Transcript indefinite-pronouns-V2

GRAMMAR UNIT II:
LESSON 5
Using Indefinite Pronouns
Correctly
DEFINITION
Indefinite pronoun: a pronoun that does
not refer to a specific person, place, or thing.
Each thinks about the story.
USAGE – ALL PRONOUNS MUST
AGREE IN NUMBER
Indefinite pronouns can be either SINGULAR or
PLURAL.
Why is this important?
If you use an indefinite pronoun as a
subject, then your verb must AGREE
with it.
SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT
Each thinks about the story.
Singular
indefinite
pronoun
Singular
verb
SO, how can we determine which indefinite
pronouns are SINGULAR and WHICH are
plural?
Unfortunately for most, you can’t. You
have to memorize them.  So here they
are. . .
SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
S A N E S A N E
O N O V O N O V
M Y
E M Y
E
E
R E
R
Y
Y
ONE
BODY
Someone
Somebody
Anyone
Anybody
No one
Nobody
everyone
everybody
S A N E
O N O V
M Y
E
E
R
Y
THING
Something
Anything
Nothing
Everything
One
Neither
Each
Another
Much
Either
SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUN ANTECEDENTS
• ALL PRONOUNS IN THE SENTENCES MUST AGREE IN NUMBER.
EXAMPLE:
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USES PRONOUNS CORRECTLY?
EACH OF THE SISTERS GAVE THEIR MOTHER A GIFT.
OR
EACH OF THE SISTERS GAVE HER MOTHER A GIFT.
SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUN ANTECEDENTS
EACH (OF THE SISTERS) GAVE HER MOTHER A GIFT.
Plural INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Many
Few
Both
Others
Several
Create your own mnemonic device to help you
remember these five plural indefinite pronouns. OR
try:
Mothers Feed Babies On Saturday
ANTECEDENT – PLURAL
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
• ALL PRONOUNS IN THE SENTENCES MUST AGREE IN NUMBER.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USES PRONOUNS CORRECTLY?
____ Few from the class studied his or her notes before the test.
Or
____ Few from the class studied their notes before the test.
ANTECEDENTS – PLURAL
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
• ____ Few (from the class) studied their notes before the test.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS that can be
Either Singular or plural
Some
SAMAN – MNEMONIC – these pronouns are
All
singular or plural depending on how they are modified
by prepositional phrases.
Most
It’s all about the PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE!
Any
All of the students do their homework. (plural)
None
All of the class does his or her homework.
(singular)
How do we determine if these indefinite pronouns are singular
or plural? Use the two examples above to help you.
PRONOUN/PRONOUN
AGREEMENT
Each of the students has his or her ideas about homework.
Singular
indefinite
pronoun
Singular
singular
pronouns
GUIDED PRACTICE
Identify each indefinite pronoun as S or P. Then select
the appropriate verb.
1. Each (think, thinks) about the plot.
S
2. Many of the students (do, does) their homework.
p
3. Most of the students (is, are) reliable.
P
4. Several (is, are) presenting their speeches.
P
GUIDED PRACTICE
Identify each indefinite pronoun as S or P. Then select
the appropriate pronoun.
1. Everyone studies (his or her, their) book.
S
2. Each has (their, his or her) point of view.
s
3. Several offer (his or her, their) advice.
P
4. All of the students give (his or her, their) opinions, too.
P