The indefinite pronoun one in English. Indefinite pronouns in English: types, role, education

Various types English pronouns are used to express a wide variety of speech situations. As you know, the number of categories of these parts of speech is quite significant, and sometimes determining which form is best to use is quite problematic. Particularly difficult can be the use of indefinite pronouns in the English language, since there are many nuances here, as well as negative pronouns, which also have a number of features. These include some any no, as well as their derivatives. All their characteristics require special attention and detailed study.

Main features of indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns in English(indefinite pronouns) are so called for the reason that they do not carry any definite and precise information and are usually translated as “something, someone, someone...”. This category is based on two main structures: some any, as well as their derivatives. Before focusing on the rules for using some and any, you can display what everyone looks like possible options, formed from these words that are actively used in the language. The following table will show the possible options:

For some/any, the usage rule is quite clear, and it is this that determines what the difference will be: the use of some is typical for affirmative sentences, and any is usually used in interrogative sentences and phrases with negation. For example:

· He has some information, and he wants to share it with me – He has some information, and he wants to share it with me
· Do you have any information? – No, I don’t have any – Do you have any information? - No, none

This difference between some and any is key, however, as with any rule, there are some exceptions.

For example, it is sometimes acceptable to use some in interrogative sentences that carry the meaning of a polite sentence; similar situation with any would look somewhat impolite:

Would you like some tea? – Would you like some tea? (the one who asks the question expects a positive answer and does not mean “at least some tea”)

Examples of any in affirmative sentences are phrases from the Conditionals category, i.e. conditional mood, as well as situations where pronoun any has the translation “any”:

· She would set off with us if had any passion for adventures – She would go with us if she had any passion for adventure
· Give me please any of these donuts – Please give me any of these donuts

Derivatives of some any

As for the use of derivatives, everything here is quite typical. Somebody/someone and anybody/anyone are used to express animate objects, and something/anything - inanimate. At the same time, there is no difference between somebody and somebody (do not confuse these words with the specific pronoun everybody, which is translated as “everyone” or “everyone”), while the differences between somebody and nobody lie in the basic principles of some/any. All nouns used after these words are used only in singular. The pronouns themselves can form the possessive case – somebody’s, anybody’s.

It is believed that the word no is also considered to be an indefinite pronoun, and the differences in the use of some, any and no are quite obvious. However, it is still better to talk about no in the context of negative pronouns, since this word carries a negative connotation.

Features of negative pronouns

Negative pronouns are used to display negative meanings – “nobody, nothing...”. As a rule, the basis of all these structures is no and its main derivatives: nobody/no one(for the animate) and nothing(for inanimate ones).

In addition, such words include: none (“none of”, typical for plural), neither (“none of”, typical for choosing between two objects), directly no, which has a basic translation of “none, no...” and differs from the particle not in that no is used in the meaning of adjectives: I have no money – I don't have any money; She had no friends - She didn’t have any friends.

Very important nuance is the fact that there are two negatives within one English sentences it can't be. Accordingly, two versions of the same phrase may look like this:

She didn’t have any sweets or She had no sweets - She didn’t have any sweets

As can be seen from these two examples, no is written only when there is no other negative in the sentence. Thus, at pronouns some, any and no there are quite close connection, but the cases in which the corresponding pronouns are used largely depends on the structure of the sentence.

Use in sayings

Negative and indefinite pronouns can be included in the construction set expressions and proverbs. These sayings are very popular in the language, and their use will emphasize the speaker’s knowledge of traditional lexical expressions. So, proverbs with indefinite pronouns and negative ones can be as follows:

– By doing nothing we learn to do ill – Idleness is the mother of all vices
– To put a spoke in somebody’s wheel – To put a spoke in the wheel
– To know everything is to know nothing – To know everything means to know nothing
– There is no rose without a thorn – There is no rose without thorns
– Nothing is impossible to a willing heart – Nothing is impossible for a loving heart

Thus, the grammatical features of these two categories of pronouns make it necessary to study them closely. Proper Use some any no will allow you to build sentences in English without errors and avoid awkward situations caused by misuse certain structures. Indefinite and negative pronouns have quite a lot of features and nuances that are important to keep track of.

Indefinite pronouns ( Indefinite Pronouns) point to unknown objects, signs, quantity.

Indefinite pronoun some

1. English pronoun some has no categories of gender, number and case. It is used as a definition before a noun or independently. It is most often not translated into Russian and in English it is often, but not always, used in affirmative sentences.

Examples: There are some letters on the shelf. - There are several letters on the shelf (affirmative sentence).
Pass me some bread, please. – Pass me the bread, please (incentive offer).
Who has got some colored pencils? – Who has colored pencils? (special question)

2. Pronoun some often used in questions for which the answer “yes” is expected. Some also used in questions when the request or suggestion contained in them prompts the listener to answer positively - “yes”.

Examples: Could I have some more coffee, please? – Yes, of course. – Can I have some more coffee, please? Yes please.

3. Pronoun some often used to create contrast.

Examples:Some museums are worth visiting, but others aren’t. Some museums are worth visiting, but others are not.

Indefinite pronoun any

1. English pronoun any has no categories of gender, number and case. It is used as a definition before a noun or independently. In English it is most often used in negative sentences, but not always.

Examples: There is not any chalk in this box. – There is (not) chalk in this box (negative sentence).
Have you got any writing paper? – Do you have any paper for notes? (interrogative sentence)
If you need any information, tell me. – If you need any information, tell me (conditional sentence)
I can come and see you any day next week. “I can come and see you any day next week.”

2. Pronoun any used after words with negative value, For example without– without, if not, never- never, rarely– infrequently, rarely- rarely, hardly– barely, almost not, etc.

Examples: I found a taxi without any trouble. – I found a taxi without (any) problems.

Indefinite pronoun one

1. Pronoun one has the categories of case and number and acts as a definition in a sentence. Form possessive case formed like a noun. The plural form is formed.

Examples:One must always be in time for classes. – You need to come to class on time. (the sentence corresponds to the Russian indefinite-personal sentence to denote an indefinite person)
My new house is much bigger than my old one. – My new house is much larger than the old one (to avoid repeating the previously mentioned noun).

Examples: Which picture do you prefer, this one or that one? – Which painting do you prefer, this one or that one?
I like these shoes more than those. – I like these shoes better than those.
I like these shoes more than those white ones. – I like these shoes more than those white ones (before the pronoun ones worth adjective white).

4. Pronoun one can be used in questions Which one(s)..? and after each.

Examples:Which one is correct? – – Which one is correct? (for example about the answer)
Each one did his part. “Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”

5. Pronoun one(s) used only instead of countable nouns. WITH uncountable nouns(glass - glass, water - water, sand - sand, etc.) the noun is either repeated, or it can often be omitted.

Examples: There is some brown sugar in the cupboard, but there isn’t any white ( sugar). – There is brown sugar in the cupboard, but no white (sugar).

Derivations from the pronouns some and any – something, anything, somebody, anybody, anyone, someone, etc.

1. Derivative indefinite pronouns are formed by adding to some And any -thing, -body, -one and do not have categories of gender and number. Difference between something/somebody And anything/anybody etc. similar to the difference between some And any.

2. Derivative indefinite pronouns something/somebody/someone are used most often in affirmative sentences, and anything/anybody/anyone used in negative sentences and questions.

Examples: It may be something you need, something you want or something you desire. – It could be something you need, something you want or something you dream about.
Somebody has written in my book. – Someone wrote in my book.
There isn't anybody watching the TV at the moment. - IN at the moment no one watches TV.
Have you got anything to say? Do you have anything to say?

But note that very often in English something/somebody etc. are used in questions when we expect or want to receive the answer “yes” (when expressing proposals and requests).

Examples: Can I get you something to drink? – Can I offer you something to drink?
Would you like someone to help you? – Would you like someone to help you?

3. If derivatives from a pronoun some And any act as the subject, the verb is used singular.

Examples:Something is wrong with you. - Something is wrong with you.
Anything is possible! – Everything is possible!

4. Pronouns ending in –body or –one, For example, somebody/someone, anybody/anyone have a case category– general and possessive. The possessive case form is formed by analogy with a noun.

Examples: There was someone's bag in the hall. “Someone’s bag was hanging in the hallway.

Indefinite pronouns - Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns express the degree of uncertainty of an object without naming it and its properties.

Rules for using indefinite pronouns:

Perhaps the most large group pronouns can be considered indefinite pronouns in English. They occur quite often in speech, such as the same Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns (reflexive and intensifying pronouns), and therefore it is simply necessary to know them. As you already understand, we will talk about them today.

Indefinite Pronouns or indefinite pronouns are a group that shows that the pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place or thing. Most often, this group is used when they simply do not know or do not have the desire to name someone / something specific.

In simple words, these are used when we're talking about about some uncertainty. A similar group exists in Russian grammar. It is very similar to English, which means there should be no difficulties in learning it.

This group includes 4 main pronouns:

• some (some, some);
• any (some, some, everyone);
• no (none);
• every (everyone)

With their help, a series of derivatives are formed ending in –body, –one, –thing, –where.

So, if we are talking about people in an indefinite pronoun, they can contain –body and –one:

If we are talking about a thing, –thing is added to the pronouns:

If location is implied, the main pronouns are appended with –where:

In this case, derivatives become adverbs.

In addition to the above indefinite pronouns, the following are also used:

Indefinite pronouns in English: the difference

You may have noticed that some pronouns translated into Russian have same value. Accordingly, a question may arise about the difference between these pronouns. Let's look at this point in more detail:

1. There is absolutely no difference between derived pronouns ending in –one and –body. They can be interchanged while maintaining the original meaning of the sentence:

1. But the pronouns any and some, as well as their derivatives, have differences. Some and its derivatives are usually used in affirmative sentences, while any and its derivatives are used in negative and interrogative sentences:

With countable nouns, these pronouns are used to mean “a little.”

However, it is possible to use any to mean “any” in affirmative sentences:

1. The pronoun any in the meaning “no” also has much in common with the pronoun no and its derivatives. Both of these words mean negation, but since English grammar allows you to use only one negation in a sentence, while no itself already implies a negation, it is used in affirmative form sentences, and any is in the negative:

1. Other and another are another pair of indefinite pronouns that can cause difficulties. Other is used to mean "different" with certain nouns. In such cases, it is put before him definite article the. It is also used for the plural. Another is used only with singular indefinite nouns. There is no need to precede it with an indefinite article.

1. Both and either differ in that the first pronoun is used to mean “both”, and the second - “either one or the other”:

Indefinite pronouns in English: role in a sentence

Indefinite pronouns in sentences are:

• As the subject:

Please note that a singular verb is used after the pronouns.

• As a supplement:

• As a circumstance with derivatives ending in –where:

And also with derivatives that end in –one and –body in the possessive case:

Indefinite pronouns in English: usage

From the examples above, it was already possible to draw conclusions regarding in what cases indefinite pronouns are used. But let's take a closer look at this point and still consider the main cases of their use. Indefinite articles used:

1. If you don't know the person/thing or don't want to name it exactly:

1. If you want to generalize:

1. To indicate quantity:

1. To show negation:

1. To replace or omit a repeated noun:

This was the basic information on this topic. To consolidate the material, do exercises on indefinite pronouns, and consolidate these exercises with practice. Subsequently, we will consider both the previously mentioned Reflexive Emphatic Pronouns and the other 7 types of pronouns.

The meaning of indefinite pronouns and their translation into Russian depends on the sentence in which they are used: affirmative, interrogative or negative.

1. a) Some several, some used in affirmative sentences, for example:

b) When the adjective pronoun some (with the meaning some amount) stands before an uncountable noun, replacing the article; it is not translated into Russian.

Some before a numeral matters approximately, about.

Some is sometimes used before singular countable nouns with the meaning some.

c) The noun pronoun some translates some of with the subsequent definition introduced by the preposition of.

2. Any is used:

a) In affirmative sentences with the meaning everyone, any before countable nouns in the singular. For example:

b) In conditional sentences with some meaning. For example:

c) In negative sentences with the meaning none. For example:

d) With uncountable nouns or when you need to replace them. In this case the word any usually not translated into Russian. For example:

Any of translates any of. For example:

With a noun, only the pronoun no (and not not any) is used as a subject, which is translated into Russian none, none.

None is used instead of an already mentioned noun.

None as a pronoun-noun with a definition introduced by the preposition of, translates none from:

Derived words from the indefinite pronouns some, any and the negative pronoun no

The pronouns some, any, no, as well as the pronoun avery each occur with in words thing thing, body person, one person, were where, where.
With negative pronouns and adverbs, there can be two options for constructing an English sentence. For example:

In negative sentences if available no, nothing, nobody, no one, none, nowhere the verb is put in the affirmative form, since there should not be two negatives in the sentence. For example:

Notes: 1. In negative sentences, only nobody, no one, and nothing are used as subjects.

2. After the pronouns nobody, nothing, anybody (in an affirmative sentence), anything, no one, somebody, something, everything, everybody The verb is in the 3rd person singular.

3. English word every as adjective in English-Russian dictionaries is translated by the Russian word every. Derivatives of the words everybody, everyone are also given in the meanings everyone, everyone (person).
In order to comply stylistic norms In Russian speech, combinations of the word every with a noun (every effort, every action) can be translated into the Russian word all (all efforts).
In this case, the predicate of the English sentence, expressed in the personal form of the verb in the singular, is conveyed by the Russian verb in the plural: