Section 11.2.6

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns replace nouns whose identity is undetermined or varies. Commonindefinite pronouns include everyone, anything,somebody, no one, and whoever.

Undetermined Identity

In 1877, no one could imagine following the individualhistories of thousands of gas molecules, and so Boltzmann opted for followingaverage behavior.

--Donald M. McCloskey, "Computation Outstrips Analysis" (modified)

Varying Identity

Anyone who has at least a 90% average at the end of thesemester does not have to take the final examination.

Check the verb agreement carefully when using anindefinite pronoun as a subject. Indefinitepronouns often contain quantifiers, which havespecial rules for subject-verb agreement.

## Indefinite Pronouns ##


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