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 are used, -something, -either. For example, someone - someone, someone, someone, someone; where - somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, somewhere; how much - how much, a few, how much.
Classification of indefinite pronouns based on referentiality
So, indefinite pronouns in Russian are divided into:
-
Referential - point to a specific object that exists in reality (something, something, someone). In turn, referential pronouns can be divided on the basis of fame or obscurity.into two more classes:
1) weakly defined pronouns - are used in a situation where the speaker knows the object, but at the same time it is not assumed that it is known to the listener (one, something, someone, something with the meaning some-) (for example: I will tell you a secret);
2) pronouns of obscurity - used to express the obscurity of the object to the speaker (pronouns for -to) (for example: Someone came to Ivan).
indefinite pronoun - Non-referential - indicate a non-fixed, non-concrete object (whatever, -or, -something) (for example: I need to pray for someone).
Pronouns with the prefix non-
These include: someone, someone, some, something. The first pair of pronouns indicates familiarity, referentiality for the speaker, and obscurity for the listener. Otherwise, they would not be called like this: indefinite pronouns. Sentences with them can be composed like this:
- A young man wearing 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, that is, to introduce new characters or circumstances at the beginning of the text. For example:
In a certain kingdom…
Something, someone in some cases can express the unknown for the speaker. This means that they will have the meaning of pronouns on -to. For example:
Something white and fluffy runs and jumps in the forest clearing
Pronouns on-to
The indefinite pronoun for -to is intended to express the unknown and referential to the speaker:
I listened carefully and realized that there really was someone in the room
Also, pronouns in -to can be used not in their main meaning, but in the meaning of -something:
Someone has to stay on duty today
Besides, the series can perform an introductory function:
Some literate student wrote this nonsense on the blackboard
Pronouns for anything
The meaning of a non-referential pronoun is determined based on specific semantic features, as well as the types of context where pronouns are used.
The -something pronoun implies that one alternative (opportunity) is being considered against the background of another. That is, in this case, the context of “removed affirmativeness” is implied. This kind of background may occur:
- if there is a situation related to the future;
- if an alternative situation has arisen, even related to the present or past;
- when using distributive context.
So, let's take a closer look at all this. In the first case, the indefinite pronoun for -anything will be used for:
- grammatical future tense (she will definitely give some examples; they will meet somewhere);
- setting for the future, includingrequests (Irina wants to go somewhere; Vladimir is looking for something interesting for you; he asks 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 me some movie);
- modalities of opportunity or necessity (she can (should) call someone; have to tell someone; need to call someone);
- subjunctive, 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 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 her; 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 some of her friends with them);
- conditions (if they withheld something, they will pay for it);
- epistemic modality (someone could offend him);
- negations in subordinating predication (I don't think they change anything).
For the third case, we presentExamples are: Everyone will bring someone with them.
Interrogative pronouns that function as indefinite
Undefined format may be omitted in some contexts. Compare the use of indefinite pronouns in indirect questions and conditional clauses:
Indirect question:
- She thought and thought and still called to find out if she needed anything.
- Out of the corner of his eye, he tried to see if anyone was near the car.
Conditional sentence:
- If something worthwhile happens, they will only be happy.
- If anyone comes, light the green lamp.
Indefinite pronouns of expression
In addition to the listed traditional indefinite pronouns, they also include:
- Reduplicated pronouns: where-where, who-who (Already someone-who, but she could not know).
- Pronouns based on demonstratives containing the formant -so (such-and-such, there-and-such, because-and-such, etc.) (Then and then you may be assassinated).
- Some words belonging to other parts of speech that perform the function of indefinite reference: combinations like this or that; adjectives known, certain; numeral one.
- Pronominal units with a prepositive component, "amalgams" - pronominal constructions based on spusing, dunno-type: don't know who, (un)clear what, don't know when, don't remember how, etc.
- Pronominal units containingpostpositive component, "quasi-relatives" - pronominal constructions containing vertexless 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 pronouns with the help of certain prefixes and a postfix. But, besides them, negative pronouns can also be formed from interrogative ones, only with the help of such prefixes as not - and neither: where - nowhere, how much - not at all, who - nobody, when - never, etc.
In addition, negative and indefinite pronouns have one more thing in common: their syntactic and morphological characteristics are the same as those from which they are formed, that is, from interrogative ones.
Pronouns with negative polarization
Highlight 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 haven't encountered any (indefinite pronoun) resistance in my life journey
Instead of any, you can use any. Also, these pronouns can be replaced by the negative no. Or this example:
- I don't intend to change anything / I don't intend to change anything.
It is worth noting one exception: if negation is used in the main clause, then in the subordinate clause you can use only whatever or - or, but you can’t use a negative pronoun. For example:
It is not known if this book was ever (but not ever) finished
Spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns
The following types of rules for writing these pronouns can be distinguished:
- use of particles neither nor nor;
- separate and continuous writing of particles not and neither with pronouns;
- hyphenated pronouns.
So:
- The particle is not written under stress, but not without stress (nobody, nobody, nothing, something, several, not at all, nowhere, nowhere, something, nothing).
- If there is no preposition, then the particles do not and neither need to be written together (no one, several, something, no one, none, no one), but if there is one, separately, while the preposition should be between particles and pronouns (in no one, not from anyone, to anything, to 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, -or must be written with a hyphen.
- Phrases are nothing else (other), as well as no one else (other), as they are written with the particle not, moreover, separately in the presence of a particle, as well as separately in its absence. The pronouns nobody and nothing must be written according to the general rules, namely: without stress, and also without a preposition, we write the particle neither and the pronoun together (nothing else(other), none other (other)).
- In the above phrases, the opposition can be expressed not only with the help of the union as, 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 the 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 is worth noting that the particle in these combinations is written together with pronouns.
As you can see, the spelling of negative and indefinite pronouns contains fairly 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
Let's 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,and also in questions;
- the following three are used in affirmative sentences, in questions suggesting something;
- the last three are used in a negative sentence; in a general matter; in a conditional sentence; in affirmative and negative sentences, if these pronouns are used in the meaning of "any, everyone".
