English 6 Using Indefinite Pronouns

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Module 40
A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
USING INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

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Hello dear! Did you enjoy inferring different outcomes in your
previous module?
Today, you will have activities on pronouns.
Get ready.
Pronouns have different kinds. Today we are going to learn about
pronouns that do not point out to particular persons, places or things.
These are called indefinite pronouns.
Read the following sentences. Copy the indefinite pronouns in
each.
To the Learner
Let’s Try This
Let’s Learn This
1. There was an important job to be done and everybody was
sure that somebody would do it.
2. Anybody would have done it but nobody did it.
3. Somebody got angry about that because it was
everybody’s job.
5. It ended that everybody blamed somebody when nobody
did what anybody could have done.
4. Everybody thought anybody would do it but nobody
realized that everybody wouldn’t do it.

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Ever since the world began, everyone had been
trying to make work easier for all-by machinery or by do-
it-yourself kits. Right now in the year 2002, one has ten
times better living conditions than anyone had in the 16th
century. Take for example, cellphones, computers, fax
machines, and email, among others. Today, these are a
necessity in our homes that we did not have before. If
people don’t have it, everybody will be at a disadvantage.
There is much to tell about life today. Many think
life is better now than four hundred years ago. Still some
say, it is much better. But few believed that life was
happier and more peaceful then.
Source: English for All Times 6 (Language)
Are your answers like these?
1. everybody, somebody
2. anybody, nobody
3. somebody, everybody
4. everybody, anybody, nobody
5. everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody
Don’t worry Learner if you didn’t get all the correct answers. This
module will help you learn more about indefinite pronouns.
Read the paragraph below.
Let’s Study This

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Answer the questions.
1. How had everyone been trying to make work easier for all?
2. What are the small machines mentioned in the first paragraph?
3. Do you also think that cellphones, computers, and fax machines
really help people nowadays? How?
Read the words taken from the paragraphs.
- Do these words point out to particular persons, places, or things?
- These words are pronouns but they take the place of nouns that
are either masculine or feminine or both. These are called
indefinite pronouns.
- How can we tell whether an indefinite pronoun takes a singular or
a plural verb?
o Use singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun; use a
plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun.
Look at these examples.
- What pronoun is used when an indefinite pronoun is its
antecedent? What is an antecedent?
o An antecedent is a word, phrase, or sentence that is
represented by another word, for example a pronoun.
o Use their when the antecedent is a plural indefinite pronoun;
use his or her when the antecedent is a singular indefinite
pronoun.
everyone anyone everybody
many some few
1. Somebody keeps on putting notes on my desk.
2. Many think life is better now than four hundred
years ago.

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Study these.
1. Neither of the girls finished her project.
2. Neither of the boys submitted his project.
3. Few have started on their Science project.
Here is a list of indefinite pronouns. Study them.
Singular Plural Singular or Plural
anyboby neither
anyone nobody
each no one
either one
everybody someone
both
few
many
most
several
all
none
some
plural indefinite
pronoun used as an
antecedent of the
pronoun their
singular indefinite
pronoun used as an
antecedent of the
pronoun his
Singular indefinite
pronoun used as an
antecedent of the
pronoun her

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A. Read the sentences inside the trees carefully. Copy on a piece
of paper the verb in the leaves that agrees with the indefinite
pronoun.
1.
2.
Let’s Do This
Nobody
__________ who
is writing the
notes.
know,
knows
All the letters
__________ the
same thing.
ask, asks

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3.
4.
5.
Each __________
me to the
Valentine’s Day
dance.
invite,
invites
Most __________
typed on white
paper.
is, are
However, one
_________ written
by hand in green
ink.
was, were

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Look at the Answer Key for correct answers.
What’s your score? _________
Read the sentences in the boxes. Copy the letter of the verb that
agrees with each indefinite pronoun on a piece of paper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Let’s Do More
1. Each __________ sure that he
was not mistaken.
a. was
b. were
2. Anyone who __________ to
buy his ticket now may do so.
a. wish
b. wishes
3. Others __________ at the
writer’s shyness.
a. smile
b. smiles
4. Many __________ chosen to
be our contestants.
a. is
b. are
5. Everybody __________ a
theory about the mysterious
writer.
a. has
b. have

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What are indefinite pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer
to particular persons, places, or things.
These pronouns take the place of nouns that are
either masculine or feminine or both.
Singular indefinite pronouns use singular verbs;
plural indefinite pronouns use plural verbs.
When the antecedent is a plural indefinite
pronoun, use their. When the antecedent is a singular
indefinite pronoun, use his or her.
Finished?
Check your answers against the Answer Key.
A. On your paper, write the letter of the correct sentence in each
of the following pairs of sentences.
Let’s Test Ourselves
Let’s Remember This
1. a. Everybody in the class must hand his or her problems
before he or she leaves.
b. Everybody in the class must hand in their problems
before they leave.
2 a. Both of them have their rubber caps, but neither has his
or her suit.
b. Both of them have their rubber caps, but neither has
their suit.

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Finished?
Check your answers against the Answer Key.
What’s your score?
Good job if you get 4 or 5 correct answers.
If you get 3 and below, answer Let’s Enrich Ourselves.
B. Choose the correct indefinite pronoun inside the boxes to
complete each sentence.
1. We believe everyone, all needs a happy mood.
2. Each, Most people have at least one daily planner.
3. Do you think anyone, some knows about personal conflicts?
4. No one, Few has explained it to me.
5. I went to the library to see if I could find many, anything about
psychology.
3. a. Everyone must be in his or her place when the gong
sounds.
b. Everyone must be in their place when the gong
sounds.
4. a. Anyone who doesn’t have their bathing suit may rent
one.
b. Anyone who doesn’t have his or her bathing suit may
rent one.
5. a. Each one has his or her own story to tell.
b. Each one have their own story to tell.

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6. Many, Each of the references look quite old.
7. The staff asked someone, several to order new reference
materials.
8. When the references came, some, no one were very long and
thick.
9. Several, Nobody of them had beautiful photographs.
10. All, Each were interesting and informative.
Read the paragraphs below. Copy the letter of the verb that
agrees with each indefinite pronoun on a piece of paper.
Let’s Enrich
Ourselves
Everyone in my class 1. (a. has b. have) a pen pal.
Several 2. (a. write b. writes) to more than one
person. Nobody 3. (a. forget b. forgets) to send a
letter every week.
Everybody 4. (a. is b. are) always eager to check
the mail. Something usually 5. (a. arrive b. arrives) in
the mail for me. Each of my pen pals 6. (a. is b. are)
special. Both of my pen pals 7. (a. live b. lives) in
Africa. Some of us 8. (a. read b. reads) the letters
aloud to the class. Many 9. (a. hope b. hopes) to visit
their pen pals someday. All 10. (a. enjoy b. enjoys)
communicating with new friends.

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Let’s Do This Let’s Do More
1. knows 1. a
2. ask 2. b
3. invites 3. a
4. are 4. b
5. was 5. a
Let’s Test Ourselves
A. B.
1. a 1. everyone 6. Many
2. a 2. Most 7. someone
3. a 3. anyone 8. some
4. b 4. No one 9. Several
5. a 5. anything 10. All
Let’s Enrich Ourselves
1. a
2. a
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. a
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a
Answer Key