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6666 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