Indefinite pronouns express something general or unspecific, rather than something concrete. When an indefinite pronoun is used, the subject or object of a sentence is not specifically defined.
Indefinite pronouns (unbestimmte Fürwörter) are used when referring to something or someone in general, as opposed to something or someone particular. They are used without another noun, but can refer back to a noun previously mentioned. Some of them do not change based on gender and case, some of them do.
1. “Etwas” and “Nichts”
The indefinite pronouns “etwas” (something) and “nichts” (nothing) do not change based on gender or case. If used as a subject pronoun, they conjugate the verb in the third person singular. “Etwas” and “nichts” are only used for things, but not for people.
Examples:
Nichts kann passieren. Nothing can happen.
Ich kann nichts verstehen. I can understand nothing.
In the first example, ‘nichts’ is the subject of the sentence, so the modal verb “können” is conjugated based on the third person singular. In the second example, “nichts” is the direct object (accusative), but it does not change.
2. “Man“
The indefinite pronoun “man” (one), is only used in the nominative case, and does not change based on gender. As a subject pronoun, it conjugates the verb based on the third person singular. Note: do not confuse “man” with “der Mann” (the man).
In the accusative it changes to “einen”, and in the dative to “einem” (regardless of gender).
Examples:
Man kann nichts verstehen. One can understand nothing.
Das macht einen müde. That makes one tired. (accusative)
Das kann einem passieren. That can happen to one (to anyone). (dative)
3. “Jemand” and “Niemand“
The indefinite pronouns “jemand” (someone) and “niemand” (no one) are only used in singular. They change based on case, but not based on gender. As the subject, they conjugate the verb based on the third person singular.
Examples:
Jemand kann mich sehen. Someone can see me. (Nominative)
Ich kann jemanden sehen. I can see someone. (Accusative)
Ich bringe niemandem etwas mit. I bring no one anything. (Dative)
4. Plural indefinite pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns can be used in the plural as well. They conjugate the verb in the third person plural form. These are:
“alle-” (all/everyone/everything), “einige-” (some), “mehrere-” (several), “manche-” (some) and “viel-” (many)
Some of them can also be used in such a way that they take singular endings, usually when they mean “-thing” (everything, something, etc). When used as “everything/something”, it takes neuter endings.
Examples:
Alle können Deutsch sprechen. Everyone can speak German (nominative, plural)
Ich sehe einige. I see some. (accusative, plural)
Er hat mit allem recht. He is right about (with) everything. (dative, singular)
5. “Jede-”
The indefinite pronoun “jede-” when used in the singular, follows the above declension table. If used in the plural, it changes to “alle”.
6. Indefinite articles
Indefinite articles can be used to refer back to something previously mentioned or to indicate something like “one (of those)”. Here we use the indefinite article and its case and gender specific declension table.
Examples:
Ein Mann sitzt im Café. – Ja, da sitzt einer.
A man sits in the cafe. Yes, there is one sitting there.
In this example “einer” refers back to “ein Mann”, which is a masculine, singular noun in the nominative.
Autos fliegen nicht. – Doch, da fliegt eins!
Cars don’t fly. Sure, there’s one flying there!
In this example, “eins” refers to “das Auto”, which is a neuter, singular noun in the nominative.
In German, the indefinite pronouns jemand (meaning someone, somebody) and niemand (meaning no-one, nobody) are often used in speech without any endings. The indefinite pronoun keiner has the same endings as the article kein, keine, kein except in the nominative masculine and nominative and accusative neuter forms, and can be used to refer to people or things. The indefinite pronoun einer (meaning one) only has a singular form and can also be used to refer to people or things. Check out some more…