Reciprocal pronouns and Indefinite Pronouns

Reciprocal Pronouns

Reciprocal pronouns are one among the seven types of pronouns. Literally, reciprocal means two way actions and in grammatical sense reciprocal means expressing mutual action. Reciprocal pronouns only denote plural nouns because the action has to be shared.

Sometimes, Reciprocal pronouns also take possessive forms i.e. adding of –s (one another’s, each other’s).

Reciprocal pronouns should be used only under two conditions:

  • Two or more people, things or groups should be involved
  • Two or more people, things or groups should be doing the same thing

There are two types of Reciprocal pronouns. They are:

1. Each other

Each other and one another are Reciprocal pronouns. Each other is used when only two people are involved in an action. Each other is used more often than one another as people prefer using each other even for more than two people while speaking.

Few Examples:

  • Romeo and Juliet love each other.
  • Why don’t you trust each other?
  • We gave each other gifts.

2. One another

One another should be used when more than two people are involved in an action.

Few Examples:

  • The five robbers were beating one another.
  • The three siblings are laughing one another.
  • The ten players were competing with one another.

Indefinite Pronoun

Indefinite pronouns are also one of the seven types of pronouns. The name itself gives us an idea that Indefinite pronouns do not specify particular nouns. Indefinite means not fixed. Therefore, Indefinite pronouns are largest groups of pronouns which refer to people, things or amount in general.

Some of the commonly used Indefinite pronouns are as follows:

Singular:

everybody/everyone/everything, somebody/someone, anybody, anyone, little, much, neither, no one, nothing, one, other, each

Many of us tend to think that indefinite pronouns like everybody/everyone/everything mean many people but it is not so. Everybody/everyone/everything refers to a person or an object. Also, these pronouns take singular verb. Indefinite pronouns like some and none can be either singular or plural depending on its context.

Everybody- Everybody is dancing.
Everyone- Everyone cheered for him.
Everything- Everything will turn out fine.
Somebody- Somebody is making noise.
Someone- Can someone help him?
Anybody- Can anybody volunteer?
Anyone- Can anyone tell me the secret?
Little- I have little patience.
Much- After she died much has happened.
Neither- Neither Harry not Hermione won the game.
Either- You will be either late or early.
No one- No one will suspect you.
Nothing- Nothing can change my love for you.
One- One of the boys was the winner.
Other- The other girl pushed me from the balcony.
Each- Each of the dancer has pair of boots.
Another- Can I eat another chocolate?

Plural:

few, many, others, some, several

Few- Few naughty students are repulsive.
Many- Today many women think in a feminist way.
Others- Who cares about others?
Some- Some people are very kind. / Here is some cream.
Several- Several policemen came to the accident site.

Singular or plural:

some, most, none, all, any, more

Some- Some dogs are too cute. / Here is some more food.
Most- Most of us is beginners. / After what we lost because of disaster most is gained now.
None- None of my friends came to help. / None of the criminals have been killed.
All- Are all dancing? / All is taken care of.
Any- Are any students dancing? / Is any cookie left in the jar?
More- More actors are going to the International Film Festival this year. / There is more jam in the bowl.