3. Pronouns are words that replace nouns or
noun phrases
The word or words the pronoun replaces
is called the antecedent of the pronoun
Pronouns must agree with their
antecedents – singular antecedents are
replaced with singular pronouns, and
plural antecedents are replaced with plural
pronouns
5. Say you come home and find a broken vase.
You have no idea how it got broken, or who
broke it. Your parents walk in, and say “What
happened?”
6. “_____________ broke the vase.”
What word do you put here, if you have no
idea who really did it?
7. All of these pronouns are indefinite.
They do not refer to a specific antecedent, or
the antecedent is unknown.
in=not
definite=clearly stated
Indefinite pronouns=pronouns for which the
antecedent is not clearly stated (or is
unknown)
8. Some indefinite pronouns are
singular. Some are plural. Some
can be either singular or plural
This is important, because
indefinite pronouns must agree
with their verbs.
Singular vs. Plural
9. Indefinite pronouns often fail the “sounds
right test.” Proper usage may sound
awkward, or weird.
It is necessary to memorize which pronouns
are singular, which are plural, and which can
be either/or.
10. each another
anybody somebody
much no one
something everyone
nobody neither
anything everything
either anyone
nothing
someone
everybody Can you separate
these into categories
to make them easier
to remember?
11. Create a chant to help you remember
the main singular pronouns and the
SANE (some, any, no, every) pronouns:
“Each, much, either, neither, another,
and all the ones, bodies, and things”
12. Learn the first singular indefinite pronouns:
“each, much, either, neither another” and the
following chart:
some body
any one
no thing
every
Any combination of words from the right
and left side make a singular indefinite
pronoun
13. You can remember the 12 “one, body, thing”
pronouns by the mnemonic SANE BOT
INDEFINITE
Some Body
Any One
No Thing
Every
14. Try one of the methods above, or create one
of your own
Find some way to help you remember the
singular indefinite pronouns
15. There are only 5!
Both
Few
Many
Several
Others
Can you create a
mnemonic to help you
remember them?
16. Bears often sleep for months.
both others several few many
18. Some indefinite pronouns can be
both singular and plural.
These are called the SANAM
pronouns
Some All None Any Most
19. When determining if a SANAM
pronoun is singular or
plural, look at how it’s used in
the sentence and ask “Of
what?”
20. Some of the kittens have opened their eyes.
Ask “Some of what?”
Kittens is plural, so this pronoun is plural.
21. Most of my talent is wasted here.
Ask “most of what?”
Talent is singular, so this pronoun is singular
22. 1. Indefinite pronouns do not refer to specific
antecedents, or the antecedent is unknown
2. Some indefinite pronouns are
singular, some plural, and some can be
either/or
3. These pronouns MUST be memorized.
4. TONIGHT – look back over your notes and
determine what comprehension aid
(mnemonic, chant, etc.) you will use to help
you memorize your indefinite pronouns.
