Demonstrative Indefinite and Distributive Pronouns
Master demonstrative, indefinite, and distributive pronouns. Learn pointing words, the generic one consistency rule, and distributive choices with clear guides.
Pointing, Grouping, and Generalizing Without Names
When you talk to someone, you do not always name every person, object, or location directly. Sometimes you stretch out your finger and point directly at something sitting right in front of you. At other times, you speak of an unknown person in general, or you select individual items one by one from a large group.
In earlier lessons, we explored how personal pronouns replace specific named people, and how relative pronouns connect clauses. English has specialized groups of pronouns designed specifically for pointing, generalizing, and distributing. Understanding how these words function keeps your sentences sharp, accurate, and free from common phrasing missteps.
Demonstrative Pronouns: Pointing Out Things in Space and Time
Imagine you are standing at a railway station stall and want to buy a newspaper. You point your finger at a stack resting on the counter and say, “I want this.” Then you point toward a magazine hanging on the back wall and say, “I want that.”
Words that replace a noun by pointing directly at specific items or people are called Demonstrative Pronouns. They tell the listener whether something is near or far, and whether you are talking about one item or several items.
The Four Demonstrative Pronouns
English relies on four fundamental demonstrative pronouns. Their form changes based on physical or psychological distance and grammatical number.
| Distance | Singular (One Item) | Plural (More Than One) |
|---|---|---|
| Near (Close in space or time) | This | These |
| Far (Distant in space or time) | That | Those |
Consider these simple examples:
-
This is my seat. (Singular item, physically close)
இது என் இருக்கை. (நேரில் அருகிலிருக்கும் ஒருமைப் [Singular] பொருள்) This is my seat. (एकवचन वस्तु, भौतिक रूप से निकट) -
These are fresh mangoes. (Plural items, physically close)
இவை புதிய மாம்பழங்கள். (நேரில் அருகிலிருக்கும் பன்மைப் [Plural] பொருட்கள்) These are fresh mangoes. (बहुवचन वस्तुएँ, भौतिक रूप से निकट) -
That was an unforgettable journey. (Singular event, distant in past time)
அது ஒரு மறக்க முடியாத பயணம். (கடந்த காலத்தில் நிகழ்ந்த ஒருமை நிகழ்வு) That was an unforgettable journey. (एकवचन घटना, बीते समय में दूर) -
Those were difficult years. (Plural periods, distant in past time)
அவை கடினமான ஆண்டுகள். (கடந்த காலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பன்மைக் காலகட்டம்) Those were difficult years. (बहुवचन समयावधि, बीते समय में दूर)
Demonstrative Pronoun or Demonstrative Adjective
A very common point of confusion is telling a demonstrative pronoun apart from a demonstrative adjective. Both categories use the exact same words (this, that, these, and those), but their grammatical job in a sentence is completely different.
A Demonstrative Pronoun stands completely alone. It replaces the noun entirely and acts as the subject or object of a verb.
-
This is a valuable painting. (This stands alone as the subject.)
This is a valuable painting. (This என்பது Subject-ஆகத் தனித்து நிற்கிறது.) This is a valuable painting. (This यहाँ Subject के रूप में अकेले आया है।) -
Keep those in the drawer. (Those stands alone as the direct object.)
Keep those in the drawer. (Those என்பது நேரடி செயப்படுபொருளாக [Direct Object] தனித்து நிற்கிறது.) Keep those in the drawer. (Those यहाँ प्रत्यक्ष कर्म (Direct Object) के रूप में अकेले आया है।)
A Demonstrative Adjective never stands alone. It sits immediately before a noun to describe or point out that specific noun.
-
This painting is valuable. (This modifies the noun painting.)
This painting is valuable. (This என்பது painting என்ற Noun-ஐ விவரிக்கிறது.) This painting is valuable. (This यहाँ Noun painting की विशेषता बताता है।) -
Keep those files in the drawer. (Those modifies the noun files.)
Keep those files in the drawer. (Those என்பது files என்ற Noun-ஐ விவரிக்கிறது.) Keep those files in the drawer. (Those यहाँ Noun files की विशेषता बताता है।)
Cross-Linguistic Bridge: How Indian Languages Use Pointing Words
Your mother tongue already uses pointing words constantly, which provides a natural starting point for understanding English demonstratives.
In Hindi and Tamil, pointing words work through distinct spatial roots:
-
Hindi uses यह (yah - this) and ये (ye - these) for near items, and वह (vah - that) and वे (ve - those) for distant items.
அருகிலுள்ள பொருட்களுக்கு यह (yah - this) மற்றும் ये (ye - these) ஆகியவற்றையும், தொலைவிலுள்ள பொருட்களுக்கு वह (vah - that) மற்றும் वे (ve - those) ஆகியவற்றையும் இந்தி பயன்படுத்துகிறது. हिंदी में निकट की वस्तुओं के लिए यह (yah - this) और ये (ye - these), तथा दूर की वस्तुओं के लिए वह (vah - that) और वे (ve - those) का उपयोग होता है। -
Tamil uses the prefix இ- (i-) for near items such as இது (idu - this) and இவை (ivai - these), and the prefix அ- (a-) for distant items such as அது (adu - that) and அவை (avai - those).
அருகிலுள்ள பொருட்களுக்கு இது (idu - this), இவை (ivai - these) போன்ற இ- (i-) முன்னொட்டையும், தொலைவிலுள்ள பொருட்களுக்கு அது (adu - that), அவை (avai - those) போன்ற அ- (a-) முன்னொட்டையும் தமிழ் பயன்படுத்துகிறது. तमिल में पास की वस्तुओं के लिए இ- (i-) उपसर्ग का उपयोग होता है जैसे இது (idu - this) और இவை (ivai - these), तथा दूर की वस्तुओं के लिए அ- (a-) उपसर्ग का उपयोग होता है जैसे அது (adu - that) और அவை (avai - those)।
Notice an important negative transfer trap. In Indian languages, words like वह (vah) or அவன்/அவள் (avan/aval) double as personal pronouns meaning he or she. In English, you should never use this or that to replace a person when a personal pronoun is required. Saying “That came yesterday” when referring to a human being sounds unnatural; standard English requires “He came yesterday” or “She came yesterday.”
Using Demonstratives to Avoid Repetition in Comparisons
When you compare two qualities or belongings, repeating the same noun twice makes a sentence heavy and clumsy. English solves this by using that of for singular nouns and those of for plural nouns.
Look at how a repetitive sentence is streamlined:
-
Clumsy: The climate of Shimla is cooler than the climate of Delhi.
Clumsy: The climate of Shimla is cooler than the climate of Delhi. (திரும்பத் திரும்ப வரும் முறையற்ற வடிவம்) Clumsy: The climate of Shimla is cooler than the climate of Delhi. (अटपटा: शिमला की जलवायु दिल्ली की जलवायु से अधिक ठंडी है।) -
Balanced: The climate of Shimla is cooler than that of Delhi.
Balanced: The climate of Shimla is cooler than that of Delhi. (முறையான சீரான வடிவம்) Balanced: The climate of Shimla is cooler than that of Delhi. (संतुलित: शिमला की जलवायु दिल्ली की जलवायु (that of Delhi) से अधिक ठंडी है।)
Notice how that of cleanly replaces the singular noun the climate. Now look at a plural comparison:
-
Clumsy: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than the roads of Kanpur.
Clumsy: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than the roads of Kanpur. (திரும்பத் திரும்ப வரும் முறையற்ற வடிவம்) Clumsy: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than the roads of Kanpur. (अटपटा: चंडीगढ़ की सड़कें कानपुर की सड़कों से अधिक चौड़ी हैं।) -
Balanced: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than those of Kanpur.
Balanced: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than those of Kanpur. (முறையான சீரான வடிவம்) Balanced: The roads of Chandigarh are broader than those of Kanpur. (संतुलित: चंडीगढ़ की सड़कें कानपुर की सड़कों (those of Kanpur) से अधिक चौड़ी हैं।)
Here, those of replaces the plural noun the roads. Failing to use that of or those of results in an illogical comparison. Saying “The climate of Shimla is cooler than Delhi” accidentally compares a weather condition (climate) directly to an entire city (Delhi).
Sequential Pointing: This Versus That for Earlier Mentioned Items
When you mention two different things in a sentence and later refer back to them, this and that follow a strict spatial logic on the page.
Because this represents closeness, it reaches back to grab the item closest to it, which is the second item mentioned (the latter). Because that represents distance, it reaches further back to grab the first item mentioned (the former).
- Work and rest are equally necessary; this refreshes the body, and that earns our daily living.
Work and rest are equally necessary; this refreshes the body, and that earns our daily living. (வேலையும் ஓய்வும் சம அளவில் அவசியமானவை; இது [ஓய்வு] உடலுக்குப் புத்துணர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது, அது [வேலை] நமது அன்றாட வாழ்வாதாரத்தை ஈட்டித் தருகிறது.) Work and rest are equally necessary; this refreshes the body, and that earns our daily living. (काम और आराम दोनों समान रूप से आवश्यक हैं; यह (this - आराम) शरीर को तरोताजा करता है, और वह (that - काम) हमारी आजीविका चलाता है।)
In that sentence, this refers to the nearer word (rest), while that refers to the more distant word (work). While this structure is correct in formal English, using phrases like the former and the latter is often preferred in modern prose to prevent reader hesitation.
Indefinite Pronouns: Speaking in General Terms
Suppose you return home and find an envelope sitting on your doorstep. You do not know who placed it there, what it contains, or how many people were involved. You turn to your family and say, “Somebody left a parcel, but nobody knows who delivered it.”
Words that refer to persons or things without specifying exactly who or what they are called Indefinite Pronouns. Instead of pointing to a named individual, they represent general, unspecified entities.
Categories of Indefinite Pronouns
English indefinite pronouns fall into two primary types: compound pronouns built from basic roots, and quantifier-based standalone pronouns.
Compound Indefinite Pronouns
These pronouns are formed by combining the prefixes every-, some-, any-, and no- with the suffixes -body, -one, and -thing.
| Root Prefix | Referring to Persons (-body / -one) | Referring to Things (-thing) |
|---|---|---|
| Every- | Everybody, Everyone | Everything |
| Some- | Somebody, Someone | Something |
| Any- | Anybody, Anyone | Anything |
| No- | Nobody, No one | Nothing |
Notice that words ending in -one are written as a single word, with one important exception: no one is always written as two separate words.
Quantifier Indefinite Pronouns
A second group consists of general quantity words that can stand alone as pronouns:
-
All (All were satisfied with the decision.)
All (All were satisfied with the decision. - அனைவரும் அந்த முடிவில் திருப்தி அடைந்தனர்.) All (All were satisfied with the decision. - सभी निर्णय से संतुष्ट थे।) -
Some (Some chose tea, while others preferred coffee.)
Some (Some chose tea, while others preferred coffee. - சிலர் தேநீரைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தனர், மற்றவர்களோ காபியை விரும்பினர்.) Some (Some chose tea, while others preferred coffee. - कुछ ने चाय चुनी, जबकि अन्य ने कॉफी पसंद की।) -
None (None of the milk was spilled; none of the tourists were hurt.)
None (None of the milk was spilled; none of the tourists were hurt. - பாலில் எதுவும் சிந்தவில்லை; சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகள் யாருக்கும் காயம் ஏற்படவில்லை.) None (None of the milk was spilled; none of the tourists were hurt. - थोड़ा भी दूध नहीं गिरा; पर्यटकों में से किसी को चोट नहीं आई।) -
Any (If any arrives early, ask them to wait in the hall.)
Any (If any arrives early, ask them to wait in the hall. - யாரேனும் முன்கூட்டியே வந்தால், அவர்களை அரங்கில் காத்திருக்கச் சொல்லுங்கள்.) Any (If any arrives early, ask them to wait in the hall. - यदि कोई भी जल्दी पहुँचे, तो उनसे हॉल में प्रतीक्षा करने के लिए कहें।) -
Few, Many, and Several (Many were invited, but few attended.)
Few, Many, மற்றும் Several (Many were invited, but few attended. - பலர் அழைக்கப்பட்டனர், ஆனால் சிலரே கலந்துகொண்டனர்.) Few, Many, और Several (Many were invited, but few attended. - बहुत से लोगों को आमंत्रित किया गया था, लेकिन बहुत कम उपस्थित हुए।)
While subject-verb agreement details for these words are explored thoroughly in later lessons, remember their primary grammatical job: they stand in place of nouns without naming exact identities.
Cross-Linguistic Bridge: Everyday Generalizers in Indian Languages
Indefinite expressions exist naturally in your mother tongue, where broad words replace specific identities with ease:
-
In Hindi, words like कोई (koi - someone or anyone), कुछ (kuch - something), and सब (sab - all or everyone) serve this general purpose.
இந்தியில் कोई (koi - யாராவது), कुछ (kuch - ஏதோ ஒன்று), மற்றும் सब (sab - அனைவரும் அல்லது எல்லாம்) போன்ற சொற்கள் இந்தப் பொதுவான பயன்பாட்டிற்கு உதவுகின்றன. हिंदी में कोई (koi - someone or anyone), कुछ (kuch - something), और सब (sab - all or everyone) जैसे शब्द इस सामान्य उद्देश्य को पूरा करते हैं। -
In Tamil, phrases like யாராவது (yaaravathu - someone or anyone), ஏதோ (yetho - something), and எல்லாரும் (ellārum - everyone) perform the same role.
தமிழில் யாராவது (yaaravathu - someone or anyone), ஏதோ (yetho - something), மற்றும் எல்லாரும் (ellārum - everyone) போன்ற சொற்கள் இதே பணியைச் செய்கின்றன. तमिल में யாராவது (yaaravathu - someone or anyone), ஏதோ (yetho - something), और எல்லாரும் (ellārum - everyone) जैसे वाक्यांश यही भूमिका निभाते हैं।
In Indian languages, words like koi or sab are fluid and shift naturally depending on conversational tone. In English, however, compound pronouns ending in -body and -one strictly demand singular grammatical treatment.
The Strict Consistency Rule of Generic One
A unique indefinite pronoun in English is one. When used as a pronoun rather than a number, it means “any person in general” or “human beings universally.”
When you begin a thought with the generic pronoun one, you must maintain strict grammatical consistency throughout the entire sentence. You cannot switch midway to personal pronouns like he, his, him, or they.
The Three Pronominal Forms of One
| Case Role | Correct Form | Common Error to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | One | Switching to He or You |
| Possessive | One’s (with an apostrophe) | Writing His, Their, or Ones |
| Reflexive | Oneself (single word) | Writing Himself, Themselves, or One’s self |
Look at how sentences break down when consistency is maintained versus when it is abandoned:
-
Incorrect: One must do his duty honestly.
Incorrect: One must do his duty honestly. (தவறான வடிவம் - ‘his’ என மாறுவது தவறு) Incorrect: One must do his duty honestly. (अशुद्ध: यहाँ one के साथ his का प्रयोग गलत है।) -
Correct: One must do one’s duty honestly.
Correct: One must do one’s duty honestly. (சரியான வடிவம் - ‘one’s’ என மாறாமல் தொடர்கிறது) Correct: One must do one’s duty honestly. (शुद्ध: व्यक्ति को ईमानदारी से अपना कर्तव्य निभाना चाहिए।)
In the incorrect sentence, the speaker began with the impersonal pronoun one but shifted arbitrarily to the masculine personal pronoun his. The sentence must maintain one’s from start to finish.
Consider reflexive sentences as well:
-
Incorrect: In difficult times, one must protect himself and his family.
Incorrect: In difficult times, one must protect himself and his family. (தவறான வடிவம்) Incorrect: In difficult times, one must protect himself and his family. (अशुद्ध: यहाँ himself और his का प्रयोग असंगत है।) -
Correct: In difficult times, one must protect oneself and one’s family.
Correct: In difficult times, one must protect oneself and one’s family. (சரியான வடிவம்) Correct: In difficult times, one must protect oneself and one’s family. (शुद्ध: कठिन समय में व्यक्ति को स्वयं की और अपने परिवार की रक्षा करनी चाहिए।)
Always pay close attention to spelling. The possessive form one’s requires an apostrophe before the s. The reflexive form oneself is strictly written as a single compound word without an apostrophe.
Default Masculine Singular Convention for Unspecified Gender
When you speak of people using singular indefinite pronouns like everyone, somebody, anyone, or nobody, the specific gender of the person is often unknown or represents a mixed group.
In traditional formal English, when a singular pronoun refers back to an indefinite person of unspecified gender, the masculine singular form (he, his, him) is used as the default grammatical standard. Alternatively, the inclusive phrase his or her is also correct.
-
Formal Standard: Everyone must submit his application before Friday.
Formal Standard: Everyone must submit his application before Friday. (முறையான தரநிலை - ‘his’ பயன்பாடு) Formal Standard: Everyone must submit his application before Friday. (औपचारिक मानक: प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को शुक्रवार से पहले अपना आवेदन जमा करना होगा।) -
Inclusive Alternative: Everyone must submit his or her application before Friday.
Inclusive Alternative: Everyone must submit his or her application before Friday. (உள்ளடக்கிய மாற்று வடிவம்) Inclusive Alternative: Everyone must submit his or her application before Friday. (समावेशी विकल्प: प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को शुक्रवार से पहले अपना आवेदन जमा करना होगा।)
In casual conversation, speakers frequently say “Everyone must submit their application.” While common in everyday talk, pairing the plural word their with the singular pronoun everyone breaks singular-to-plural grammatical agreement in formal prescriptive writing.
Contrasting One with Compound Indefinites
A frequent source of errors is mixing the rules of generic one with compound indefinite pronouns like everyone.
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Sentence starting with One: One should keep one’s promises. (Requires one’s)
Sentence starting with One: One should keep one’s promises. (one’s மட்டுமே தேவைப்படுகிறது) Sentence starting with One: One should keep one’s promises. (One से शुरू होने वाला वाक्य: इसके लिए one’s आवश्यक है) -
Sentence starting with Everyone: Everyone should keep his promises. (Requires his, not one’s)
Sentence starting with Everyone: Everyone should keep his promises. (one’s அல்ல, his மட்டுமே தேவைப்படுகிறது) Sentence starting with Everyone: Everyone should keep his promises. (Everyone से शुरू होने वाला वाक्य: इसके लिए his आवश्यक है, one’s नहीं)
Never write “Everyone should keep one’s promises.” The word one’s can only refer back to the subject one.
Distributive Pronouns: Inspecting Members One by One
Imagine an examiner distributing test sheets to a room full of students. Even though forty people sit in the hall, the examiner hands a single sheet to each student separately. The focus is entirely on individuals taken one at a time, rather than viewing the class as an undivided lump.
Words that refer to persons or things of a group individually and separately are called Distributive Pronouns. Because they consider items one by one, they represent a singular focus.
Analogy · The Single-Window Ticket Counter Expand analogy
Think of a single-window railway reservation counter. While an entire crowd of passengers stands in the queue, the reservation clerk interacts with and issues a ticket to strictly one passenger at a time. Distributive pronouns like each, either, and neither operate exactly like that single-window counter: no matter how large the group is, they focus on and process each member individually.
The Three Distributive Pronouns
English relies on three primary distributive pronouns: each, either, and neither.
1. Each
The pronoun each refers to every member of a group taken individually. It is used when speaking of two or more persons or things.
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Each of the candidates was interviewed.
Each of the candidates was interviewed. (விண்ணப்பதாரர்களில் ஒவ்வொருவரும் தனித்தனியாக நேர்காணல் செய்யப்பட்டனர்.) Each of the candidates was interviewed. (उम्मीदवारों में से प्रत्येक का साक्षात्कार लिया गया था।) -
The principal gave each of the winners a certificate.
The principal gave each of the winners a certificate. (முதல்வர் வெற்றியாளர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் சான்றிதழ் வழங்கினார்.) The principal gave each of the winners a certificate. (प्रधानाचार्य ने प्रत्येक विजेता को प्रमाण पत्र दिया।)
2. Either
The pronoun either means “one or the other” of strictly two persons or things. It presents an affirmative choice between a pair.
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There are two routes to the airport; either of them is fine.
There are two routes to the airport; either of them is fine. (விமான நிலையத்திற்குச் செல்ல இரண்டு வழிகள் உள்ளன; அவற்றில் எதுவானாலும் பரவாயில்லை.) There are two routes to the airport; either of them is fine. (हवाई अड्डे के लिए दो रास्ते हैं; उनमें से कोई भी रास्ता ठीक है।) -
You may invite Ramesh or Suresh; either of them will be a great guide.
You may invite Ramesh or Suresh; either of them will be a great guide. (நீங்கள் ரமேஷ் அல்லது சுரேஷை அழைக்கலாம்; இருவரில் யார் வந்தாலும் சிறந்த வழிகாட்டியாக இருப்பார்கள்.) You may invite Ramesh or Suresh; either of them will be a great guide. (आप रमेश या सुरेश को आमंत्रित कर सकते हैं; उन दोनों में से कोई भी एक बेहतरीन मार्गदर्शक साबित होगा।)
3. Neither
The pronoun neither is the negative twin of either. It means “not the one nor the other” of strictly two persons or things.
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Neither of the two keys opens this lock.
Neither of the two keys opens this lock. (அந்த இரண்டு சாவிகளில் எதுவுமே இந்தப் பூட்டைத் திறக்கவில்லை.) Neither of the two keys opens this lock. (दोनों चाबियों में से कोई भी इस ताले को नहीं खोलती।) -
Two proposals were submitted, but neither of them was approved.
Two proposals were submitted, but neither of them was approved. (இரண்டு முன்மொழிவுகள் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டன, ஆனால் அவற்றில் இரண்டுமே அங்கீகரிக்கப்படவில்லை.) Two proposals were submitted, but neither of them was approved. (दो प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत किए गए थे, लेकिन उनमें से किसी को भी स्वीकृति नहीं मिली।)
Because neither is already negative by definition, you must never add another negative word like not to the same clause. Saying “Neither of them did not come” creates an incorrect double negative; the correct expression is “Neither of them came.”
Group Size Boundaries: Pairs Versus Larger Groups
A fundamental grammatical rule governs the choice between either and neither on one hand, and general indefinite pronouns on the other hand.
The pronouns either and neither are strictly restricted to a group of exactly two. When you refer to a choice among more than two persons or things, you must use any, anyone, or none.
| Intended Meaning | For Exactly Two Entities | For More Than Two Entities |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative Choice (One option) | Either | Any or Anyone |
| Negative Choice (Zero options) | Neither | None or No one |
Examine these corrections carefully:
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Incorrect: You may take either of these five buses. (Five exceeds a pair)
Incorrect: You may take either of these five buses. (ஐந்து என்பது ஒரு ஜோடியை விட அதிகம் என்பதால் ‘either’ தவறு) Incorrect: You may take either of these five buses. (अशुद्ध: पाँच की संख्या दो से अधिक है, इसलिए either का प्रयोग गलत है।) -
Correct: You may take any of these five buses.
Correct: You may take any of these five buses. (சரியான வடிவம் - ‘any’ பயன்பாடு) Correct: You may take any of these five buses. (शुद्ध: आप इन पाँच बसों में से कोई भी ले सकते हैं।) -
Incorrect: Neither of the three brothers attended the meeting. (Three exceeds a pair)
Incorrect: Neither of the three brothers attended the meeting. (மூன்று என்பது ஒரு ஜோடியை விட அதிகம் என்பதால் ‘neither’ தவறு) Incorrect: Neither of the three brothers attended the meeting. (अशुद्ध: तीन की संख्या दो से अधिक है, इसलिए neither का प्रयोग गलत है।) -
Correct: None of the three brothers attended the meeting.
Correct: None of the three brothers attended the meeting. (சரியான வடிவம் - ‘none’ பயன்பாடு) Correct: None of the three brothers attended the meeting. (शुद्ध: तीनों भाइयों में से कोई भी बैठक में उपस्थित नहीं हुआ।)
Distributive Pronoun Versus Distributive Adjective
Just as with demonstratives, the words each, either, and neither can function as either pronouns or adjectives depending on sentence position.
When functioning as a Distributive Pronoun, the word stands alone and is followed by the preposition of plus a plural noun or pronoun.
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Each of the players received a medal. (Each is a pronoun.)
Each of the players received a medal. (Each என்பது Pronoun ஆகும்.) Each of the players received a medal. (Each यहाँ एक Pronoun है।) -
Either of the pens will write smoothly. (Either is a pronoun.)
Either of the pens will write smoothly. (Either என்பது Pronoun ஆகும்.) Either of the pens will write smoothly. (Either यहाँ एक Pronoun है।) -
Neither of the boys confessed. (Neither is a pronoun.)
Neither of the boys confessed. (Neither என்பது Pronoun ஆகும்.) Neither of the boys confessed. (Neither यहाँ एक Pronoun है।)
When functioning as a Distributive Adjective, the word sits directly before a singular noun without the preposition of.
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Each player received a medal. (Each modifies the singular noun player.)
Each player received a medal. (Each என்பது player என்ற ஒருமை Noun-ஐ விவரிக்கிறது.) Each player received a medal. (Each यहाँ एकवचन Noun player की विशेषता बताता है।) -
Either pen will write smoothly. (Either modifies the singular noun pen.)
Either pen will write smoothly. (Either என்பது pen என்ற ஒருமை Noun-ஐ விவரிக்கிறது.) Either pen will write smoothly. (Either यहाँ एकवचन Noun pen की विशेषता बताता है।) -
Neither boy confessed. (Neither modifies the singular noun boy.)
Neither boy confessed. (Neither என்பது boy என்ற ஒருமை Noun-ஐ விவரிக்கிறது.) Neither boy confessed. (Neither यहाँ एकवचन Noun boy की विशेषता बताता है।)
The Objective Pronoun Requirement After ‘Of'
When a personal pronoun follows the prepositional phrase structure [Distributive] + of, that pronoun must always appear in the objective case (us, you, them), never in the subjective case (we, they).
[Distributive] + of என்ற Prepositional Phrase அமைப்பைத் தொடர்ந்து ஒரு Personal Pronoun வரும்போது, அந்த Pronoun எப்போதும் செயப்படுபொருள் வேற்றுமையிலேயே (Objective Case) (us, you, them) இடம்பெற வேண்டும்; ஒருபோதும் எழுவாய் வேற்றுமையில் (Subjective Case - we, they) வரக்கூடாது. [Distributive] + of संरचना का अनुसरण करता है, तो वह Pronoun हमेशा कर्म कारक (Objective Case) (us, you, them) में होना चाहिए, कभी भी कर्ता कारक (Subjective Case) (we, they) में नहीं।
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Correct: Each of them received an invitation. (Not: Each of they)
Correct: Each of them received an invitation. (சரியான வடிவம் - ‘them’ என்பது Objective Case; ‘Each of they’ என வருவது தவறு) Correct: Each of them received an invitation. (शुद्ध: उनमें से प्रत्येक को एक निमंत्रण मिला। [Each of they नहीं]) -
Correct: Neither of us was aware of the delay. (Not: Neither of we)
Correct: Neither of us was aware of the delay. (சரியான வடிவம் - ‘us’ என்பது Objective Case; ‘Neither of we’ என வருவது தவறு) Correct: Neither of us was aware of the delay. (शुद्ध: हम दोनों में से किसी को भी देरी की जानकारी नहीं थी। [Neither of we नहीं])
Key Takeaways
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Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) stand alone to point out items in space or time, whereas demonstrative adjectives directly accompany a noun.
Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) இடம் அல்லது காலத்தில் உள்ள பொருட்களைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டத் தனித்து நிற்கின்றன; ஆனால் demonstrative adjectives நேரடியாக ஒரு Noun-உடன் இணைந்து வருகின்றன. Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) स्थान या समय में वस्तुओं की ओर संकेत करने के लिए अकेले आते हैं, जबकि Demonstrative Adjectives सीधे किसी Noun के साथ जुड़ते हैं। -
The phrases that of and those of replace singular and plural nouns respectively to streamline comparisons and prevent illogical mismatches.
ஒப்பீடுகளைச் சீரமைக்கவும், தவறான தர்க்கப் பொருத்தமின்மைகளைத் தவிர்க்கவும் முறையே ஒருமை மற்றும் பன்மை Noun-களுக்கு மாற்றாக that of மற்றும் those of என்ற சொற்றொடர்கள் பயன்படுகின்றன. तुलना को संतुलित और स्पष्ट बनाने तथा अतार्किक असमानता से बचने के लिए that of और those of वाक्यांश क्रमशः एकवचन और बहुवचन Nouns का स्थान लेते हैं। -
The generic pronoun one requires absolute consistency throughout a sentence, taking the possessive form one’s and the reflexive form oneself.
பொதுவான Pronoun ஆன one ஒரு வாக்கியம் முழுவதும் முழுமையான மாறாத்தன்மையைக் கோருகிறது; அது Possessive வடிவமாக one’s என்பதையும், Reflexive வடிவமாக oneself என்பதையும் ஏற்கிறது. सामान्य Pronoun one को पूरे वाक्य में पूर्ण निरंतरता की आवश्यकता होती है, जहाँ इसका Possessive रूप one’s और Reflexive रूप oneself होता है। -
Indefinite pronouns representing singular persons of unspecified gender take the masculine singular form (his) or the inclusive pair (his or her) under formal standards.
பாலினம் குறிப்பிடப்படாத ஒருமை நபர்களைக் குறிக்கும் Indefinite Pronoun-கள், முறையான இலக்கணத் தரநிலைகளின்படி ஆண்பால் ஒருமை வடிவத்தையோ (his) அல்லது உள்ளடக்கிய ஜோடிச் சொல்லையோ (his or her) ஏற்கின்றன. अनिर्दिष्ट लिंग के एकवचन व्यक्तियों का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले Indefinite Pronouns औपचारिक मानकों के तहत पुल्लिंग एकवचन रूप (his) या समावेशी युग्म (his or her) लेते हैं। -
The distributive pronouns either and neither apply strictly to a choice between two items, requiring any and none when a group contains more than two items.
Either மற்றும் neither ஆகிய Distributive Pronoun-கள் இரண்டு உருப்படிகளுக்கு இடையேயான தேர்வுக்கு மட்டுமே கண்டிப்பாகப் பொருந்தும்; ஒரு குழுவில் இரண்டிற்கும் மேற்பட்ட உருப்படிகள் இருக்கும்போது any மற்றும் none தேவைப்படுகின்றன. Distributive pronouns either और neither केवल दो वस्तुओं के बीच विकल्प पर सख्ती से लागू होते हैं, जबकि दो से अधिक वस्तुओं के समूह के लिए any और none की आवश्यकता होती है। -
Personal pronouns placed immediately after the distributive construction
[Distributive] + ofmust strictly take the objective case.[Distributive] + ofஎன்ற அமைப்பைத் தொடர்ந்து உடனடியாக வரும் Personal Pronoun-கள் கண்டிப்பாக Objective Case-இல் மட்டுமே அமைய வேண்டும்.विभाजक संरचना [Distributive] + ofके ठीक बाद आने वाले Personal Pronouns को अनिवार्य रूप से Objective Case में होना चाहिए।
In this lesson, we examined how demonstrative, indefinite, and distributive pronouns point to objects, represent general entities, and separate group members. In the next lesson, we will explore Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns and master the mechanics of actions that reflect back upon the subject.
Check Your Understanding
Test your knowledge with these practice questions
Demonstrative Indefinite and Distributive Pronouns - Exercise
Practice questions testing demonstratives, comparison logic with that of and those of, the generic one consistency rule, and distributive pronoun rules.
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