Indefinite Pronouns

1. Indefinite Pronouns 6-8 P. 302

2. Kinds of Indefinite Pronouns • The pronouns someone and everybody do not refer to definite persons or things. • Pronouns like these are called indefinite pronouns; they often do not have specific antecedents.

3. All, any, most, none, and some can be singular or plural. These pronouns are plural when they refer to things that can be counted. • They are singular when they refer to things that cannot be counted. • Singular- Most of the town closes on the Fourth of July. • Plural- Most of the stores close on the Fourth of July.

4. When words like all, most, or each are used before nouns, they function as adjectives, not as indefinite pronouns. • Indefinite Pronouns- Some carried flags in the parade. • Adjective- Some children carried flags in the parade.

5. Identify each indefinite pronoun. Is it singular or plural? • The days of the Chinese New Year are some of the most important dates on the calendar. • Each Chinese American community holds its own celebration. • Everybody crowds into the streets and watches a parade of paper animals and lanterns. • Everything in the parade is colorful and exciting, but the best part is the long Golden Dragon. • This traditional symbol of the Chinese New Year must be carried by several people.

6. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns • You know that when a singular pronoun is the subject of a sentence, it takes a singular verb, and a plural pronoun takes a plural verb. When an indefinite pronoun is the subject of a sentence, the verb must agree with it. • Everyone enjoys the celebration.

7. Indefinite pronouns can be antecedents for personal pronouns. You know that a personal pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number, and gender.

8. Find the indefinite pronoun and choose the verb or the pronoun that agrees with it. • 6. In China most people (celebrates, celebrate) (its, their) New Year’s with family reunions and feasting. • 7. Some of the children (receive, receives) red envelopes filled with money. • 8. Many (attends, attend) parades with decorated floats and traditional dances. • 9. In the United States, one usually (spends, spend) New Year’s Eve with family or friends. • 10. The two countries celebrate differently, but each (welcomes, welcome) (its, their) new year with festivity.

9. Find the indefinite pronoun and choose the verb or the pronoun that agrees with it. • 11. Everything at fiestas (begins, begin) before daylight with fireworks and ringing bells. • 12. Everybody (dances, dance) and (buys, buy) refreshments. • 13. Some (watches, watch) plays or professional bullfights, or (he, they) ride merry-go-rounds and Ferris wheels. • 14. Each of the Mexican cities, towns, and villages also (holds, hold) (its, their) own fiesta each year. • 15. In larger towns and cities, many of the fiestas (resembles, resemble) carnivals or county fairs in the United States.

10. Find the indefinite pronoun and choose the verb or the pronoun that agrees with it. • 16. Few of the fiesta activities (excites, excite) the children as much as the pinata game. • 17. Most of the children (wonders, wonder) what each pinata contains. • 18. Everybody (finds, find) the game enjoyable.