What is an Indefinte Pronoun?
Indefinite pronouns include etwas, nichts, jeder, man, jemand, niemand and their declined versions. Indefinite pronouns are replacements for people or things, like personal pronouns.
The difference between personal pronouns and indefinite pronouns: indefinite pronouns always have a general meaning. They can‘t stand for a specific person or thing.
Not all of them have to be declined.
Examples:
- „Bringst du mir etwas zu essen mit?“
(= general, nothing specific, you don´t care which kind of food.)
- „Bringst du mir einen Döner mit?“
(= concrete. A döner should be brought, nothing else!)
Indefinite Pronouns Describing People:
Indefinite pronouns that can be used for persons exclusively are: „man“ – „jemand“ – „niemand“
The Indefinite Pronoun „man“
„man“ is impersonal and can stand for everybody.
It is always in third person singular and must be declined.
Example:
- „Hier muss man einem immer alles 3 Mal erklären!“
The Indefinite Pronouns „jemand/niemand“
„jemand“ and „niemand“ can also only be in third person singular.
„jemand“ refers to one unspecified person.
and „niemand“ is the negative form „jemand“.
Theoretically „jemand“ und „niemand“ must be declined but the declension is often left out in informal language. That´s why the declension turned optional in official grammar as well.
Examples:
- „Spricht hier jemand Deutsch?“ – (No one responds)
- „Schade, niemand spricht hier Deutsch.“
- „Wenn man jemanden braucht, ist niemand da.“
„jemand“ can also be combined with „irgend“. This makes it even more unspecified.
- „Irgendjemand wird das schon machen.“
Indefinite Prounouns Describing Things
The indefinite pronouns for only things: „etwas“ – „nichts“ – „alles“ – „welch-“.
The Indefinite Pronoun „etwas“
„Etwas“ isn‘t changeable. ⇒ No declension
It is a replacement for unspecified things or situations. It can also be strengthened with „irgend-“.
Example:
- „Hörst du etwas?
- „Ja, da ist irgendetwas!“
In informal language it will often be shorted to „was“.
Warning:
„Etwas“ has a second meaning: „ein bisschen“ or „ein wenig“ (a bit / a few)
- „Etwas mehr Erholung würde dir sicher gut tun.“
- „Hast du etwas mehr Geld für mich, Papa?“
The Indefinite Pronoun „alles“
„alles“ has a strong universal meaning.
„Alles“ stands for things or actions.
- „Ich mache am liebsten alles allein.“
- „Alles oder nichts!“
The Indefinite Pronoun „nichts“
„Nichts“ is the negative form of „etwas“ and „alles“ and is also unchangeable.
- „Hast du etwas gehört?“ – „Nein ich habe nichts gehört.“
- „Heute ist wieder nichts passiert.“
- „Ich werde heute nichts machen.“
Indefinite pronouns for things and persons
Indefinite pronouns for persons and things can be used as articles words as well. It is easy to differentiate between the pronoun and article word. If the noun stands straight behind the indefinite pronoun it is uses as an article word. If it is the placeholder for the noun it is the pronoun itself. The difference is important because the declension is different in singular.
Example:
- „Ich will jeden Tag Sport machen.“ ⇒ Article Word
- „Jeder will gesund leben.“ ⇒ Indefinite Pronoun
The Indefinite Pronoun „jede“
„Jede“ must be declined like a definite article (der, die, das…). „Jede“ recieves the same ending as the corresponding definite article. (der ⇒ jeder, …)
The corresponding noun must be singular. It describes each individual part of a group.
- „Jeder will ein iPhone.“ – Jeder Mensch
- „Ich bin mit jedem zufrieden.“ – mit jedem Schüler
- „Wir haben jeden angerufen.“ – Jeden Kunden
The Indefinite Pronoun „einige/manche“
„Einige“ and „manche“ in singular always refer to things ⇒ Ending „es“
In plural they can also refer to people and get the endings of the definite articles. (Nominative: einige, Accusative: einige, Dative: einigen, Genitive: einiger)
They stand for an unspecified amount
- „Einige müssen den Test wiederholen.“
- „Ich würde manches ändern.“
Die Indefinitpronomen „ein-“ und „kein-“
Die indefinite pronouns „ein-“ and „kein-“ stand for an already named or known unnamed noun.
„Kein-“ is the negation of „ein-“. (More information Lecture: Negation and Negative Article „kein“)
The declension correlates to the declension of the possessive pronoun. „Ein“ in plural becomes „welch-“
| Masculine | ||||
| Feminine | ||||
| Neuter | ||||
| Plural |
„Kein“ has the same endings and can be used in plural.
Examples:
- „Hast du ein Auto?“
– „Ja, ich habe eins.“ / „Nein, ich habe keins.“
- „Gibst du mir noch ein paar Äpfel?“
– „Ja, hier hast du welche.“ / „Nein, du bekommst keine mehr.“
Further Information
- Personal pronouns have to be declined. That means you have to know when to use: Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive Case.
- Take a look at the lectures The Negative Article „kein“ and Definite and Indefinite Articles if you struggle with „kein“ and/or „ein“.
- There are other types of pronouns: Possessive Pronouns, Reflexive Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns and Indefinite Pronouns.
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