Activities

1. Define and recognize indefinite (vague) pronouns as referring to a person, place or thing that is not specifically named.
   
   
2. Create a tri-fold chart listing common indefinite (vague) pronouns.

3. Categorize indefinite pronoun cards with their label (Always Singular, Always Plural and Singular or Plural)
   
   
4. Sort sentences with indefinite (vague) pronouns to decide if pronouns agree or disagree with the indefinite pronoun. Distinguish between singular and plural indefinite pronouns.

5. Given indefinite (vague) sentence starter cards, complete the sentence with the correct singular or plural pronoun.
   
   
6. Given an informative/explanatory topic, write a paragraph to demonstrate indefinite (vague) pronouns correctly agreeing with the pronoun to follow.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student defines indefinite (vague) pronouns as referring to a person, place or thing that is not specifically named.  Student understands indefinite pronouns are pronouns such as anybody, anyone, nobody, few, most and many.  The student recognizes some indefinite pronouns are singular and some are plural.  Student correctly highlights indefinite pronouns in a list of given sentences.  For example:

• Several students forgot their homework. (plural)
• Each student was asked to bring his or her lunch. (singular)
• Many of the children remembered to bring their jackets. (plural)   

2. Student creates a tri-fold chart listing common indefinite (vague) pronouns.  Student folds paper into thirds.  Student demonstrates knowledge by listing common indefinite pronouns under the correct headings: 

• Singular Indefinite Pronouns:  anybody, each, nobody, no one, none, everyone and someone. 
• Plural Indefinite Pronoun:  both, few, many, several and many. 
• Singular or Indefinite Pronouns: all, any, more and some.

3. Student uses singular or plural phrases to determine if an indefinite (vague) pronoun is singular or plural.   Student distinguishes indefinite pronouns as singular or plural.  Student understands singular or plural indefinite pronouns include all, any, more and some.  Student understands the phrase following the indefinite pronoun helps to determine if the pronoun is singular or plural.

• All of the gifts were for their children.   All is a plural indefinite pronoun because gifts is plural, so therefore, the pronoun their is also plural.
• All of the food is in her grocery bag.  All is a singular indefinite pronoun because food is considered a singular collective noun, so therefore, the pronoun her is also singular

4. Given prepared sentences, student sorts sentences to decide if there is agreement between the indefinite pronoun and the pronoun to follow. Student understands some indefinite pronouns are always singular and some are always plural.  Student understands some indefinite pronouns are singular or plural:

• Always Singular: anybody, each, nobody, no one, none, everyone and someone. 
• Always Plural: both, few, many, several and many.
• Singular or Plural: all, any, more and some

Student also understands the pronoun which follows the indefinite pronoun should agree with the singular or plural indefinite pronoun.  For example:

• Everyone should keep  _______   papers in order. (his or her)  Student understands everyone is always a singular indefinite pronoun, so the pronoun to follow must be singular.  The student also understands when the singular indefinite pronoun can be either masculine or feminine; the correct pronoun to follow is his or her.

Student also understands some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. The student understands the phrase following the indefinite pronoun helps determine if the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural.  Student also understands the pronoun to follow must agree with the indefinite pronoun.  For example:

• All of the gifts were for their children.   All is a plural indefinite pronoun because gifts is plural, so therefore, their, the pronoun to follow is also plural.
• All of the food is in her grocery bag.  All is a singular indefinite pronoun because food is considered a singular collective noun, so therefore, her, the pronoun to follow is also singular.

5. Given indefinite (vague) sentence starter cards, student completes sentences with a correct pronoun.  Student understands Always Singular indefinite pronouns are anybody, each, nobody, no one, none, everyone and someone.   Student understands Always Plural indefinite pronouns are both, few, many, several and many.  Student understands Singular or Plural indefinite pronouns are all, any, more and some.  Student demonstrates understanding by correctly completing sentences.  For example:

• Everyone should keep   _______   papers in order. (his or her)
  Student understands everyone is a singular indefinite pronoun, and therefore, a singular pronoun correctly completes the sentence.  The student also understands when the indefinite pronoun can be either masculine or feminine; the correct pronoun is his or her.
• Many of the children ran to get ______ jackets. (their)
  Student understands many is a plural indefinite pronoun, children is a plural phrase following the indefinite pronoun, so the plural pronoun, their correctly completes the sentence.
• All of the gifts were for _____ children.  (their)
  Student understands All is sometimes a plural indefinite pronoun.  In this sentence, gifts is plural, so therefore, the pronoun to follow, their, is also plural.
• All of the food is in _____ grocery bag. (her)  Student understands All is a sometimes a singular indefinite pronoun.  In this sentence, food is considered a singular collective noun, so therefore, the pronoun to follow, her, is also singular.

6. Given an informative/explanatory topic, student writes a paragraph using indefinite pronouns.  Student understands indefinite (vague) pronouns refer to a person, place or thing that is not specifically named.  Student correctly uses indefinite (vague) pronouns in agreement with pronoun to follow.  Student understands some indefinite pronouns are singular and some are plural.  For example:

• Singular Indefinite Pronouns:  anybody, each, nobody, no one, none, everyone and someone. 
• Plural Indefinite Pronoun:  both, few, many, several and many. 
• Singular or Indefinite Pronouns: all, any, more and some.

To demonstrate understanding of indefinite pronouns, the student writes and correctly uses indefinite pronouns.  For example, the student writes about a class field trip.  The student correctly constructs sentences with indefinite pronouns to tell what he or she experienced as well as what classmates experienced.  Student writing demonstrates correct agreement between indefinite pronouns and the pronoun to follow.  For example:

• Everyone will use his or her notes from the field trip to write a report.
  Student understands everyone is a singular indefinite pronoun, and therefore, a singular pronoun correctly completes the sentence.  The student also understands when the indefinite pronoun can be either masculine or feminine; the correct pronoun is his or her.
• Many of the children organized their notes in sequential order.
  Student understands many is a plural indefinite pronoun because children is a plural phrase following the indefinite pronoun. Therefore, the plural pronoun to follow, their, correctly completes the sentence.
• All of the artifacts were for their children.   Student understands All is sometimes a plural indefinite pronoun.  In this sentence, artifacts is plural, so therefore, the pronoun to follow, their, is also plural.
• The teacher explained that all of the video was sent to her email account.  Student understands All is a sometimes a singular indefinite pronoun.  In this sentence, video is considered a singular collective noun, so therefore, the pronoun to follow, her, is also singular.