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February 2, 2012 Agenda+Grammar, Chapter 3

-Lesson 8: Indefinite Pronoun Agreement

Homework: Lesson 8 Worksheet

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-An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place, thing or idea. *Indefinite pronouns often do not have antecedents.

Everyone should know about the men of the Endurance.

Anybody would be amazed by the story of this shipwreck.

-Indefinite pronouns can be singular, plural, or singular or plural.

Singular Plural Singular/Pluralanother neither both allanybody nobody few anyanyone no one many mostanything nothing several noneeach one someeither somebodyeverybody someoneeveryone somethingeverything

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Singular-Indefinite Pronouns

-Use a singular personal pronoun to refer to a singular indefinite pronoun.

Anyone in trouble depends on his or her friends. (Anyone could be masculine or feminine)

On the Endurance, everybody had to keep up his spirits while waiting for rescue.

(There were only men on the ship)

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Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Use a plural personal pronoun to refer to a plural indefinite pronoun.

Many shared their food and clothing.

None realized they would not return home for 20 months.

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Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. Often the phrase that follows the indefinite pronouns will tell you whether the pronoun is singular or plural.

Most of the mast had lost its sail.

Most of the masts had lost their sails.

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Choose the pronoun that agrees with the indefinite pronoun antecedent.

1. In 1915, all of the men became trapped with (his, their) ship in the Antarctic ice.

2. No one could send (his, their) family a message.

3. Few of them were able to avoid sleeping on the ice in (their, his) wet clothes.

4. When spring came, all the men had to board three life boats. (He, They) sailed toward a splinter of land.

5. Each was relieved when (he, they) reached the land safely.

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6. Shackleton chose a few of the men and asked (him, them) to row 800 icy miles to get help.

7. Each was chosen for (his, their) special courage.

8. One use (his, their) carpentry skills to make new boat parts from packing crates!

9. Some of the waves were 50 feet high. The men has to face (it, them) in only a life boat!

10. Incredibly, nobody in Shackleton's crew lost (his, their) life during the voyage.

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Singular Plural Singular/Pluralanother neither both allanybody nobody few anyanyone no one many mostanything nothing several noneeach one someeither somebodyeverybody someoneeveryone somethingeverything

Indefinite Pronoun Chart