A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Usually a pronoun has an antecedent that tells us which noun is being replaced. Mom lost her keys. Mom is the antecedent so we know that the pronoun her refers to Mom.
An indefinite pronoun has no antecedent. We don’t know which noun is being replaced by the pronoun. Here are four common indefinite pronouns: anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody.
Each time we use one of these indefinite pronouns, we are using the word in place of a person’s name. We just don’t know which person is being referred to.
Can anybody help me?
I hope everybody is comfortable.
I rang the bell, but nobody is at home.
I think somebody needs to fix that broken chair.
When we use the pronouns anybody, everybody, nobody and somebody, we are talking about a single person, so these indefinite pronouns take a singular verb. We say somebody is talking, just like we would say He is talking or She is talking.
Use the indefinite pronouns anybody, everybody, nobody and somebody when you are talking in general about an unknown person. Use a singular verb with these indefinite pronouns.
▶ Now you try it. Write a sentence using one of these indefinite pronouns. Did you use a singular verb with the pronoun? Good for you!