Referring to a particular person or thing: demonstrative pronouns

1.123 When 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' are used as pronouns, they are called demonstrative pronouns. They can be used as the subject or the object of a clause, or the object of a preposition.

Demonstrative pronouns are rarely used as the indirect object of a clause, because the indirect object is usually a person and demonstrative pronouns normally refer to things.

'this' and 'that' 1.124 'This' and 'that' are usually used as pronouns only when they refer to things. You use them instead of a singular count noun or an uncount noun.

This is a list of the rules.

This is the first truly British fast food.

The biggest problem was the accent. That was difficult for me.

That looks interesting.

1.125 'This' and 'that' can be used as pronouns to refer to a person when you are identifying someone or asking who they are.

Who's this?

He paused at a photograph which stood on the dressing table. 'Is this your wife?'

Was that Patrick on the phone?

When you are introducing people, you can say 'This is Mary' or 'This is Mr and Mrs Baker'. Note that you use 'this' even when you are introducing more than one person.

'these' and 'those' 1.126 'These' and 'those' can be used as pronouns instead of a plural count noun. They are most often used to refer to things, although they can be used to refer to people.

'I brought you these.' Adam held out a bag of grapes.

Vitamin tablets usually contain vitamins A, C, and D. These are available from any child health clinic.

These are no ordinary students.

It may be impossible for them to pay essential bills, such as those for heating.

Those are easy questions to answer.

There are a great number of people who are seeking employment, and a great number of those are married women.

'This', 'that', 'these', and 'those' can also be specific determiners. For more information, see paragraphs 1.182 to 1.191. See also cohesion in Chapter 9.

Referring to people and things in a general way: indefinite pronouns

1.127 When you want to refer to people or things but you do not know exactly who or what they are, or their identity is not important, you can use an indefinite pronoun. An indefinite pronoun indicates only whether you are talking about people or about things, rather than referring to a specific person or thing.

I was there for over an hour before anybody came.

Jack was waiting for something.

Here is a list of indefinite pronouns:

anybody anyone anything

everybody everyone everything

nobody no one nothing

somebody someone something

Note that all indefinite pronouns are written as one word except 'no one' which can also be spelled with a hyphen: 'no-one'.

1.128 You always use singular verbs with indefinite pronouns.

Is anyone here?

Everybody recognizes the importance of education.

Everything was ready.

Nothing is certain in this world.

1.129 You use the indefinite pronouns ending in '-thing' to refer to objects, ideas, situations, or activities.

Can I do anything?

Jane said nothing for a moment.

1.130 You use the indefinite pronouns ending in '-one' and '-body' to refer to people.

It had to be someone like Dan.

Why does everybody believe in the law of gravity?

1.131 Although you use singular verbs with indefinite pronouns, if you want to use a pronoun to refer back to an indefinite pronoun, you use the plural pronouns 'they', them', 'their', or 'themselves'.

Ask anyone. They'll tell you.

There's no way of telling somebody why they've failed.

Everyone put their pens down.

No one liked being young as they do now.

Everybody's enjoying themselves.

See paragraph 1.108 for more information about 'they' used to refer to one person.

1.132 In more formal English, some people prefer to use 'he', 'him' or 'himself' to refer back to an indefinite pronoun, but many people object to this use because it suggests that the person being referred to is male.

Somebody shouted and other voices joined him.

Everybody has his dream.

Everybody determines his own rates.

For other ways of using pronouns when you do not want to specify whether the person you are talking about is male or female, see paragraph 1.108.

1.133 You can add 's (apostrophe s) to an indefinite pronoun to refer to things that belong to or are associated with people.

She was given a room in someone's studio.

That was nobody's business.

I would defend anyone's rights.

Everything has been arranged to everybody's satisfaction.

WARNING 1.134 You do not usually add 's to indefinite pronouns referring to things. So, for example, you would be more likely to say 'the value of something' than 'something's value'.

qualifiers 1.135 When you want to give more information about the person or thing referred to by an indefinite pronoun, you can do so by using a qualifier, for example a prepositional phrase or a relative clause.

I changed the plan and made the talks open to everyone over twelve.

He would much rather have somebody who had a background in the humanities.

For more information about qualifiers, see paragraphs 2.289 to 2.320.

use of adjectives 1.136 You can also use adjectives to add information. Note that adjectives are placed after the indefinite pronoun rather than in front of it, and that you do not use a determiner. You do not say 'an important someone', you say 'someone important'.

What was needed was someone practical.

They are doing everything possible to take care of you.

There is nothing wrong with being popular.

used with 'else' 1.137 If you have already mentioned a person or thing and you want to refer to a different person or thing, or an additional one, you can use 'else' after an indefinite pronoun.

Somebody else will have to go out there.

She couldn't think of anything else.

Everyone knows what everyone else is doing.

He held his job because nobody else wanted it.

Note that if you want to indicate association or possession with an indefinite pronoun and 'else', you add the 's to 'else'.

Did you take this photograph or was it someone else's photograph?

No one has control over anyone else's career.

structures used with 'some-' and 'every-' 1.138 Like all noun groups, indefinite pronouns are used as the subject, object, or redirect object of clauses. They can also be used as the objects of prepositions. The indefinite pronouns beginning with 'some-' and 'every-' are most often used in affirmative clauses.

Everything went according to plan.

I remember somebody putting a pillow under my head.

'Now you'll see something,' he said.

I gave everyone a generous helping.

I want to introduce you to someone who is helping me.

Have you seen Frank? Is everything all right?

They are sometimes used as the subject of a negative clause.

He could tell that something wasn't right.

Everyone hadn't arrived yet.

Note that the indefinite pronouns beginning with 'some-' cannot be used as the object of a negative clause, unless they are followed by a qualifier, usually a prepositional phrase or a relative clause.

He wasn't someone I admired as a writer.

I wouldn't forget something that I finished reading only half an hour ago.

1.139 Indefinite pronouns beginning with 'any-' can be used as the object or indirect object of a question or a negative clause.

I couldn't kill anybody, Dr Marlowe.

You still haven't told me anything.

Take a good look and tell me if you see anything different.

I haven't given anyone their presents yet.

They are often used as the subject of both negative and affirmative questions. Note that they are not used as the subject of a negative statement. That is, you do not say 'Anybody can't come in'.

Does anybody agree with me?

Won't anyone help me?

If anything unusual happens, could you can me on this number?

Note that when you are making an affirmative statement, 'anyone' and 'anybody' are used to refer to people in general and not to only one person.

Anybody who wants to can come in and buy a car from me.

1.140 Indefinite pronouns beginning with 'no-' are always used with the affirmative form of a verb, and they make the clause negative. For more information on negative statements, see paragraphs 4.43 to 4.94.

Nobody left, nobody went away.

There was nothing you could do, nothing at all.

She was to see no one, to speak to nobody, not even her own children.

Note that they are sometimes used in questions. When this is the case, the answer to the question is usually expected to be 'no'.

'Is there nothing I can do?' 'Not a thing'.

'Is there nobody else?' 'Not that I know of'.