##  [Verb agreement with indefinite pronouns](/writing-tips-plus/verb-agreement-with-indefinite-pronouns)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

## On this page

- [Indefinite pronouns and grammatical number](#grammatical-number)
- [Indefinite pronouns that are singular](#singular)
- [Indefinite pronouns that are plural](#plural)
- [Indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural](#singular-or-plural)
- [Additional information](#additional-information)

## Indefinite pronouns and grammatical number

Indefinite pronouns are non-specific words like **someone**, **others**, **several** or **none**. Although, as pronouns, these words take the place of a noun, they don’t refer to a specific person, place or thing.

Some of these pronouns are always singular or always plural. But some can change their number: they can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.

It’s important to know whether an indefinite pronoun subject is singular or plural so that we can make the verb agree.

## Indefinite pronouns that are singular

Singular indefinite pronouns include the following:

- the compounds of **-body** (anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody)
- the compounds of **-one** (anyone, everyone, no one, someone)
- the compounds of **-thing** (anything, everything, nothing, something)
- the words **one**, **another**, (the) **other**, **each**, **either**, **neither**, **little**, **less** and **much**

A singular verb is used with these pronouns:

- Nobody **likes** liver for supper.
- Everyone **sings** in the shower.
- Something **smells** funny.
- One of these keys **fits** the lock.
- Each of the members **has** the right to bring a guest.
- Either **is** fine with me.

## Indefinite pronouns that are plural

A plural verb is used with the indefinite pronouns **both**, **few**, **fewer**, **many**, **others** and **several**, which are always plural:

- Both of them **play** the flute very well.
- Few **read** this well at such a young age.
- Many of our young people **go** to larger cities to find work.
- Several of the neighbourhood lawns **need** to be mowed.

## Indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural

Indefinite pronouns like **all**, **more**, **most**, **none** and **some** take their meaning from the word they refer to (which is often found in a phrase following the pronoun).

In each pair of examples below, the first sentence contains an indefinite pronoun that refers to a singular noun (milk, story, cake, bread). The pronoun is therefore singular in meaning and takes a singular verb.

But in the second sentence in each pair of examples, the same pronoun refers to a plural noun (books, rules, songs, photos). The pronoun is then plural in meaning and takes a plural verb.

- All of the milk **has** spilled on the table. \[singular\]
All of the books **have** been sold. \[plural\]
- Most of the story **makes** no sense. \[singular\]
Most of the workers **make** a good living. \[plural\]
- None of the cake **is** left for dessert. \[singular\]
None of the songs **are** any good. \[plural\]
- Some of the bread **was** mouldy. \[singular\]
Some of the photos **were** out of focus. \[plural\]

## Additional information

- [Indefinite pronouns](/en/writing-tips-plus/indefinite-pronouns)
- [Pronoun agreement: Indefinite pronouns](/en/writing-tips-plus/pronoun-agreement-indefinite-pronouns)
- [Verb agreement](/en/writing-tips-plus/verb-agreement)

### Quizzes

- [Subject-verb agreement: Indefinite pronouns](/en/quiz/jeu-quiz-agreement-with-indefinite-pronouns-eng)

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- [Grammar and syntax](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A476#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Pronouns](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A476&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A486#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Verbs](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A476&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A488#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)

## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)