Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

Lesson 3: Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn how to make verbs agree with indefinite pronouns as subjects, covering singular pronouns like each and everyone, plural pronouns like both and several, and pronouns like all, some, and none that can be either singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to. Students practice identifying the correct verb form through exercises that reinforce the rule that pronouns such as all, any, and most take their number from the noun in the phrase that follows them.

Section 1

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

The following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something.

Explanation

Think of these pronouns as meaning 'one person' or 'one thing' at a time. Words like everybody or everyone might seem like they're talking about many people, but in grammar, we treat them as a single group. So, they always need a singular verb, which often ends in '-s' in the present tense (like he runs).

Examples

  • Everyone wants a ticket to the concert. [The singular verb wants agrees with the singular subject Everyone.]
  • Each of the students hopes for a good grade on the test. [The singular verb hopes agrees with the singular subject Each.]
  • Somebody needs to answer the phone! [The indefinite pronoun Somebody is always singular, so the singular verb needs agrees with the subject.]

Section 2

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, several.

Explanation

These pronouns always refer to more than one person or thing, so you must use a plural verb with them. A plural verb is the one you would use with 'they' (like they run or they sing). Remember, plural verbs in the present tense usually do not have an '-s' at the end.

Examples

  • Several of the players are celebrating the victory. [The plural verb are celebrating agrees with the plural subject Several.]
  • Both of my parents like to watch old movies. [The plural verb like agrees with the plural subject Both.]
  • Few of the apples are ripe enough to eat. [The indefinite pronoun Few is always plural, so the plural verb are agrees with the subject.]

Section 3

Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

These indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in a sentence: all, any, more, most, none, some.

Explanation

For these tricky pronouns, you have to be a detective! Look at the prepositional phrase that comes right after the pronoun (usually starting with 'of'). If the noun in that phrase is singular (like 'water'), the pronoun is singular. If the noun is plural (like 'cookies'), the pronoun is plural. The noun tells the verb what to do!

Examples

  • Some of the pie is missing. [The subject Some is singular because it refers to the singular noun pie.]
  • Some of the cookies are missing. [The subject Some is plural because it refers to the plural noun cookies.]
  • All of the lemonade has been drunk. [The subject All refers to the singular noun lemonade, so the singular verb has is correct.]

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Chapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Agreement of Subject and Verb

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

The following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something.

Explanation

Think of these pronouns as meaning 'one person' or 'one thing' at a time. Words like everybody or everyone might seem like they're talking about many people, but in grammar, we treat them as a single group. So, they always need a singular verb, which often ends in '-s' in the present tense (like he runs).

Examples

  • Everyone wants a ticket to the concert. [The singular verb wants agrees with the singular subject Everyone.]
  • Each of the students hopes for a good grade on the test. [The singular verb hopes agrees with the singular subject Each.]
  • Somebody needs to answer the phone! [The indefinite pronoun Somebody is always singular, so the singular verb needs agrees with the subject.]

Section 2

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, several.

Explanation

These pronouns always refer to more than one person or thing, so you must use a plural verb with them. A plural verb is the one you would use with 'they' (like they run or they sing). Remember, plural verbs in the present tense usually do not have an '-s' at the end.

Examples

  • Several of the players are celebrating the victory. [The plural verb are celebrating agrees with the plural subject Several.]
  • Both of my parents like to watch old movies. [The plural verb like agrees with the plural subject Both.]
  • Few of the apples are ripe enough to eat. [The indefinite pronoun Few is always plural, so the plural verb are agrees with the subject.]

Section 3

Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Definition

These indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in a sentence: all, any, more, most, none, some.

Explanation

For these tricky pronouns, you have to be a detective! Look at the prepositional phrase that comes right after the pronoun (usually starting with 'of'). If the noun in that phrase is singular (like 'water'), the pronoun is singular. If the noun is plural (like 'cookies'), the pronoun is plural. The noun tells the verb what to do!

Examples

  • Some of the pie is missing. [The subject Some is singular because it refers to the singular noun pie.]
  • Some of the cookies are missing. [The subject Some is plural because it refers to the plural noun cookies.]
  • All of the lemonade has been drunk. [The subject All refers to the singular noun lemonade, so the singular verb has is correct.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Agreement of Subject and Verb

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B

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