In German, we come across many different kinds of pronouns. Indefinite pronouns (Indefinitpronomen) are another part of grammar that tends to confuse learners. Today's article will help you learn about indefinite pronouns. Let's get started!!!

1. Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that stand in for people or things that are not specific. Examples of indefinite pronouns: etwas, nichts, jeder, man, jemand, niemand,...

Bringst du mir etwas zu essen mit?

(Can you bring me something to eat?)

→ etwas: something generic and non-specific; the speaker does not care what it is, as long as it is edible

2. Groups of indefinite pronouns

a. Indefinite pronouns for people only (Indefinitpronomen nur für Personen): man, jemand, niemand

• The indefinite pronouns "man, jemand and niemand" are used only for nouns referring to people. These pronouns are used only in the singular; they have no plural forms.

• The indefinite pronoun "man" can refer to one or several unspecified people.

***Note: "man" ≠ der Mann, so be careful not to confuse these two words.

Hier darf man nicht rauchen.

(One is not allowed to smoke here.)

• The pronouns "jemand" and "niemand" can only be used in the singular. "Jemand" means someone, referring to an unspecified person whose gender is unknown. "Jemand" can be combined with "irgend" to add more vagueness. The pronoun "niemand" is the negation of "jemand" and means nobody. The endings (en) and (em) of the Akkusativ and Dativ can also be omitted.

***Note: Indefinite pronouns change according to case

Nominativ	Akkusativ	Dativ
man	einen	einem
jemand	jemand(en)	jemand(em)
niemand	niemand(en)	niemand(em)

Example:

Gibt es hier jemanden?

(Is there anyone here?)

→ jemand in this sentence is in the Akkusativ → jemanden

b. Indefinite pronouns for things only (Indefinitpronomen nur für Dinge): etwas, nichts, alles, welche-

• The indefinite pronoun "etwas" can function as an article or can replace a noun. It does not change its form across the 4 cases. "etwas" is used to refer to an unspecified thing or state, and can be combined with "irgend" to add more vagueness.

Hörst du etwas? (Do you hear anything?)

→ Ja, da ist irgendetwas. (Yes, I hear something.)

• The indefinite pronoun "nichts" is the negation of "etwas". It is also invariable (it does not change).

Hörst du etwas? (Do you hear anything?)

→ Nein, ich höre nichts. (No, I don't hear anything.)

• The indefinite pronoun "alles" has a general meaning, covering everything.

Ich mag alles allein machen.

(I like to do everything alone.)

• The indefinite pronoun "welch-" replaces a noun and means some/a few/a little...

Im Kühlschrank ist kein Käse mehr. Haben wir noch welchen?

(There is no more cheese in the fridge. Do we still have some?)

c. Indefinite pronouns for both people and things (Indefinitpronomen für Personen und Dinge): jede, einige, manche, all-, mehrer-

• The indefinite pronoun "all-" can appear in the function of an article (Artikel) or replace a noun

Alle wollen den neuen Film von Harald Plotter sehen.

(Everyone wants to see the new film by Harald Plotter.)

→ "alle" is used to replace the noun "die Menschen"

• The indefinite pronoun "einige" refers to an unspecified quantity; the quantity can be smaller or larger depending on the situation.

Scheinbar haben einige von euch den Ernst der Lage noch nicht verstanden.

(Apparently some of you have not yet understood the seriousness of the situation.)

• The indefinite pronoun "jede-" is also used to replace a noun. The plural of "jede-" becomes "alle-"

Jeder von euch entschuldigt sich auf der Stelle.

(Each of you apologizes on the spot.)

• The pronoun "manch-" has the same meaning as "einige"

Manche glauben, perfekt zu sein. Aber ein jeder hat Fehler.

(Some people think they are perfect. But everyone has flaws.)

• The indefinite pronoun "mehrer-" has the same meaning as "manch-" and "einig-" and exists only in the plural

Bei der gestrigen Demonstration wurden mehrere festgenommen.

(Several people were arrested at yesterday's demonstration.)