class (a. has b. have) a pen
pal. Several (a. write b. writes) to more
than one person. Nobody (a. forget b.
forgets) to send a letter every week.

Everybody (a. is b. are) always

eager to check the mail. Something
Usually (a. arrive b. arrives) in the
mail for me. Each of my pen pals (a. is b. are)
special. Both of my pen pals (a. live b. lives)
In Africa. Some of us (a. read b. reads) the
letters aloud to the class. Many (a. hope
b. hopes) to visit their pen pals someday. All
(a. enjoy b. enjoys) communicating with new
friends.