Some pronouns, such as he, refer to one thing. Those pronouns are singular.
Others, such as they, refer to more than one. Those are plural.
LESSON 1.23
Singular and Plural Pronouns
Examine the chart. Are the words singular or plural?
Someone | Everyone | Anyone |
Something | Everything | Anything |
Somebody | Everybody | Anybody |
Some words look like they involve a group – but they don’t. Insert the last three letters of each word below into the right-hand box. Is the word singular or plural?
Someone |
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Everyone |
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Anyone |
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Insert the last five letters of each word below into the right-hand box. Is the word singular or plural?
Something |
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Everything |
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Anything |
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Insert the last four letters of each word below into the right-hand box. Is the word singular or plural?
Somebody |
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Everybody |
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Anybody |
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The words do not say every bodies or any bodies or no bodies, do they?
Each, Either, Neither
- Are the underlined pronouns in the following sentences singular or plural?
- What is the only number you can place immediately after those words?
Each of the girls made the finals.
Each ( ? ) of the girls made the finals.
Did either of the girls make the finals?
Did either ( ? )of the girls make the finals?
Neither of the girls made the finals.
Neither ( ? )_of the girls made the finals.
Plural Pronouns
Five pronouns are always plural. You do not need to memorize them. It’s just common sense whether they are singular or plural. Both refers to two. The others refer to three or more.
both few many several others
Other pronouns are also obviously plural:
We, us, ourselves
They, them, themselves
Small Group Activity
Highlight in yellow (or circle) the singular pronouns in the following. Highlight in light green or (box) the plural pronouns.
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1. Did he fly to California without her, or did they both take the train? |
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2. Highlight plural pronouns in purple or draw a box around them. |
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3. If anybody objects to the motion, then we will table it until everyone can be here. |
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4. We must ask ourselves if we are satisfied with the dinner or if it needs something. |
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5. She struggled to answer the questions, because neither made sense. |
Individual or Small Group Pronouns
Complete this exercise: Germany