Grammar
Name
Indefinite Pronouns
and Singular Verbs
• An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a particular person,
place, or thing.
• Use a singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun, such
as anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone,
everything, nobody, nothing, somebody, someone, or something.
Read each sentence. Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly
completes the sentence and write it on the line provided.
1. Everybody (is, are) hoping to attend the bicycle race today.
2. Each of the riders (is, are) ready.
3. Everything (need, needs) to be cleaned up on the racing track.
4. Somebody (deliver, delivers) water to the racers as they ride.
5. If anyone (ask, asks), I am rooting for my sister, Samantha.
Change the singular or plural verb in each sentence so that it
agrees with the indefinite pronoun. Then rewrite the sentence.
6. Somebody must helps me set up the beverage cart.
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
7. Everyone agree that it is a perfect day for cycling.
8. No one are more excited than I about the race.
9. Nothing seem impossible today.
10. Everybody wait for the race to begin.
At Home: Have the student find and underline indefinite
pronouns in a newspaper or magazine article.
Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4
115
Grammar
Name
Indefinite Pronouns
and Plural Verbs
• Use a plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun, such as both,
few, many, others, or several.
Read each sentence. Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly
completes the sentence and write it on the line provided.
1. Many of us (enjoys, enjoy) cycling.
2. A few (rides, ride) every morning.
3. Both of them (wishes, wish) to win the cycling tournament.
4. Several of the riders (trains, train) with a coach.
5. Others (likes, like) to train on their own.
Circle the indefinite pronoun. Write S if the indefinite pronoun is
singular. Write P if the indefinite pronoun is plural.
6. A few of the riders wear special riding gloves.
7. Others have special riding helmets.
8. Somebody is here from the newspaper to cover the story.
9. The reporter said there was something exciting about every race.
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
10. Many cannot get seats and are standing on the grass.
116 Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4
At Home: Have the student choose five of the indefinite
pronouns above and write sentences using them.
Grammar
Name
Mechanics:
Using Hyphens
• Use a hyphen to show the division of a word at the end of a
line. Divide the word between syllables.
• Use a hyphen in numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine
and in some other compound words.
Rewrite each word, using hyphens between syllables. Check your
work in a dictionary, if necessary.
1. basement
9. police
2. toward
10. English
3. vacation
11. carbon
4. happening
12. homemade
5. pacific
13. loyalty
6. fanciful
14. innocence
7. margarine
15. Titanic
8. cabin
Use hyphens to write each number as words.
16. #99
17. #58
18. #35
19. #89
20. #76
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
21. #39
22. #22
23. #51
24. #68
At Home: Have the student write six lines of a newspaper
story about a bicycle race. Have him or her hyphenate a
word at the end of each line.
Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4
117
Grammar
Proofreading: Indefinite
Pronouns / Singular
and Plural Verbs
Name
• An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a particular person,
place, or thing.
• Use a singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun, such
as anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone,
everything, nobody, nothing, somebody, someone, or something.
• Use a plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun, such as both,
few, many, others, or several.
Proofread this news article. Then rewrite the article using the correct
singular or plural verb. Correct any mistakes in punctuation.
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Samantha Higgins, a twelve-year-old sixth grader from Memphis,
Tennessee won the 30K Cycling Championship today in this city. Many
fans believes that Samantha who completed the race in record time had
an advantage with her clipless pedals. Clipless pedals locks into a cleat in
the sole of a special cycling shoe. When asked what other tips she have for
riders, Samantha said “Everybody must checks cadence. Few winning riders
ignores maintenance. Everyone clean, lube and check the bike! Nobody ride
without a helmet. Ever.”
118 Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4
At Home: Have the student write a fictional news article
about how he or she won a race. Use at least three indefinite
pronouns.
Grammar
Name
Test: Pronouns
Read the first sentence of each set. One of the four sentences that
follows corrects the agreement between an indefinite pronoun and
its verb. Circle the letter of the correct sentence.
1. Each of the girls prefer this bike.
a. Change Each to Few.
b. Change Each to Every.
c. Change Each to One.
d. Change prefer to preferring.
2. Somebody like to ride each morning at dawn.
a. Change Somebody to Everyone.
b. Change Somebody to Each.
c. Change Somebody to Many.
d. Change Somebody to Nobody.
3. Everything about the race reminds cyclists that someone want to win.
a. Change reminds to remind.
b. Change want to wants.
c. Change someone to nobody.
d. Change someone to no one.
Circle the letter that best answers each of the following questions.
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
4. Which of the following statements about indefinite pronouns is true?
a. Indefinite pronouns, such as several, use a singular verb.
b. Indefinite pronouns take the place of certain people, places, or things.
c. Indefinite pronouns, such as everyone, use a plural verb.
d. Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a particular person, place, or thing.
5. Which of the following sentences contains an indefinite pronoun?
a. My bicycle has a flat tire.
b. Several have gone flat recently.
c. The broken bike is his.
d. She won the race by a slim margin.
6. Which of the following sentences uses an indefinite pronoun?
a. Most kids have the older model of the bike.
b. Few parents disagree that reflectors are necessary.
c. Everyone likes to ride around the park.
d. Several people think that blue is the best color for a bike.
Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4
119
Grammar
Name
Review: More
Indefinite Pronouns
• An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a particular person, place,
or thing.
• Use a singular verb with a singular indefinite pronoun, such as
anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything,
nobody, nothing, somebody, someone, or something.
• Use a plural verb with a plural indefinite pronoun, such as both, few,
many, others, or several.
The writer of this news article did not proofread for mistakes. Read
the article and then rewrite the article correcting any mistakes
made with indefinite pronouns, punctuation, or capitalization.
© Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
DATELINE MEMPHIS—Samantha Higgins returned to her home city
of memphis today wearing the gold medal for winning the Middle Grades
30K Cycling Championship in Atlanta last Saturday anybody who know
Samantha know that she puts her all into everything she does many believes
she will continue to win at cycling events around the country. each of her
teammates feel that Samantha deserved to win because of her commitment
to the sport. Congratulations, Sam! everyone wish you well?
120 Major Taylor •
Grade 6/ Unit 4