Indefinite pronouns are words that point to an unspecified person or thing. They do not name anyone or anything directly but give a general idea.
For example: everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody, everyone, someone, no one, anyone, everything, something, nothing, anything, all, some, both, any, most, enough, few, many, none, little, one, other, others.
Indefinite pronouns ਉਹ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਕਿਸੇ ਅਣਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਵਸਤੂ ਵੱਲ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੰਦੇ, ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਆਮ ਧਾਰਨਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody, everyone, someone, no one, anyone, everything, something, nothing, anything, all, some, both, any, most, enough, few, many, none, little, one, other, others.
Examples
- One must be attentive to one’s studies.
“One” refers to any person in general, not a specific individual.
“One” ਇੱਥੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ। - Everyone believed him.
“Everyone” means all people, but it does not name them individually.
“Everyone” ਸਭ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਨਹੀਂ। - Somebody has stolen my watch.
“Somebody” points to an unknown person.
“Somebody” ਅਣਜਾਣੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। - Nobody was there to save the drowning child.
“Nobody” means no person was present.
“Nobody” ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ। - None but the brave deserve the fair.
“None” means no one except the brave.
“None” ਇੱਥੇ “ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ” ਦੇ ਅਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ। - Some are born great. All are not born rich.
“Some” = a few people; “All” = everyone in general.
“Some” ਕੁਝ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ, “All” ਸਭ ਲਈ। - Few were hurt, Many escaped.
“Few” = a small number; “Many” = a large number.
“Few” ਥੋੜ੍ਹੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ, “Many” ਵੱਧ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ। - All that glitters is not gold.
“All” refers to everything that shines, but not everything is gold.
“All” ਇੱਥੇ ਸਭ ਚਮਕਦਾਰ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ। - Only Rakesh can remain here, others may go home.
“Others” refers to people apart from Rakesh.
“Others” ਹੋਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। - One or other of us will be there.
“One or other” means either one person from the group.
“One or other” ਕਿਸੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਲਈ ਹੈ।
Rule (1): Singular Pronouns with Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody, Everyone, Someone, Anyone, No one always take singular pronouns (he, him, his, himself) — not plural pronouns (they, them, their, themselves).
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody, Everyone, Someone, Anyone, No one ਵਰਗੇ pronouns ਨਾਲ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ singular pronouns (he, him, his, himself) ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
- When the gender is not known, we use masculine singular (he/him).
ਜਦੋਂ ਲਿੰਗ (sex) ਪਤਾ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ he/him ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। - If the pronoun refers to a female, then we use she, her, hers, herself.
ਜੇਕਰ female ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ she, her, hers, herself ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Everyone has his own ideas on the subject. → Correct, because “everyone” is singular.
- If anybody helps me, I shall be thankful to him. → “Anybody” is singular, so “him” is correct.
- I helped everyone of the girls in her studies. → Here “everyone” refers to girls, so “her” is correct.
Rule (2): Question Tags with Indefinite Pronouns
When the subject of a sentence is an indefinite pronoun like Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody, Everyone, Someone, Anyone, No one, the question tag must use the plural pronoun “they” — not the singular pronoun he.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ indefinite pronoun ਹੋਵੇ ਜਿਵੇਂ Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody, Everyone, Someone, Anyone, No one, ਤਾਂ Question Tag ਵਿੱਚ they ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਨਾ ਕਿ he।
Reason: Although these pronouns are grammatically singular, in question tags English uses “they” for natural and correct expression.
ਇਹ pronouns ਵਿਆਕਰਨ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇਕਵਚਨ ਹਨ, ਪਰ Question Tag ਵਿੱਚ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਵਿੱਚ “they” ਵਰਤਣਾ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਹੀ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Everybody cannot be intelligent, can they?
- Everyone does his work, don’t they?
Rule (3): Use of Singular Pronouns with “Everything, Something, Nothing, Anything”
When the subject of a sentence is Everything, Something, Nothing, Anything, it refers to an unspecified thing. For these pronouns, we must always use singular pronouns → it, its, itself.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਦਾ subject Everything, Something, Nothing, Anything ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਅਣਜਾਣੀ ਜਾਂ ਆਮ ਵਸਤੂ ਵੱਲ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ singular pronouns ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ → it, its, itself.
We do not use plural pronouns (they, them, their, themselves), masculine pronouns (he, him, his, himself), or forms like one, one’s, oneself.
Plural pronouns (they, them, their, themselves), masculine pronouns (he, him, his, himself) ਜਾਂ one, one’s, oneself ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Everything has its own limitation. → Correct, “its” matches “everything.”
- Everything has their own limitation. → Wrong, “their” is plural.
- Everything has his own limitation. → Wrong, “his” is for a person, not a thing.
- Everything has one’s own limitation. → Wrong, “one’s” does not fit here.
Rule (4): Question Tags with Everything, Something, Anything, Nothing
When the subject of a sentence is Everything, Something, Anything, Nothing, the question tag must use the singular pronoun “it”.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਦਾ subject Everything, Something, Anything, Nothing ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Question Tag ਵਿੱਚ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ singular pronoun “it” ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
We do not use singular pronoun he or plural pronoun they in this case.
ਇੱਥੇ he (ਪੁਰਸ਼ ਲਈ) ਜਾਂ they (ਬਹੁਵਚਨ ਲਈ) ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Reason: These words always refer to things, not people, so the natural pronoun is it.
ਇਹ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਵਸਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਸਹੀ pronoun it ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Everything is bright and beautiful, isn’t it? → Correct, “it” matches “everything.”
- Everything is bright and beautiful, isn’t he? → Wrong, “he” is for a person.
- Everything is bright and beautiful, aren’t they? → Wrong, “they” is plural.
Rule (5): Use of Pronouns with One
When one is used as the subject of a sentence, we must follow these forms:
ਜਦੋਂ one ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇਹ ਰੂਪ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ:
- Nominative case: one
- Objective case: one
- Possessive adjective: one’s
- Reflexive pronoun: oneself
We do not use he, him, his, himself or forms like ones, once, they, them, their, themselves.
he, him, his, himself ਜਾਂ ones, once, they, them, their, themselves ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- One should love one’s country. → Correct, “one’s” matches the subject “one.”
- One should love his country. → Wrong, “his” is not used with “one.”
- One should love ones country. → Wrong, “ones” is incorrect.
- One should love their country. → Wrong, “their” is plural.
- One should love once country. → Wrong, “once” is not a pronoun.
For reflexive use:
- One should help oneself. → Correct.
- One should help himself. → Wrong, “himself” does not match “one.”
- One should help theirself. → Wrong, “theirself” is not correct.
- One should help themselves. → Wrong, “themselves” is plural.
- One should help oneselfves. → Wrong, incorrect form.
Rule (6): Use of one and ones
When we want to avoid repeating a countable noun in a sentence:
ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਵਾਕ ਵਿੱਚ countable noun ਨੂੰ ਦੁਹਰਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਣਾ ਹੋਵੇ:
- For a singular countable noun, we use one.
Singular countable noun ਲਈ one ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। - For a plural countable noun, we use ones.
Plural countable noun ਲਈ ones ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
We do not use one’s in this case.
ਇੱਥੇ one’s ਵਰਤਣਾ ਗਲਤ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- This is a new table, but that is an old one. → Correct, “one” replaces the singular noun “table.”
- This is a new table, but that is an old ones. → Wrong, “ones” is plural.
- These are new tables, but those are old ones. → Correct, “ones” replaces the plural noun “tables.”
- These are new tables, but those are old one. → Wrong, “one” is singular.
- These are new tables, but those are old one’s. → Wrong, “one’s” is possessive, not correct here.
Rule (7): Use of Some and Any
When we make an affirmative sentence, we use some or its related pronouns (someone, somebody, something). When we make a negative sentence, we use any or its related pronouns (anyone, anybody, anything).
ਜਦੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਕਾਰਾਤਮਕ (affirmative) ਵਾਕ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਤਾਂ some ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਣੇ pronouns (someone, somebody, something) ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਜਦੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਨਕਾਰਾਤਮਕ (negative) ਵਾਕ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਤਾਂ any ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਣੇ pronouns (anyone, anybody, anything) ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
This is the basic difference:
- Some = positive/affirmative(ਸਕਾਰਾਤਮਕ ਵਾਕ।)
- Any = negative(ਨਕਾਰਾਤਮਕ ਵਾਕ।)
Examples:
- He has bought some mangoes. → Correct, because the sentence is affirmative.
- He has bought any mangoes. → Wrong, “any” is not used in affirmative.
- I have not any pen. → Correct, because the sentence is negative.
- I have not some pens. → Wrong, “some” is not used in negative.
Rule (8): Use of Some/Any in Affirmative Interrogative Sentences
When we ask a question in the affirmative form (interrogative sentence), we can use both some and any.
ਜਦੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਕਾਰਾਤਮਕ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨਵਾਚਕ ਵਾਕ (affirmative interrogative sentence) ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਤਾਂ some ਅਤੇ any ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।
In such sentences, some and any are both grammatically correct.
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਾਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ some ਅਤੇ any ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵਿਆਕਰਨ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਠੀਕ ਹਨ।
Examples:
- Have you bought some pens? → Correct, “some” is allowed in interrogative.
- Have you bought any pens? → Correct, “any” is also allowed in interrogative.
So, in affirmative questions, both some and any can be used.
ਇਸ ਲਈ, affirmative ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨਵਾਚਕ ਵਾਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ some ਅਤੇ any ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।
Rule (9): Use of All
The word All is used as an indefinite pronoun to mean “everything,” “everyone,” or “each.” It can refer to both persons and things.
All ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ pronoun ਵਜੋਂ “ਸਭ ਕੁਝ,” “ਸਾਰੇ,” ਜਾਂ “ਹਰ ਇੱਕ” ਦੇ ਅਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਵਸਤੂਆਂ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- Person: All of us love peace. → Here “all” means everyone.
- Thing: All of these pens are costly. → Here “all” means every pen.
- Person: We all want to come in.
- Thing: He gave his all to the party. → “All” means his complete effort.
Additional Notes
- All can also be used as an indefinite numeral adjective (for number) or a quantitative adjective (for quantity).
All ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਣ (number ਲਈ) ਜਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਣ (quantity ਲਈ) ਵਜੋਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।- All the boys were present. → Number (plural countable noun + plural verb).
- All the milk was sold. → Quantity (singular uncountable noun + singular verb).
- Rule of verb agreement:
- All + plural countable noun → plural verb.
- All + singular uncountable noun → singular verb.
- All can also be used as an adverb meaning “completely/entirely.”
All ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ Adverb ਵਜੋਂ “ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ / ਬਿਲਕੁਲ” ਦੇ ਅਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।- They were dressed all in white.
- Common phrases with All:
All ਨਾਲ ਬਣੇ ਆਮ Phrases:- After all → ਆਖ਼ਿਰਕਾਰ
- Not at all → ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ
- For all → ਸਭ ਲਈ
- Once for all → ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਲਈ
- All in all → ਸਭ ਕੁਝ
- All over → ਹਰ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ
- All alone → ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਅਕੇਲਾ
- All the same → ਇਕੋ ਜਿਹਾ
- All right / alright → ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਠੀਕ
Rule (10): Use of Some
Some means “a few, little, or someone.” It is used as an indefinite pronoun to show number and quantity. When it shows number, it is used with plural countable nouns.
Some ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਕੁਝ, ਥੋੜਾ ਜਾਂ ਕੋਈ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ indefinite pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਦੋਂ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਦਰਸਾਉਣੀ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਹ plural countable nouns ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, Some of the boys are good players.
When it shows quantity, it is used with singular uncountable nouns.
ਜਦੋਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਣੀ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਹ singular uncountable nouns ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, Some of the sugar has been consumed.
The verb depends on the noun:
Verb noun ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਬਦਲਦਾ ਹੈ:
- With plural countable nouns, we use a plural verb.
Plural countable nouns ਨਾਲ plural verb। - With singular uncountable nouns, we use a singular verb.
Singular uncountable nouns ਨਾਲ singular verb।
Some can also mean “uncertain or unknown.”
For example, Some man at the door is waiting.
It can also mean “a few” in sentences like I shall be back after some days.
Some ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਅਣਜਾਣਾ/ਕੋਈ” ਵੀ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: Some man at the door is waiting. → ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ‘ਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।
ਇਹ “ਕੁਝ” ਦੇ ਅਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: I shall be back after some days. → ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਾਪਸ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ।
After some, usually plural countable or singular uncountable nouns are used. But when it means “uncertain/unknown,” it can also be followed by a singular noun.
ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ some ਦੇ ਬਾਅਦ plural countable ਜਾਂ singular uncountable nouns ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਪਰ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਸਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਅਣਜਾਣਾ/ਅਣਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ” ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ singular noun ਵੀ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
Words formed with Some
- Somebody → a person/ਕੋਈ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ
- Someone → someone/anyone/ਕੋਈ ਨ ਕੋਈ
- Something → an object/ਕੋਈ ਵਸਤੂ
- Somehow → in some way/ਕਿਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ
- Someplace → somewhere/ਕਿਸੇ ਥਾਂ
- Sometime → at some time/ਕਿਸੇ ਸਮੇਂ
- Sometimes → occasionally/ਕਦੇ‑ਕਦੇ
- Somewhat → partly, a little/ਕੁਝ‑ਕੁਝ
- Somewhere → at some place/ਕਿਸੇ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ
Rule (11): Use of Any
Any means “anyone, anything, or a few.” It is used as an indefinite pronoun to show number.
Any ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਕੋਈ ਵੀ, ਕੁਝ, ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ indefinite pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, You can meet any of these heroes or You can buy any of these pens.
As an indefinite numeral adjective, any is used in the sense of “anyone, some, anyhow, in any way.” It is used in negative sentences or affirmative interrogative sentences before singular or plural nouns.
Indefinite numeral adjective ਵਜੋਂ any ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਕੋਈ ਵੀ, ਕੁਝ, ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ negative ਵਾਕਾਂ ਜਾਂ affirmative interrogative ਵਾਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ singular ਜਾਂ plural noun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, Can you give me any book? (singular noun) and Can you give me any books? (plural noun).
As an adverb, any means “more, further, or a little more.” It is used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences.
Adverb ਵਜੋਂ any ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਹੋਰ, ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ, ਥੋੜਾ ਹੋਰ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ negative, interrogative ਅਤੇ conditional ਵਾਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, We are too tired to go any further or Is your mother any better?
Words formed with any include:
- Anybody → anyone/ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ
- Anyone → anyone/ਕੋਈ ਵੀ
- Anything → any thing or matter/ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਚੀਜ਼/ਗੱਲ
- Anyhow → in any way, carelessly/ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ, ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ ਨਾਲ
- Anyway → somehow, in some manner/ਕਿਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ, ਕਿਸੇ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ
- Anywhere → at any place/ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਥਾਂ
- At any rate / in any case → in every situation, no matter what/ਹਰ ਹਾਲਤ ਵਿੱਚ, ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ
Rule (12): Use of Most
Most means “majority” or “almost all.” It is used as an indefinite pronoun to show number or quantity. For number, it is used with plural countable nouns, and for quantity, it is used with singular uncountable nouns.
Most ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਅਧਿਕਤਰ” ਜਾਂ “ਲਗਭਗ ਸਭ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ indefinite pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਗਿਣਤੀ ਲਈ ਇਹ plural countable nouns ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਲਈ singular uncountable nouns ਨਾਲ।
For example, Most of the boys are absent in the class shows number, and Most of the money has been spent shows quantity.
The verb depends on the noun:
Verb noun ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਬਦਲਦਾ ਹੈ:
- Most of + plural countable noun → plural verb.
- Most of + singular uncountable noun → singular verb.
As an adjective, most is the superlative degree of much and means “the greatest” or “maximum.”
Adjective ਵਜੋਂ most “much” ਦੀ superlative degree ਹੈ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ” ਜਾਂ “ਅਧਿਕਤਮ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, Who has done the most work?
As an adverb, most means “very much.”
Adverb ਵਜੋਂ most ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, What is worrying you most?
The word mostly is also used as an adverb meaning “generally, often, mainly.”
Mostly ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਅਧਿਕਤਰ, ਮੁੱਖ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: He is mostly absent. → ਉਹ ਅਧਿਕਤਰ ਗੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, He is mostly absent.
There are also common phrases with most:
Most ਨਾਲ ਕੁਝ ਆਮ phrases ਹਨ:
- At the most → maximum/ਅਧਿਕਤਮ
- Almost / for the most part → mostly, generally/ਅਧਿਕਤਰ, ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ
- To make the most of → to use something in the best way/ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਲਾਭ ਲੈਣਾ
Rule (13): Use of Enough
Enough means “sufficient” or “plenty.” It can be used as an indefinite pronoun, but more commonly it is used as an adjective or adverb. It shows number or quantity.
Enough ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਕਾਫ਼ੀ” ਜਾਂ “ਪਰਯਾਪਤ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ indefinite pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਵੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਇਹ adjective ਜਾਂ adverb ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, He has sent me enough of the milk shows quantity, and She has seen enough of the actors shows number.
As an adjective, enough means “sufficient” and is used before nouns to show number or quantity.
Adjective ਵਜੋਂ enough ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਪਰਯਾਪਤ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ noun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆ ਕੇ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, I have enough milk to drink (quantity) and There are enough boys in my class (number).
As an adverb, enough means “as much as needed” or “very much.”
Adverb ਵਜੋਂ enough ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਜਿਤਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ” ਜਾਂ “ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, The rice is not boiled enough and You know well enough what I mean.
Sometimes enough is used as a noun meaning “sufficiency.”
ਕਈ ਵਾਰ enough noun ਵਜੋਂ ਵੀ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਪਰਯਾਪਤਾ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, I have done more than enough.
There is also a phrase sure enough, which means “certainly” or “without doubt.”
ਇੱਕ phrase sure enough ਵੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ” ਜਾਂ “ਬਿਨਾਂ ਸੰਦੇਹ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, He is sure enough to get through the examination.
Rule (14): Use of A few
A few means “some” or “a small number.” It is used as an indefinite pronoun to show number.
A few ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਕੁਝ” ਜਾਂ “ਥੋੜੇ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ indefinite pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, A few of these pens are old and A few of us have seen the Red Fort.
Mostly, a few is used as an adjective to describe nouns.
ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ a few noun ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਲਈ adjective ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, He is a man of few words means he speaks very little.
So, a few always refers to a small number of people or things.
ਇਸ ਲਈ, a few ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਛੋਟੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Rule (15): Use of Much
Much means “a lot” or “very much.” It can be used as a noun or pronoun, but most commonly it is used as an adjective before singular uncountable nouns to show large quantity.
Much ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਬਹੁਤ ਕੁਝ” ਜਾਂ “ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ noun ਜਾਂ pronoun ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਇਹ adjective ਵਜੋਂ singular uncountable nouns ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਵੱਡੀ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਦਰਸਾਈ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ।
For example, Much food has been consumed.
Examples:
- Much depends on what he says. → Here much is a noun./ਇੱਥੇ much noun ਹੈ।
- Much of what he says is true. → Here much is a pronoun./ਇੱਥੇ much pronoun ਹੈ।
- He does not know much about me. → Here much is an adverb./ਇੱਥੇ much adverb ਹੈ।
- Much food has been consumed. → Here much is an adjective with singular uncountable noun./ਇੱਥੇ much adjective ਹੈ।
As an adverb, much means “very” or “a lot.”
Adverb ਵਜੋਂ much ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ” ਜਾਂ “ਬਹੁਤ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
For example, She is much better today.
There are also common phrases with much:
Much ਨਾਲ ਕੁਝ ਆਮ phrases ਹਨ:
- This or that much → this much or that much/ਇਹਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਉਹਨਾ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ
- Make much of → to give importance/ਬਹੁਤ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਦੇਣਾ
- As much as → equal amount/ਉਤਨਾ ਹੀ / ਸਮਾਨ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਵਿੱਚ
- How much! → how much (in quantity)/ਕਿੰਨਾ (ਮਾਤਰਾ ਵਿੱਚ)
- Much of a size → almost the same size/ਲਗਭਗ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਆਕਾਰ ਦਾ
- Talking much → talkative/ਬਹੁਤ ਬੋਲਣ ਵਾਲਾ
- Too much → excessive, very large amount/ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ / ਅਤਿਅਧਿਕ
Rule (16): Use of Little
Little means “small, a little, very little, or less.” It is usually used as an adjective to show small size or small quantity.
Little ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਛੋਟਾ, ਥੋੜਾ, ਬਹੁਤ ਥੋੜਾ, ਘੱਟ” ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ adjective ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਛੋਟੀ ਮਾਤਰਾ ਜਾਂ ਛੋਟਾ ਆਕਾਰ ਦਰਸਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ।
For example:
- Please stay a little time here. → short time/ਇੱਥੇ ਕੁਝ ਸਮਾਂ ਰਹੋ।
- I saw a little boy. → small boy/ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਛੋਟੇ ਮੁੰਡੇ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਿਆ।
- You have done very little for me. → very less help/ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਬਹੁਤ ਘੱਟ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
- He knows a little of everything. → knows something of everything/ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਚੀਜ਼ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੁਝ‑ਕੁਝ ਪਤਾ ਹੈ।
There are also common phrases with little:
Little ਨਾਲ ਕੁਝ ਆਮ phrases ਹਨ:
- A little rather → somewhat/ਥੋੜਾ ਬਹੁਤ
- A little while → for a short time/ਥੋੜੀ ਦੇਰ
- Little known → not famous/ਅਣਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ / ਘੱਟ ਜਾਣਿਆ
Rule (17): Use of One (as “one in number”)
When one means “one in number,” we use third person singular pronouns according to gender:
ਜਦੋਂ one ਦਾ ਅਰਥ “ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ” ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ third person singular pronoun ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ gender ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਬਦਲਦਾ ਹੈ:
- Masculine → he, him, his, himself
- Feminine → she, her, hers, herself
- Neuter → it, its, itself
Examples:
- One of us has given up one’s honesty. Wrong)
- One of us has given up his honesty. (Correct — masculine pronoun)
- One of the girls has gotten 80% marks in his examination. (Wrong)
- One of the girls has gotten 80% marks in her examination. (Correct — feminine pronoun)
- This is one of the books which have their own recognition. (Wrong)
- This is one of the books which have its own recognition. (Correct — neuter pronoun)
So, the pronoun must match the gender of the noun being referred to.
ਇਸ ਲਈ, pronoun ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਉਸ noun ਦੇ gender ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।