Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007
Indefinite and distributive pronouns
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech
Refer to the section ’Subjects matching verbs’ on page 109.
To students whose knowledge of pronouns is limited to personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns do not, at once, seem to be connected. The term indefinite pronoun is self-explanatory. Its indefiniteness is shown by its referral to no one or no thing in particular.
Indefinite pronouns
The following are most of the indefinite pronouns in common use:
For example:
Nobody could do anything.
Can’t somebody do something?
Distributive pronouns
These refer to one person or thing from two.
For example:
Either go now or stay at home.
Neither wants to go.
Or to a group of two or more.
For example:
Each has a banana.
I gave each an apple too.
21.1 Activities: pronouns
1. Students write down the definition of a pronoun. After checking the answers, a correct definition is written on the board. Individual mistakes are corrected.
2. Students are asked to say when the words ’those’ and ’his’ are not pronouns.
3. Sentences are read out and students raise their hands when they hear a pronoun. Some can also be written, for example:
a. They went to a wedding.
b. Tom wore his best outfit.
c. That is my favourite, said Lucy.
d. Who was the best man?
e. That tall fellow you saw at the party.
f. He might be his brother.
g. Did anyone wear a hat?
h. Some did but others just had flowers in their hair.
i. Someone played the clarinet. Everyone said how well she played.
j. Did you take them a present? Mine will be late but they are still on their honeymoon.
4. Orally or in writing, students use the following words as pronouns and/or adjectives.
a. each f. hers
b. neither g. whose
c. theirs h. one
d. those i. that
e. yours j. which
5. Students complete their flowchart for pronouns. Categories may be added to the chart as each is learnt. They then add an example below each one.
Checklist: pronouns
Students should now be able to:
• explain how a demonstrative pronoun such as ’this’, could be used as an adjective instead
• correctly use the pronouns who, whom and whose
• follow indefinite and distributive pronouns with verbs in the correct number
• correct errors in the use of all of the above pronouns
• use all kinds of pronoun correctly in their own composition