Demonstrative, Indefinite, and Distributive Pronouns
Master the rules of Demonstrative (This, That), Indefinite (Everyone, Someone), and Distributive (Each, Either) pronouns. Learn the singular verb rules for SSC and Banking exams.
Pointing and Generalizing: An Introduction
In the previous lesson, we saw how words can act as bridges to connect clauses. In this lesson, we will explore pronouns that help us point to specific things (Demonstrative), talk about people in general (Indefinite), or treat a group as individuals (Distributive).
For competitive exams like SSC and Banking, the secret to mastering these pronouns lies in one simple word: Singularity. Most of these pronouns behave as if they are talking about one person, even if they refer to a large crowd.
Demonstrative Pronouns: The Pointing Finger
Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out the objects they refer to. They help us distinguish between what is “here” and what is “there.”
English uses four main demonstrative words based on distance and number:
| Number | Near (இங்கே / यहाँ) | Far (அங்கே / वहाँ) |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | This (இது / यह) | That (அது / वह) |
| Plural | These (இவை / ये) | Those (அவை / वे) |
This is my book. (The book is near and single).
This is my book. (புத்தகம் அருகில் உள்ளது மற்றும் ஒருமையாக உள்ளது). यह (This) मेरी किताब है। (किताब पास है और एकवचन है)। Those are stars. (The stars are far and many).
Those are stars. (நட்சத்திரங்கள் தொலைவில் உள்ளன மற்றும் பன்மையாக இருக்கின்றன). वे (Those) तारे हैं। (तारे दूर हैं और बहुवचन हैं)।
Analogy · The Laser Pointer Expand analogy
Think of a Demonstrative Pronoun like a laser pointer. You use a short-range beam (This/These) for things you can touch, and a long-range beam (That/Those) for things across the room or in the sky.
Advanced Demonstrative Rules
1. The Rule of Logical Comparison
In exams, you will often see comparisons like “The climate of Delhi is better than Mumbai.” This is wrong because you are comparing “climate” to a “city.”
Wrong: The streets of Delhi are wider than Chennai.
தவறானது: The streets of Delhi are wider than Chennai. गलत: The streets of Delhi are wider than Chennai. Right: The streets of Delhi are wider than those of Chennai. (Use ‘those of’ for plural nouns).
சரியானது: The streets of Delhi are wider than those of Chennai. (பன்மையாக உள்ள பெயர்ச்சொற்களுக்கு ‘those of’ பயன்படுத்தவும்). सही: The streets of Delhi are wider than those of Chennai. (बहुवचन संज्ञाओं के लिए ‘those of’ का उपयोग करें)।
2. Number Agreement with Kind and Sort
The demonstrative pronoun must match the number of the word Kind or Sort.
Singular: This kind of book / That sort of person.
This kind of book / That sort of person. (ஒருமை) यह (This) प्रकार की पुस्तक / वह (That) तरह का व्यक्ति। (एकवचन) Plural: These kinds of books / Those sorts of people.
These kinds of books / Those sorts of people. (பன்மை) ये (These) प्रकार की पुस्तकें / वे (Those) तरह के लोग। (बहुवचन)
The Pronoun vs. Adjective Trap
In exams, a common error is confusing a pronoun with an adjective. A pronoun stands alone. An adjective is followed by a noun.
Pronoun: This is a red car. (No noun follows “This”).
Pronoun: This is a red car. (“This” என்ற சொல்லுக்குப் பின் பெயர்ச்சொல் இல்லை). Pronoun: यह (This) एक लाल कार है। (“This” के बाद कोई संज्ञा नहीं है)। Adjective: This car is red. (“This” modifies the noun “car”).
Adjective: This car is red. (இதில் “This” என்பது “car” பற்றிச் சொல்கிறது). Adjective: यह (This) कार लाल है। (यहाँ “This” संज्ञा “car” की विशेषता बता रहा है)।
Indefinite Pronouns: Talking Generally
Sometimes we don’t want to point to a specific person. Words like someone, everyone, and nobody are called Indefinite Pronouns because they refer to people or things in a general way.
The “Always Singular” Rule
This is a favorite topic for SSC and Bank Po examiners. Even though “Everyone” sounds like a group, it is grammatically singular.
| Word Group | Examples | Grammar Rule |
|---|---|---|
| People | Everyone, Someone, Anyone, No one / Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody | Use Singular Verb (is/has/was) |
| Things | Everything, Something, Anything, Nothing | Use Singular Verb |
The “Plural” Exceptions
While most indefinite pronouns are singular, a few always refer to more than one person or thing. These are Always Plural.
Plural Words: Many, Several, Both, Few.
பன்மை வார்த்தைகள் (Plural Words): Many, Several, Both, Few. बहुवचन शब्द: Many, Several, Both, Few. Example: Many of the students are absent today. (Use ‘are’, not ‘is’).
சரியானது: Many of the students are absent today. (‘is’ அல்ல, ‘are’ பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்). सही: विद्यार्थियों में से कई (Many) आज अनुपस्थित हैं (are)। Example: Both of the candidates have signed the contract.
சரியானது: Both of the candidates have signed the contract. सही: दोनों (Both) उम्मीदवारों ने अनुबंध पर हस्ताक्षर किए हैं (have)।
Rule 2: Context-Based Pronouns (Some, None, All)
Words like Some, None, All, and Most can be singular or plural depending on the noun they follow.
Singular Context: None of the information is correct. (Information is uncountable).
ஒருமைச் சூழல்: None of the information is correct. (தகவல் (information) என்பது எண்ண முடியாத பெயர்ச்சொல் என்பதால் ஒருமையாகக் கருதப்படுகிறது). एकवचन संदर्भ: जानकारी (information) में से कुछ भी सही नहीं है (is)। (चूंकि जानकारी अगणनीय है, इसलिए यहाँ क्रिया एकवचन होगी)। Plural Context: None of the students are here. (Students are plural).
பன்மைச் சூழல்: None of the students are here. (மாணவர்கள் பன்மையாக இருப்பதால் வினைச்சொல்லும் பன்மையாகிறது). बहुवचन संदर्भ: छात्रों (students) में से कोई भी यहाँ नहीं हैं (are)। (चूंकि छात्र बहुवचन हैं, इसलिए क्रिया भी बहुवचन होगी)। Wrong: Everyone are happy.
தவறானது: Everyone are happy. गलत: Everyone are happy. Right: Everyone is happy.
சரியானது: Everyone is happy. (அனைவரும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்கிறார்கள்). सही: हर कोई खुश है (is)।
The “One” and “One’s” Rule
In exams, if a sentence starts with the pronoun One, you must use one’s for possession, not “his” or “their.”
Error: One should do his duty.
தவறானது: One should do his duty. गलत: One should do his duty. Correct: One should do one’s duty.
சரியானது: One should do one’s duty. (ஒருவர் தனது கடமையைச் செய்ய வேண்டும்). सही: किसी को अपना (one’s) कर्तव्य निभाना चाहिए।
Distributive Pronouns: One at a Time
Distributive Pronouns refer to persons or things one at a time. Because they “distribute” the focus to each individual, they are always singular. The main distributive pronouns are Each, Either, and Neither.
Rule 1: Always Singular Verbs
Even if you see a plural word like “students” after the pronoun, the verb remains singular.
- Each of the students has received a gift. (Not “have”).
Each of the students has received a gift. (‘have’ அல்ல, ‘has’ பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்). छात्रों में से प्रत्येक को उपहार मिला है (has)। (“have” नहीं)।
Rule 2: Advanced Distributive Scenarios
1. Each of vs. Every
“Every” is an adjective and must be followed directly by a noun. It cannot be followed by “of.”
Wrong: Every of the students…
தவறானது: Every of the students… गलत: Every of the students… Right: Every student… OR Each of the students…
சரியானது: Every student அல்லது Each of the students. सही: Every student या Each of the students.
2. The ‘And’ Connector
If two subjects are joined by “and” but preceded by Each or Every, the sentence remains singular.
- Example: Each boy and each girl is ready. (Not “are”).
சரியானது: Each boy and each girl is ready. सही: प्रत्येक लड़का और प्रत्येक लड़की तैयार है (is)।
3. When ‘Each’ follows the Subject
If “Each” comes after a plural subject, then the verb becomes plural.
- Example: The students each have a book. (Not “has”).
சரியானது: The students each have a book. (இதில் ‘has’ அல்ல, ‘have’ பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்). सही: छात्रों के पास प्रत्येक के पास (each have) एक किताब है।
Rule 3: The Choice Between Two vs. More
In banking exams, examiners often test if you know the limits of Either and Neither.
| Word | Usage | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Either | One of two | Used for exactly two things |
| Neither | None of two | Used for exactly two things |
| Any / One | One of many | Used for more than two |
| None | None of many | Used for more than two |
Error: Neither of the five boys is selected. (Incorrect because there are five boys).
தவறானது: Neither of the five boys is selected. गलत: Neither of the five boys is selected. Correct: None of the five boys is selected.
சரியானது: None of the five boys is selected. (ஐந்து சிறுவர்களில் ஒருவரும் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்படவில்லை). सही: पाँच लड़कों में से कोई भी नहीं (None) चुना गया है। Error: Either of these three roads leads to the station.
தவறானது: Either of these three roads leads to the station. गलत: Either of these three roads leads to the station. Correct: Any of these three roads leads to the station.
சரியானது: Any of these three roads leads to the station. (இந்த மூன்று சாலைகளில் ஏதேனும் ஒன்று நிலையத்திற்குச் செல்லும்). सही: इन तीन सड़कों में से कोई भी (Any) स्टेशन की ओर जाती है।
Common Exam Pitfalls
The “Of the” Plural Trap
A very frequent error occurs in the structure: [Pronoun] + of + the + [Noun].
The Rule: The Noun must be Plural, but the Verb must be Singular.
Incorrect: Each of the boy is playing. (Boy should be plural).
தவறானது: Each of the boy is playing. गलत: Each of the boy is playing. Incorrect: Each of the boys are playing. (Are should be singular).
தவறானது: Each of the boys are playing. गलत: Each of the boys are playing. Correct: Each of the boys is playing.
சரியானது: Each of the boys is playing. (சிறுவர்களில் ஒவ்வொருவரும் விளையாடிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்). सही: लड़कों में से प्रत्येक खेल रहा है (is)।
Pronoun Agreement (His vs. Their)
When you use a singular pronoun like Everyone or Each, all following pronouns must also be singular.
Error: Everyone should bring their own identity card.
தவறானது: Everyone should bring their own identity card. गलत: Everyone should bring their own identity card. Correct: Everyone should bring his own identity card.
சரியானது: Everyone should bring his own identity card. (அனைவரும் அவரவர் அடையாள அட்டையைக் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும்). सही: हर किसी को अपना (his) पहचान पत्र लाना चाहिए।
Exam Observation: In modern usage, “their” is becoming common to avoid gender bias, but for strict competitive exams, his (or his or her) is the traditionally correct answer.
Key Takeaways
This/That are singular demonstratives, while These/Those are plural.
This/That ஆகியவை ஒருமைச் சுட்டுச் சொற்கள் (singular demonstratives), These/Those பன்மைச் சுட்டுச் சொற்கள் (plural). This/That एकवचन हैं, जबकि These/Those बहुवचन हैं। Indefinite Pronouns (-one, -body, -thing) are always grammatically singular.
Indefinite Pronouns (-one, -body, -thing) இலக்கணப்படி எப்போதும் ஒருமை ஆகும். Indefinite Pronouns (-one, -body, -thing) व्याकरण की दृष्टि से हमेशा एकवचन होते हैं। Always use one’s when the subject is One.
எழுவாய் (Subject) One ஆக இருக்கும்போது எப்போதும் one’s என்பதையே பயன்படுத்தவும். जब कर्ता (Subject) One हो, तो हमेशा one’s का उपयोग करें। Each, Either, and Neither are distributive pronouns that always take singular verbs.
Each, Either மற்றும் Neither ஆகியவை எப்போதும் ஒருமை வினைச்சொற்களையே கொள்ளும் Distributive Pronouns ஆகும். Each, Either, और Neither हमेशा एकवचन क्रिया लेते हैं। Use Either/Neither for two things and Any/None for more than two things.
இரண்டு பொருட்களுக்கு Either/Neither என்பதையும், இரண்டிற்கு மேற்பட்டவற்றிற்கு Any/None என்பதையும் பயன்படுத்தவும். दो चीजों के लिए Either/Neither और दो से अधिक चीजों के लिए Any/None का उपयोग करें। In the next lesson, we will explore Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns where we will master the rules of self-referencing and learn why verbs like avail and enjoy require special attention.
அடுத்த பாடத்தில், நாம் Reflexive மற்றும் Emphatic Pronouns பற்றிப் பார்ப்போம். அதில் ‘self’ சொற்களை எவ்வாறு பயன்படுத்துவது என்பதையும், avail மற்றும் enjoy போன்ற வினைச்சொற்களுக்கு ஏன் சிறப்பு கவனம் தேவை என்பதையும் விரிவாகக் கற்போம். अगले पाठ में, हम Reflexive और Emphatic Pronouns का अध्ययन करेंगे जहाँ हम ‘self’ सर्वनामों के नियमों में महारत हासिल करेंगे और सीखेंगे कि avail और enjoy जैसी क्रियाओं पर विशेष ध्यान क्यों देना चाहिए।
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Demonstrative, Indefinite, and Distributive Pronouns - Practice Quiz
Test your mastery of Demonstrative, Indefinite, and Distributive pronouns with 30 exam-style questions focusing on singular verb rules and common Error Spotting patterns.
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