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Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid.
One of the most important things when we speak
a language and we want to speak it correctly
is to make sure that our
subject agrees with our verb.
So, if we have a singular subject, we want
to make sure we have a singular verb; if we
have a plural subject, we want to
make sure we use a plural verb.
And most of the time this is something
that you learn and you master.
But when it comes to pronouns,
it can be a little bit trickier.
Now, with the regular pronouns which are definite
pronouns, like: "I", "you", "he", "she", "it",
and...
These are singular; and "we", "they",
and "you" sometimes - these are plural.
So that's also quite easy
and usually you know that.
But one area which can cause a lot of confusion
to people who are learning English is something
called indefinite pronouns,
and there are lots of them.
Okay?
So, what I'm going to focus on in this lesson
is five of the most confusing ones because
sometimes they are singular,
and sometimes they are plural.
And I'm going to explain to you so
you will know exactly what to do.
I'm also going to review some of the
others and tell you when they are...
Which ones are always singular and
which ones are always plural.
So, first of all, just before we start, let
me just tell you that an indefinite pronoun
is what it says; it's not definite, so it
doesn't refer to a specific person, or place,
or thing.
Okay?
Let's get started.
Okay, so we have, here:
"Indefinite Pronouns", right?
We have, as I said, three kinds; some that
are always singular, some that are always
plural, and the five which we're going to focus
on in this lesson which could be singular
or plural.
Okay?
All right.
So, this is just to
review these first.
So, which ones are
always singular?
Things like: "Everybody",
"everyone", "everything".
So, we say: "Everybody is here.", "Everyone
is here.", "Everything is here."
Okay?
We don't say "are".
Same with: "Somebody is", "Someone is", "Something
is", "Is anybody here?", "Is anyone here?",
"Is anything here?" or...
And so on.
"Nobody", "no one",
"nothing" - also singular.
"Each", "every", "much".
All of these are
always singular.
So, you have to learn that.
If you're not sure, you need to review
that, but these are always singular.
Okay?
They're always talking about
only one, so they are...
Even though it seems
like there's a lot.
Okay?
When we say: "Everyone", we're talking about,
like, a group of people, so sometimes people
think that means it's plural, but
it's not; it's actually singular.
So, you have to learn that because
we're considering one group.
Next, we have a second category of
indefinite pronouns which are always plural.
These kind of make sense,
so let's look at them.
"Both", obviously we're talking about
at least two people-right?-here.
So: "Several", which means
many - this is plural.
"Both of them are", "Several of the customers
are", "A few of the customers are here.",
"Many of the customers are
here.", and "Others are here."
Okay?
So, these indefinite pronouns are always plural
- that's easy, and a little bit easier even
than this one.
Right?
But what happens when
we come to these?
These five are a little bit more confusing,
because sometimes we can say the singular
version, which is "is" and sometimes "are",
or depending on whatever the verb is.
So, what are these indefinite
pronouns that could go either way?
They are: "Most", "all",
"none", "any", and "some".
So, now I'm going to explain to you exactly
when they become singular and when they are
plural.
Okay, so the way that you decide with these five
indefinite pronouns: "Most", "all", "none",
"any", or "some"...
The way you decide whether the verb should be
singular or plural is based on what follows
these terms.
Okay?
Let me give you an example.
First we're going to start with the
easy example with countable nouns.
So: "Most of the book
is interesting."
So, what followed
the word "most"?
The word "book", and "book" is singular,
so therefore we used a singular subject.
Right?
"Most of the book
is interesting."
Not all parts of the book are interesting,
but most of the book is interesting.
Okay?
Let's look at another example with
the same countable nouns, all right?
"Most of the books
are interesting."
So, now, what follows
the word "most"?
"Books", right?
What are we talking about?
Books.
So: "Most of the books" becomes plural, so
we say: "Most of the books are interesting."
Okay?
It's not that complicated.
All right?
It just seems that way,
but it's really not.
It's pretty logical, especially when
we're talking about the countable nouns.
The same principle applies when we are talking
about non-count or uncountable nouns.
Now, if you don't know what uncountable nouns
are, I'm going to show you in a minute, and
then I'll also show you where you can get a
resource which we have on our website, which
you can download in case you want
to review the uncountable nouns.
Okay?
So, let's look at some of the uncountable
nouns and compare them to the countable ones.
So: "Most of the furniture
was expensive."
Now, "furniture" is what
we call a non-count noun.
Okay?
We can't count it;
it's considered...
And because we cannot count
it, it's considered singular.
Okay?
The non-count nouns, the uncountable
nouns are always singular.
So: "Most of the furniture
was expensive."
Let's compare that to a countable
noun: "Most of the chairs"- right?
"chairs" with an
"s"-"were expensive".
See the difference?
"Most of the furniture was",
but "Most of the chairs were".
You're getting it.
Same principle.
If it's singular, whatever follows this word,
make it singular in the verb; if it's plural,
make it plural.
Let's look at another example.
"All of the food was delicious".
"Food" is an uncountable
noun, so it's singular.
"All of the desserts
were delicious."
Desserts you can count, and we're talking
about more than one dessert, so it became
the...
We chose a plural verb.
Next: "None of the
equipment was delivered".
"Equipment" is an uncountable
noun, so we make it singular.
"None of the equipment
was delivered."
And: "None of the computers
were delivered."
Okay?
Here it was countable, here it was
plural, and so we used "were".
It's not just that when
it's countable it's plural.
Remember up here?
These were both countable,
so then you had...
If it's countable, you had to
check if it's singular or plural.
But in these examples, I'm
just showing you the contrast.
Next: "Was any of his
advice helpful?"
Now, here, because it was a question,
it's not what came after the word "any".
In this case, it was
what came before.
But here you see it.
Right?
Was any of his advice helpful?
"Advice" is uncountable, so we
said "was" - it's singular.
"Were any of his ideas helpful?"
Right?
So, here, it was "ideas", and "ideas" is plural
and we can count it, so we had to use a plural
verb.
Let's look at the last example.
And I hope you're still with me.
You've got it.
It's the same principle
in every example.
"Some of the information
is important."
Right?
"Information" is something we cannot
count, so it's considered singular.
"Some of the information
is important."
And: "Some of the
lectures are important".
"Lectures", we could count; it's
plural, so we used a plural verb.
Okay?
Did you understand
the principle?
Because if you've got the principle, then you
can apply it; it doesn't matter - whatever
situation or whatever context you're talking
about, you'll be able to apply it and you
will know whether to say...
For these indefinite pronouns, whether
to use a singular verb or a plural verb.
For which ones?
"Most", "all", "none",
"any", and "some".
And we're going to practice exactly
how to do that in just a second.
So, let's do this.
Number one: "Some of the
students _______ absent."
"is" absent or: "Some of
the students are absent"?
In all of these, you have to decide
whether to use "is" or "are".
Okay?
So, what do we say?
"Some of the students"-tell
me-"are absent".
Now, how did we decide that?
Because the word that came after "some" was
"students"; and in this case it was "students",
right?
Plural, so we had to
use a plural verb.
"Some of the students
are absent."
Next: "Most of my homework
_______ finished."
So, what do we say?
"Most of my homework"-what
is it?-"is finished".
Why?
Because "homework" is one of those
uncountable nouns, which is always singular.
Good.
"_______ any of your
luggage missing?"
So, do we say: "Is any of your luggage missing?"
or "Are any of your luggage missing?"
We say...
Tell me.
"Is any of your
luggage missing?"
All right?
Because "luggage" is
another uncountable noun.
If it was "suitcases", then we could have
said: "Are any of your suitcases missing?"
All right?
Because "suitcases" we can
count, and that is plural.
Next, number four...
Sorry.
"None of the players
_______ injured."
What should it be?
"None of the players
are injured."
Okay?
"Players", right?
So it's plural, so our
verb has to be plural.
Number five: "All
learning _______ useful."
So, what should we say?
"is" or "are"?
"All learning is useful."
Okay?
"Learning" is also
something we cannot count.
"_______ any of my
answers incorrect?"
So, should we say: "Is any of my
answers" or "Are any of my answers?"
Because it's "answers",
so we have to say: "Are".
Okay?
Very good.
Number seven: "Some
rice _______ fragrant."
What does "fragrant" mean?
"Fragrant" means
that it smells nice.
"Some rice is" or
"Some rice are"?
"Some rice is fragrant".
"Rice" is also something we
cannot count, so it's non-count.
Very good.
Number eight: "None of the
material _______ useful."
"is useful" or "are useful"?
"None of the material is useful", because
again, we cannot count the material; it's
a non-count noun.
Number nine: "Most shows
_______ a waste of time."
"Most shows is a waste of
time" or "Most shows are"?
"Most shows", has an "s"
here, big clue - right?
"Most shows are a
waste of time."
And number 10: "All your
friends _______ safe."
"is safe" or "All your
friends are safe"?
What should we say?
"All your friends are safe."
Okay?
And that's good news;
very good news.
Now, what can we do after this?
What can you do after this?
To really, really learn this part, because
you've spent time watching this video, right?
Now you want to master this and take
it with you for the rest of your life.
So, there are a few
things you can do.
First, go to my website...
Go to our website-sorry-at www.engvid.com;
there, you can do a quiz on this and reinforce,
and review, make sure that
you've really understood it.
Second, while you're at the website, go to the
resource section; and there, you can download
a page which I've written about countable and
uncountable nouns, because knowing those
will help you to know these indefinite
pronouns correctly and use them properly.
Okay?
And last, make sure to click on the "Subscribe"
button so you can keep getting lessons that
help you to improve your English
quickly and easily. Okay?
All the best with your English.
Thanks for watching. Bye.
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About this lesson
Master 5 commonly confused indefinite pronouns in English.