Here's a breakdown:
Indefinite Pronouns:
* These pronouns refer to nonspecific people, places, or things.
* Examples: *everyone, somebody, anyone, nobody, something, anything, nothing, all, some, many, few, several, each, either, neither*
Examples of Clear Antecedents:
1. "Everyone in the class passed the exam."
* Antecedent: *Everyone* refers to all the students in the class.
2. "Someone left their phone on the table."
* Antecedent: *Someone* refers to a specific person, but we don't know who.
Examples of No Clear Antecedents:
1. "Something is wrong with this car."
* No specific antecedent: We don't know what the problem is.
2. "Nobody came to the party."
* No specific antecedent: We're simply stating that no one was present.
Important Considerations:
* Agreement: When an indefinite pronoun has a clear antecedent, it must agree in number.
* Singular: *Each* student did their homework. (Incorrect: *Each* is singular, but *their* is plural. Correct: *Each* student did *his/her* homework.)
* Plural: *Several* people were late to the meeting.
* Gender: Some indefinite pronouns have specific genders.
* Masculine: *He* went to the store.
* Feminine: *She* bought some milk.
* Neutral: *It* is raining outside.
In summary, indefinite pronouns may or may not have clear antecedents. When they do, ensure the antecedent is properly identified and the pronoun agrees in number and gender.