Page 35 - DENG103_English - I

English–I

Notes In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a relative pronoun.

You may invite whomever you like to the party.
The relative pronoun “whomever” is the direct object of the compound verb “may invite.”
The candidate who wins the greatest popular vote is not always elected.

In this sentence, the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb “wins” and introduces the subordinate
clause ”who wins the greatest popular vote.” This subordinate clause acts as an adjective modifying
“candidate.”
In a time of crisis, the manager asks the workers whom she believes to be the most
efficient to arrive an hour earlier than usual.
In this sentence “whom” is the direct object of the verb “believes” and introduces the subordinate
clause “whom she believes to be the most efficient”. This subordinate clause modifies the
noun “workers.”
Whoever broke the window will have to replace it.

Here “whoever” functions as the subject of the verb “broke.”
The crate which was left in the corridor has now been moved into the storage closet.
In this example “which” acts as the subject of the compound verb “was left” and introduces
the subordinate clause “which was left in the corridor.” The subordinate clause acts as an
adjective modifying the noun “crate.”
I will read whichever manuscript arrives first.
Here “whichever” modifies the noun “manuscript” and introduces the subordinate clause
“whichever manuscript arrives first.” The subordinate clause functions as the direct object of
the compound verb “will read.”

Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun referring to an identifiable but not specified person or
thing. An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all, any, none, or some.

The most common indefinite pronouns are “all,” “another,” “any,” “anybody,” “anyone,”
“anything,” “each,” “everybody,” “everyone,” “everything,” “few,” “many,” “nobody,” “none,”
“one,” “several,” “some,” “somebody,” and “someone.” Note that some indefinite pronouns
can also be used as indefinite adjectives.
The highlighted words in the following sentences are indefinite pronouns:
Many were invited to the lunch but only twelve showed up.
Here “many” acts as the subject of the compound verb “were invited.”

The office had been searched and everything was thrown onto the floor.
In this example, “everything” acts as a subject of the compound verb “was thrown.”
We donated everything we found in the attic to the woman’s shelter garage sale.

In this sentence, “everything” is the direct object of theverb “donated.”

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