Indefinite Pronouns Exercise
Indefinite personal pronouns are used to talk about people in general. They do not refer to
any particular person. Can you use them correctly?
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate indefinite pronoun.
1. …………………………… can’t learn a new language in a week.
One
You
Either could be used here
We can use one or you to talk about people in general.
2. ………………………… should never tolerate injustice.
One
Somebody
Anybody
We use one to talk about people in general including the speaker and the hearer.
3. How ………………………………. get to Calicut?
does one
do you
Either could be used here
One is more formal than you; however, both one and you can be used to talk about people in
general.
4. ……………………………… can find lots of people who speak English in
India.
One
They
Somebody
We use one to talk about people in general including the speaker and the hearer.
5. ……………………………. knocked at the door.
One
Anybody
Somebody
One is only used in general statements. In other cases, we use other pronouns like somebody
or they.
6. ………………………….. do not allow smoking in the kitchen.
One
They
Somebody
One cannot be used when the meaning is not ‘people in general’.
7. Centuries ago …………………………… believed that the sun went around
the earth.
one
you
they
One cannot be used to generalize about people who could not include the speaker; you
cannot be used to generalize about people who could not include the listener.
8. ………………………….. should knock before walking into somebody’s
room.
You
One
They
We use one and you to talk about people in general including the speaker and the hearer.
9. One should never hide anything from …………………………….. doctor or
lawyer.
his
one’s
Either could be used here
In American English, he, him and his can be used to refer back to one. This is not normal in
British English.
10. ………………………….. say her marriage is in trouble.
They say
One says
You say
They say = people say.
11. …………………………. doesn’t know what to do in such situations.
One
Somebody
Anybody
We use one to talk about people in general including the speaker and the hearer.
12. ……………………………….. going to widen the road.
One is
You are
They are
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. One / You can’t learn a new language in a week.
2. One / You should never tolerate injustice.
3. How does one / do you get to Calicut?
4. One / You can find lots of people who speak English in India.
5. Somebody knocked at the door.
6. They do not allow smoking in the kitchen.
7. Centuries ago they believed that the sun went around the earth.
8. One should knock before walking into somebody’s room.
9. One should never hide anything from one’s / his doctor or lawyer.
10. They say her marriage is in trouble.
11. One doesn’t know what to do in such situations.
12. They are going to widen the road.