An indefinite pronoun doesn’t name a particular person or thing: everyone, each, nobody, many. Some are always singular, some are always plural, and a few change. They often come with a phrase in between, as in Agreement Past a Phrase in Between.
| Number | Pronouns | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Always singular | each, either, neither, one; everyone, everybody, everything; someone, somebody, something; anyone, anybody, anything; no one, nobody, nothing | “Everyone is ready.” |
| Always plural | both, few, many, several | “Both are ready.” |
| It depends | some, all, most, any | “Some of the pie is gone.” “Some of the cookies are gone.” |
Key idea
Why it works
Worked example: Each with a phrase
- The subject is each. Of the students is a phrase; cross it out.
- Each is always singular.
Answer: Each of the students has a locker.
Worked example: Most: it depends
- Most follows the noun after of.
- Water is one amount, so most is singular: is.
- Apples are separate things, so most is plural: are.
Answer: Most of the water is cold. Most of the apples are ripe.
Collective nouns name a group: team, class, family, band, committee. In American English, a group acting as one unit usually takes a singular verb: “The team is winning.” British English often uses a plural verb: “The team are winning.” Each is standard in its own country. When the members act separately, American writers often say so: “The team members are arguing.” None varies too: “None of the cookies is left” and “None of the cookies are left” are both used by careful writers.
Common mistake