INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
[Sidenote: _Definition and examples._]
136. Indefinite pronouns are words which stand for an indefinite
number or quantity of persons or things; but, unlike adjective
pronouns, they are never used as adjectives.
Most of them are compounds of two or more words:--
[Sidenote: _List._]
_Somebody_, _some one_, _something_; _anybody_, _any one_ (or
_anyone_), _anything_; _everybody_, _every one_ (or _everyone_),
_everything_; _nobody_, _no one_, _nothing_; _somebody else_, _anyone
else_, _everybody else_, _every one else_, etc.; also _aught_,
_naught_; and _somewhat_, _what_, and _they_.
The following sentences contain indefinite pronouns:--
As he had them of all hues, he hoped to fit _everybody's_ fancy.
_Every one_ knows how laborious the usual method is of attaining
to arts and sciences.
_Nothing_ sheds more honor on our early history than the
impression which these measures everywhere produced in America.
Let us also perform _something_ worthy to be remembered.
William of Orange was more than _anything else_ a religious man.
Frederick was discerned to be a purchaser of _everything_ that
_nobody else_ would buy.
These other souls draw me as _nothing else_ can.
The genius that created it now creates _somewhat else_.
_Every one else_ stood still at his post.
That is perfectly true: I did not want _anybody else's_ authority
to write as I did.
_They_ indefinite means people in general; as,--
At lovers' perjuries, _they_ say, Jove laughs.--SHAKESPEARE.
_What_ indefinite is used in the expression "I tell you _what_." It
means _something_, and was indefinite in Old English.
Now, in building of chaises, I tell you _what_,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot.
Exercise
Find sentences with six indefinite pronouns.
137. Some indefinite pronouns are inflected for case, as shown in
the words _everybody's_, _anybody else's_, etc.
See also "Syntax" (Sec. 426) as to the possessive case of the forms
with _else_.
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