Everybody has his dream.
For other ways of using pronouns when you do not want to specify whether the person you are talking about is male or female, see paragraph 1.123.
’s
1.134 You add ’s (apostrophe s) to an indefinite pronoun to refer to things that belong to or are associated with people.
She was given a room in someone’s studio.
That was nobody’s business.
I would defend anyone’s rights.
Everything has been arranged to everybody’s satisfaction.
1.135 You do not usually add ’s to indefinite pronouns referring to things. So, for example, you would be more likely to say the value of something than something’s value.
adding information
1.136 When you want to give more information about the person or thing referred to by an indefinite pronoun, you can use a phrase or a clause after it.
Anyone over the age of 18 can apply.
He would prefer to have somebody who had a background in the humanities.
1.137 You can also use adjectives to add information. Note that adjectives are placed after the indefinite pronoun rather than in front of it, and that you do not use a determiner. You do not say an important someone, you say someone important.
What was needed was someone practical.
They are doing everything possible to take care of you.
There is nothing wrong with being popular.
used with else
1.138 If you have already mentioned a person or thing, and you want to refer to a different person or thing, or an additional one, you use else after an indefinite pronoun.
Somebody else will have to go out there.
She couldn’t think of anything else.
Everyone knows what everyone else is doing.
He got that job because nobody else wanted it.
Note that if you want to show association or possession with an indefinite pronoun and else, you add the ’s to else.
Problems always became someone else’s fault.
No one has control over anyone else’s career.
structures used with some- and every-
1.139 Just like nouns, indefinite pronouns are used as the subject, object, or indirect object of clauses. They can also be used as the objects of prepositions. The indefinite pronouns beginning with some- and every- are most often used in affirmative clauses.
Everything went according to plan.
I remember somebody putting a pillow under my head.
‘Now you’ll see something,’ he said.
I gave everyone a generous helping.
I want to introduce you to someone who is helping me.
Is everything all right?
They are sometimes used as the subject of a negative clause.
He could tell that something wasn’t right.
Note that the indefinite pronouns beginning with some- cannot be used as the object of a negative clause, unless they are followed by a phrase or a clause.
He wasn’t someone I admired as a writer.
structures used with any-
1.140 Indefinite pronouns beginning with any- can be used as the object or indirect object of a question or a negative clause.
Don’t worry – I won’t tell anyone.
You still haven’t told me anything.
Take a good look and tell me if you see anything different.
I haven’t given anyone their presents yet.
They are often used as the subject of both negative and affirmative questions. Note that they are not used as the subject of a negative statement. You do not say, for example, Anybody can’t come in.
Does anybody agree with me?
Won’t anyone help me?
If anything unusual happens, could you call me on this number?
Note that when you are making an affirmative statement, anyone and anybody are used to refer to people in general and not to only one person.
Anybody who wants to can come in and buy a car from me.
structures used with no-
1.141 Indefinite pronouns beginning with no- are always used with the affirmative form of a verb, and they make the clause negative. For more information on negative statements, see paragraphs 5.47 to 5.91.
Nobody said a word.
There was nothing you could do, nothing at all.
She was to see no one, to speak to nobody, not even her own children.
Note that they are sometimes used in questions. When this is the case, the answer to the question is usually expected to be no.
‘Is there nothing I can do?’–‘Not a thing’.
‘Is there nobody else?’–‘Not that I know of’.
Showing that people do the same thing: each other and one another
1.142 Each other and one another are called reciprocal pronouns. They are used to say that people do the same thing, feel the same way, or have the same relationship.
For example, if your brother hates your sister and your sister hates your brother, you can say My brother and sister hate each other or They hate one another.
Reciprocal pronouns are not used as the subject of a clause. You use them as the object or indirect object of a verb.
We help each other a lot.
You and I understand each other.
We support one another through good times and bad.
They sent each other gifts from time to time.
You also use them as the object of a preposition.
Terry and Mark were jealous of each other.
The two lights were moving towards one another.
They didn’t dare to look at one another.