Indefinite pronoun: rules and exceptions

An indefinite pronoun indicates an indefinite or unknown referent (object, person) or its property. Such pronouns include: something, someone, something, someone, something, someone, etc. They are formed from interrogative pronouns, while the prefixes neo, some and postfixes are used Anyway. For example, someone - someone, someone, someone, someone ; where - somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, somewhere ; how much - how much, several, how much .

Classification of indefinite pronouns by reference

So, indefinite pronouns in Russian are divided into:

• Reference - indicate a specific object that exists in reality (something, something, something, someone). In turn, reference pronouns can be divided into two classes on the basis of fame or obscurity:
  
  1) weakly defined pronouns - used in a situation where the speaker knows the object, but at the same time it is not assumed that it is known to the listener ( one, some, someone, with the meaning of something ) (for example: I will tell you one secret);
  
  2) the pronouns of the unknown - are used to express the unknown of the object to the speaker (pronouns for something ) (for example: someone came to Ivan).
  
• Non-reference - indicate a non-fixed, non-specific object ( be that as it may, be it, be it ) (for example: I need to pray to someone).

Pronouns with the prefix

These include: one, some, some, something. The first pair of pronouns indicates fame, reference for the speaker and unknown for the listener. Otherwise, they would not be called that: indefinite pronouns. Suggestions with them can be composed as follows:

• A young man dressed in a white robe came into my room.
• My teacher, a certain Ivasyuk, a wonderful teacher and person, came into the house.

Also, the pronouns of this series are sometimes used to express the introductive function, i.e., to introduce new characters or circumstances at the beginning of the text. For example:

• In some kingdom ...

Something, in some cases, may express uncertainty for the speaker. This means that they will have the meaning of pronouns on something . For instance:

• Something white and fluffy runs and jumps in a forest glade.

Pronouns on

The indefinite pronoun is intended to express the unknown and reference to the speaker:

• I listened carefully and realized that there really was someone in the room.

Also, pronouns for something can be used not in their main meaning, but in the meaning of something :

• Someone should remain on duty today.

In addition, the series can perform an introductory function:

• Some literate student wrote this absurdity on the board.

Pronouns

The meaning of a non-referential pronoun is determined on the basis of specific semantic features, as well as the types of context where pronouns are used.

Any pronoun implies that one alternative (opportunity) is being considered against the background of another. That is, in this case, the context of "withdrawn affirmation" is implied. A background of this kind may arise:

• if there is a situation related to the future;
• if an alternative situation arises, even related to the present or past;
• when using the distribution context.

So, we will consider all this in more detail. In the first case, an indefinite pronoun will be used somewhere :

• grammatical future tense (she will surely give some examples; they will meet somewhere);
• attitude toward the future, including requests (Irina wants to go somewhere; Vladimir is looking for something interesting for you; he asks for something to write to him);
• for the imperative (except for the context of the speech act of permission, also for the order) (sing something; tell us some verse; quickly download me some movie);
• modality of possibility or necessity (she can (should) call someone; you have to tell someone; you need to call someone);
• subjunctive mood, payment (it would be nice if she brought something to drink; I agree to do something for him);
• to determine the goal (in order for them to do something, you need money).

In the second case, pronouns are used to express:

• (not) confidence, presumption (I doubt that she did anything; I don’t think they knew anything about it; it is strange that they found something; he had hardly left somewhere; obviously someone called; if she brought something (yesterday));
• question (also for rhetorical), interrogative assumption (Has anyone called? Does anyone else have doubts that this is really so?);
• disjunctions (they took Alain or one of her friends with them);
• conditions (if they withheld something, they will pay for it);
• epistemic modality (someone could offend him);
• denials of subordinate predication (I don’t think that they would change anything).

For the third case, we give these examples: everyone will bring someone with him.

Interrogative pronouns acting as indefinite

An undefined format may be omitted in some contexts. Compare the use of indefinite pronouns in indirect questions and conditional clauses :

Indirect question :

• She thought, thought, and still called - to find out if something was needed.
• Out of the corner of his eye he tried to discern if anyone was near the car.
  

Conditional offer :

• If something good happens, they will be only too happy.
• If anyone comes, light the green lamp.

Indefinite pronouns expressions

In addition to these traditional indefinite pronouns, they also include:

• Reducing pronouns: where-where, who-who (Already who-who, but she could not know).
• Pronouns on the basis of indicative, containing formant -to (such-and-such, so-and-so, etc.) (Then and then-and-so-and-so may be attempted on you).
• Some words belonging to other parts of speech that perform the function of an indefinite reference: combinations like this or that; adjectives famous, definite; numeral one.
• Pronouns with a prepositive component, “amalgams” - pronouns based on spousing, dunno-type: I don’t know who, (it’s not clear), it’s not known when, I don’t remember like others.
• The pronouns containing the postpositive component, the “quasi-relativities” are the pronouns that are based on the non-vertex relative subordinate clauses: anywhere, how it goes, anyone, whatever you want, etc.

Negative and indefinite pronouns

At the very beginning, we said that indefinite pronouns are formed from interrogative ones with the help of certain prefixes and a postfix. But, besides them, negative pronouns can also be formed from interrogative ones , only with the help of such prefixes as not - and never - where - nowhere, how much - not at all, who - nobody, when - never, etc.

In addition, negative and indefinite pronouns have one more thing in common: their syntactic and morphological characteristics coincide with those of those from which they are derived, that is, from interrogative ones.

Negative polarized pronouns

Uncertain pronouns with negative polarization are distinguished. They include: whatever , ending in either . In other words, we can say that they gravitate to the context of negativity. However, they can be replaced in some contexts with negative pronouns. For instance:

• I have not encountered any (indefinite pronoun) resistance in my life's journey.

Instead, you can use whatever . Also, these pronouns can be replaced with a negative one. Or an example like this:

• I do not intend to change anything / I do not intend to change anything.
  

One exception is worth noting: if negation is used in the main sentence, then in the subordinate clause it is possible to use only whatever or - or , but not - a negative pronoun. For example:

• It is not known whether this book has ever (but never) been completed.

Spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns

We can distinguish the following types of spelling rules for these pronouns:

• the use of particles is neither and nor ;
• separate and fused spelling of particles with and without pronouns;
• hyphenated pronouns.

So:

• A particle is not written under stress, but not without stress (nobody, someone, nothing, something, several, not at all, nowhere, nowhere, something, nothing).
• If there is no excuse, then the particles need not be written together (no one, several, something, no one, no, no one), but if there is one, it should be separated between the particles and the pronouns (in no one, no one, to nothing, not to anything). Thus, we get a combination of three words.
• The spelling of indefinite pronouns consists in the fact that in their composition the prefix something , as well as the suffixes, somehow, something, or must be written with a hyphen.
• Phrases are nothing other (different), as well as none other (other), as they are written with a particle, and separately if there is a particle as well as separately if there is no particle. No one and nothing is necessary to write pronouns according to general rules, namely: without stress, as well as without an excuse, we write a particle and a pronoun together (nothing else (other), nobody else (other)).
• In the above phrases, the contrast can be expressed not only with the help of the union as , but also with a , which should precede these combinations (his grandfather told him this story, and not anyone else). It is worth noting that with these combinations there will be no other denial in the proposal.
• As for the phrases, no one else (another), nothing else (another) , they are used not in contrast, but in a sentence where there is a negation (Nothing else is better for you) and very rarely in a sentence where there is no negation (Only he will do it , and no one else). It is worth noting that the particle in neither of these combinations is written with the pronouns together.

As you can see, the spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns contains fairly simple rules and some exceptions to them. Therefore, if you understand this topic well, then there should be no problems with the correct spelling and use of these pronouns. And for those who study English, indefinite pronouns should not cause any difficulties, since the rules for their use are identical to the rules in Russian.

Examples of rules in English

Consider how the most common indefinite pronouns are used. English refers to them: any, something, someone, somebody, anything, anyone, anybody, etc. So:

• the first pronoun is most often used in sentences that have a pronounced negation, implied negation, as well as in questions;
• the following three are used in the affirmative sentence, in matters involving anything;
• the last three are used in a negative sentence; in the general question; in a conditional sentence; in the affirmative and negative sentences, if these pronouns are used in the meaning "any, every".