INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.
Definition and examples.
136. Indefinite pronouns are words which stand for an indefinite number or quantity of persons or things; but, unlike adjective pronouns, they are never used as adjectives.
Most of them are compounds of two or more words:—
List.
Somebody, some one, something; anybody, any one (or anyone), anything; everybody, every one (or everyone), everything; nobody, no one, nothing; somebody else, anyone else, everybody else, every one else, etc.; also aught, naught; and somewhat, what, and they.
The following sentences contain indefinite pronouns:—
As he had them of all hues, he hoped to fit everybody's fancy.
Every one knows how laborious the usual method is of attaining to arts and sciences.
Nothing sheds more honor on our early history than the impression which these measures everywhere produced in America.
Let us also perform something worthy to be remembered.
William of Orange was more than anything else a religious man.
Frederick was discerned to be a purchaser of everything that nobody else would buy.
These other souls draw me as nothing else can.
The genius that created it now creates somewhat else.
Every one else stood still at his post.
That is perfectly true: I did not want anybody else's authority to write as I did.
They indefinite means people in general; as,—
At lovers' perjuries, they say, Jove laughs.—Shakespeare.
What indefinite is used in the expression "I tell you what." It means something, and was indefinite in Old English.
Now, in building of chaises, I tell you what,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot.
Exercise.—Find sentences with six indefinite pronouns.
137. Some indefinite pronouns are inflected for case, as shown in the words everybody's, anybody else's, etc.
See also "Syntax" (Sec. 426) as to the possessive case of the forms with else.