Indefinite pronoun form. Indefinite pronouns in English: types, role, education

General meaning of indefinite pronouns

Before proceeding to the consideration of the pronouns of this category, let's remember what words fairy tales and stories often begin with.

IN some kingdom, in some the state lived and were king and queen(Russian folktale).

IN some kingdom, in some state once upon a time there was a rich merchant, eminent person(S. Aksakov).

Both of these examples use indefinite pronouns. some, some. They do not give a concrete idea of ​​the kingdom, the state in which the action takes place. Such pronouns create a mood of suspense, mystery.

Indefinite pronouns always refer to indefinite objects, attributes, or quantities.

Ways of forming indefinite pronouns

The meaning of uncertainty to the pronouns of this category is given by specific prefixes and suffixes with which they are formed.

Indefinite pronouns are formed from interrogative-relative pronouns using prefixes not, something-, as well as suffixes - then, either, something, For example:

who → Not Who, something who, who -That, Who- or, Who someday; all formed pronouns point to an indefinite object or objects .

what → something which one -That, Which- or, Which someday ; indefinite pronouns formed from the word Which, indicate an indefinite sign.

how much → how much That, How many -or, How many someday. These pronouns indicate an inexact, indefinite amount.

Inflection of indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns have the same forms of inflection as the interrogative-relative pronouns from which they are formed. Suffixes something, something, something, as well as the prefix Not- when declining, they remain in their places and do not change in any way. With features of declension and spelling of indefinite pronouns with a prefix something you can find it in the corresponding video tutorial, but for now let's look at how indefinite pronouns formed in other ways change.

For example, pronouns derived from the words Who And What with suffixes

-then, either, something(someone, anyone, anyone, something, anything, anything), change in cases in the same way as pronouns Who And What. Consider their declension using the example of words with suffixes - That And someday:

I. p. someone, anything

R. p. someone, something

D. p. to someone, something

V.p. someone, anything

etc. someone, something

P. p. about someone, about something

Note! At the words someone And something only the form of I. p. pronouns belongs to the category of indefinite pronouns someone and forms I. and V. p. pronouns something. The remaining case forms of these pronouns have a different meaning and refer to negative pronouns: nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, no one, no one, no one, no one. All of the above words are negative pronouns.

Indefinite pronouns formed from words which, whose, which, as well as the pronoun some change by gender and number:

units h, husband. genus: some, some, any, any, somebody, someone, anyone, somebody;

units h., female genus: some, some, any, some;

units h., Wed. genus: something, something, something, something, some;

pl. hours: some, some, any, some, some, some, some.

Indefinite Pronouns and Indefinite Pronominal Adverbs

Consider the poem by Yuri Iosifovich Kov A for “On the yacht” and name the indefinite pronouns found in it.

One day somewhere on a yacht

from somewhere

Somebody swam.

We flew some seagulls

ABOUT something shouted at him.

Some sharp-nosed dolphin

I dived into the green waves.

And the wind, almost imperceptible,

Raised the sails a little.

Maybe, some People

They looked after the sailor.

AND somebody probably thought:

"Come back quickly."

And I would like on a yacht

Go to the open sea.

Listen to the seagulls cry

Dolphin to see in the waves.

And in the evening after sunset

To the coast to return home.

But let me anyone meet,

But let me anyone waiting.

This poem uses indefinite pronouns: someone, some, about something, some, some, someone, someone. At the beginning of the poem there are indefinite pronominal adverbs somewhere, from somewhere.

Indefinite pronouns and indefinite pronominal adverbs are united by the meaning of indefiniteness, expressed using common prefixes and suffixes for them. something, something, something, something. However, they are different parts speech, and it is necessary to be able to distinguish between them.

Consider the pronouns and adverbs from the first quatrain of the poem "On the Yacht" and, using their example, denote distinctive features pronouns and adverbs of this category.

Distinctive features of indefinite pronouns and indefinite pronominal adverbs

1. Undefined pronouns educated from pronouns, and undefined adverbs - from adverbs:

someone ← who, some(n. f. - some) ← Which, something(n. f. - something) ← What;

somewhere ← where, from somewhere ← from where.

2. General value: undefined pronouns point to undefined items (someone about something), signs (some) And quantity;

indefinite adverbs point to undefined place, time, reason, target, direction (somewhere, somewhere).

3. Syntactic roles pronouns and adverbs are different: indefinite pronouns perform functions subject, additions And definitions, A adverbs are circumstances.

Bibliography

1. Russian language. Grade 6 / Baranov M.T. and others - M .: Education, 2008.
2. Babaitseva V.V., Chesnokova L.D. Russian language. Theory. 5-9 cells - M.: Bustard, 2008.
3. Russian language. 6 cells / Ed. MM. Razumovskaya, P.A. Lekanta. - M.: Bustard, 2010.

1. Presentation ().
2. About indefinite pronouns ().

Homework

Write down the indefinite pronouns.

Someone's voices are heard outside the window, making it difficult to concentrate. Vitka has already repeated several times to himself the pronouns that someone called indefinite: someone, someone, something. He thinks. His dreams are vague, indefinite. “If only someone, with someone, would come after someone,” he spins in his head. But no one comes after him, and Vitka crams further.

Task number 2.

Decline pronouns some, anything.

Pronouns indefinite

They point to unknown, indefinite persons, objects, their signs. someone, something, some, some, several anyone, someone, something, someone, something. Pronouns with particles (affixes) -something, -something, -or, are somewhat synonymous, but each of them has special shades of meaning.

Someone, something has the meaning of "it is not known who", "it is not known what" They told me that they came for me to t o-t o(Pushkin). Something suddenly flashed .. rustle ... quieter(Pushkin).

Anyone, anything have the meaning of “no matter who” (“anyone”), “no matter what” (“anything”). If any of you, comrades, see Zubov, please send him to me.(Zakrutkin). Take some food(Fadeev). Someone, something close in meaning to the pronouns someone, something, but differ in book character. It seemed to him that he already understood the essence of art better than anyone else. I now have to go through stacks of magazine articles to find anything useful.(Tendryakov).

Someone, something means “some, few people”, “some, few things” will not be to your liking(Azhaev). From philosophy and rhetoric, I still remember something(Chekhov).

Dictionary-reference linguistic terms. Ed. 2nd. - M.: Enlightenment. Rosenthal D. E., Telenkova M. A.. 1976 .

See what "indefinite pronouns" are in other dictionaries:

indefinite pronouns- 1) someone, something, someone, something (local noun); 2) some, some, some, someone's, some (local adj.); 3) which is, a lot, a little, a few, how many (local numbers); 4) somewhere, somewhere, why either, somehow (local adv.) ... Dictionary of linguistic terms T.V. Foal

See indefinite pronouns (in the article pronoun) ... Dictionary of linguistic terms

Indefinite pronouns

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TABLE OF CONTENTS- SPELLING I. Spelling of vowels in the root § 1. Checked unstressed vowels § 2. Unchecked unstressed vowels § 3. Alternating vowels § 4. Vowels after hissing § 5. Vowels after q § 6. Letters e e § 7. Letter y II. Spelling consonants ... ... A guide to spelling and style

Negative pronouns

Relative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns (who, what, which, which, whose, how much) are used in interrogative sentences: Who brought the book? What time is it now? Whose child is this? How many mistakes did you make?

Pronouns Who And What have a case category, but do not change by gender and number: Who's come? The boy has come. the girl came. The children have come.

Word How many, like numerals, in the nominative and accusative cases they control a noun, which is put in the form genitive plural. In indirect cases, this word agrees with the noun (how many people, how many people, how many people).

The remaining interrogative pronouns do not differ grammatically from adjectives.

Relative pronouns (who, what, which, whose, which, how much) are used in a complex sentence as allied words to connect the main and subordinate parts. In the subordinate part, they can play the role of any member of the sentence:

I'm that one, to whom listened

You are in the midnight silence

Whose a thought whispered to your soul,

Whose sadness you vaguely guessed.

Whose saw the image in a dream.

I'm that one, whose a glance destroys hope;

I'm that one, whom nobody likes.

(M.Yu. Lermontov)

In the literature of the XIX century. there are forms of the archaic relative pronoun koi: Those who love the truth, read on a dark day of heart, of course they know about themselves(A. S. Pushkin). In combination like him (with them) the first word is an ancient masculine relative pronoun, literally which (which): What do I care about those merchants? I mean Judas Petunnikov and others like him(i.e., who are with him) - (M. Gorky).

Negative pronounsno one, nothing, none, no one, no one, nothing indicate the negation of an object or feature. They are formed from the corresponding interrogative-relative pronouns with the help of particles Not And neither and retain the features of their declination. Pronouns no one, nothing have no shape nominative case.

Indefinite pronouns someone, something, some, some, several, someone, something, something, someone, something, some, someone, someone, something anyone, anyone, something, someone, anyone express the meaning of uncertainty, i.e., indicate indefinite objects, signs and quantities. They are formed from interrogative-relative pronouns using the particle Not and particles something and derivational postfixes -something, -either, -something. Indefinite pronouns basically retain the grammatical features, including the declension, of the pronouns from which they are formed. However, the word someone has only nominative case forms, and something- nominative and accusative. In indirect cases, pronouns some variant forms are used no one, no one; some, some; no one, no one; some, some, some, about some).

Pronouns something, something, anything, anything, anything can be used as synonyms, but there are some semantic and stylistic differences between them. Yes, pronoun something denotes the unknown for both the speaker and the listener: We even told each other that we - great friends, But something hindered our friendship(I. Bunin); something indicates something known to some extent to the speaker, but unknown to the listener: - Come on, look! I have for you something (L. Andreev); anything has the meaning "it doesn't matter what; whatever": And he patiently waited until he at least anything endure(L. Andreev) ; pronoun anything close in meaning to a pronoun anything, but has more general meaning: - It's hard for him now anything count(V. Kaverin). Pronoun something(“some object, phenomenon, something”) is usually used in book styles and, as a rule, has a definition with it: Something gray darted away from me(I. Turgenev).

Similar differences are also characteristic of pronouns. somebody, anybody, someone, somebody, somebody and etc.

IN colloquial speech sometimes the role of an indefinite pronoun can be a pronoun what (who). For example: - And Tryapichkin, for sure, if Who gets on the tooth - beware(N.V. Gogol). Wed: anyone, anyone.

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 prefixes not-, something- and postfixes -something, -something, -or are used. For example, who - someone, someone, somebody, somebody; Where - somewhere, someplace, somewhere, anywhere; How many - some, some, some.

Classification of indefinite pronouns on the basis of referentiality

So, indefinite pronouns in Russian are divided into:

Pronouns with the prefix non-

These include: someone, some, some, something. The first pair of pronouns indicates fame, referentiality for the speaker, and uncertainty for the listener. Otherwise, they would not be called like this: indefinite pronouns. You can make sentences with them like this:

• A young man dressed in a white coat 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. Eg:

• In some realm...

Something, someone individual cases can express uncertainty for the speaker. This means that they will have the meaning of pronouns on -That. For example:

• Something white and fluffy runs and jumps in the forest clearing.

Pronouns for -That

Indefinite pronoun on -That is intended to express uncertainty and referentiality to the speaker:

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

Also pronouns for -That can be used not in its main meaning, but in the meaning someday:

• Someone has to stay on duty today.

In addition, the series -That can perform an introductory function:

• Some literate student wrote this absurdity on the blackboard.

Pronouns for someday

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.

Pronoun on someday implies that one alternative (opportunity) is considered against the background of another. That is, in this case, the context of "removed affirmativeness" is implied. A background of this kind may occur:

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

So, let's look at all this in more detail. In the first case, the indefinite pronoun on someday will be used for:

• grammatical future tense (she will definitely give some examples; they will meet somewhere);
• attitudes for the future, including requests (Irina wants to go somewhere; Vladimir is looking for something interesting for you; he asks you to write something to him);
• for the imperative (besides the context of the speech act of permission, also for the order) (sing something; tell us some verse; quickly download some movie for me);
• modalities of opportunity or necessity (she can (should) call someone; she will have to tell someone; she needs to call someone);
• paying (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, they need money).

In the second case, pronouns are used to express:

• (in) certainty, presumption (I doubt that she did anything; I don’t think they knew anything about it; it’s strange that they found anything; he hardly went anywhere; obviously someone called; if she brought something (yesterday));
• question (also for rhetorical), interrogative suggestion (Did anyone call? Does anyone else have doubts that this is really true?);
• disjunctions (they took Alena or one of her friends with them);
• conditions (if they withheld something, they will pay for it);
• epistemic modality (someone could offend him);
• negations in the subordinating predication (I don't think they change anything).

For the third case, we will give such examples: each will bring someone with him.

Interrogative pronouns that perform the functions of indefinite

The undefined format may be omitted in some contexts. Let's compare the use of indefinite pronouns in indirect questions and:

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

Indefinite pronoun expressions

In addition to the listed traditional indefinite pronouns, they also include:

• Reduplicated pronouns: where-where, someone-who (Already someone-who, but she could not know).
• Pronouns based on demonstratives containing a formant -That(such-and-such, there-and-such, because-and-so, etc.) (Then, and then, an assassination attempt can be made on you).
• Some words belonging to other parts of speech that perform the function of an indefinite reference: combinations like this or that; adjectives known, certain; numeral one.
• Pronouns with a prepositive component, "amalgams" - pronominal constructions based on spusing, dunno-type: I don't know who, (it's not) clear what, I don't know when, I don't remember how, etc.
• Pronominal units containing a post-positive component, “quasi-relatives” are pronominal constructions containing baseless relative clauses: anywhere, how it will turn out, 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, it is possible to form from interrogative questions and only with the help of such prefixes as Not- And neither-: where - nowhere, how much - not at all, who - no one, when - never, etc.

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

Pronouns with negative polarization

Allocate indefinite pronouns characterized by negative polarization. These include: whatever and ending in -or. In other words, we can say that they gravitate toward the context of negativity. However, in some contexts they can be replaced by negative pronouns. For example:

• I have not met any (indefinite pronoun) resistance in my life.

Instead of any can be used whatever. Also, these pronouns can be replaced with a negative no. Or this example:

One exception is worth noting: if negation is used in the main clause, then only whatever or - or, but impossible - a negative pronoun. Eg:

• It is unknown if this book was ever (but not ever) completed.

Spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns

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

• use of particles Not And neither;
• separate and continuous spelling particles Not And neither with pronouns;
• hyphenated pronouns.

• Particle Not written under stress neither- without stress (no one, nobody, nothing, something, several, not at all, nowhere, nowhere, something, nothing).
• If there is no preposition, then the particles Not And neither it is necessary to write together (no one, several, something, no one, none, no one), and if it is available separately, it should stand between particles and pronouns (in no one, no one, nothing, nothing). Thus, we get a combination consisting of three words.
• The spelling of indefinite pronouns is that they contain the prefix something, as well as suffixes something, something, something must be written with a hyphen.
• Phrases nothing else (other than) And none other than written with a particle Not, and separately in the presence of a particle How and separately in its absence. Pronouns nobody And nothing must be written to general rules, namely: without stress, and also without a preposition, we write a particle neither and the pronoun is fused (nothing else (other), no one else (other)).
• In the above phrases, the opposition can be expressed not only with the help of the union How, but also A, which should precede these combinations (this story was told to him by his grandfather, and no one else). It is worth noting that with these combinations there will be no other negation in the sentence.
• As for phrases none other (other), nothing else (other), they are not used in opposition, but in a sentence where there is a negation (Nothing else will suit you better) and very rarely in a sentence where there is no negation (Only he will do it, and no one else). It should be noted that the particle neither in these combinations it is written together with pronouns.

As you can see, the spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns contains quite 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 an explicit negation, an implied negation, as well as in questions;
• the next three are used in an affirmative sentence, in questions suggesting something;
• the last three are used in a negative sentence; V general question; V conditional offer; in affirmative and negative sentences, if these pronouns are used in the meaning of "any, everyone."

Pronoun

Indefinite pronoun indicates that the referent it refers to or replaces, or (else) unknown, or unimportant to mention, i.e. it is indefinite.

This article presents the most used indefinite pronouns in German.

1. "few"

wenig- few
weniges- little, little
Wenige- few (who/what), a few

2. "a little"

ein bisschen, ein wenig, etwas- a little, a little

3. "several"

ein paar, einige, mehrere- some(plural)

etliche- some(plural, more urgent)

4. "something"

ein, einer- some, some, some, one
irgendein, irgendeiner- some, any, any, any

eine- some, some, some, one
irgendeine- some, any, any, any

ein, ein(e)s- something, something, something, something
irgendein, irgendein(e)s- some, any, any, any

Ø, welche- some, some, some, some
irgendwelche- any, any, any, any

5. "something"

jemand- someone, someone, somebody
irgendjemand- someone, anyone, anyone, (someone) anyone

etwas- something, something, something
irgendetwas- something, anything, anything, (something) any

6. "some"

manch-ein, manch-einer- some
manch eine- some
manch ein, manch ein(e)s- some
manches- some

7. "something"

mancher- someone
manches- something

8. "some"

ein gewisser- some
eine gewisse- some
ein gewisses- some
Gewisse- some

9. "other"

ein anderer- other, other
eine andere- other, other
ein anderes- other, other
andere- others, others

10. "further"

ein weiterer- further
eine weitere- further
ein weiteres- further
weitere- further

11. "other"

ein sonstiger- other
eine sonstige- other
ein sonstiges- other
sonstige- others

12. "many"

Viel- a lot of
vieles- a lot, a lot
viele- many (who/what), many

13. "enough"

genug, genügend- enough(pl./unnumerable)

14. "each"

jeder- every
jede- each
Jedes- each
alle- every, all

samtliche- All (more urgent)

15. "everything"

jeder, jedermann- every(no noun)
alles- All

16. "any"

jeder (beliebige)- any
jede (beliebige)- any
jedes (beliebige)- any
alle (beliebigen)- any

17. "both"

beide- both, both
beides- both