What Are Indefinite Nouns?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
What Are Indefinite Nouns?
We use nouns in American English to identify persons, places, things, states of being, and qualities. Our noun references might also be specific or nonspecific.
Examples
I saw the car. (specific)
I saw the BMW four-door sedan. (specific)
I saw a car. (nonspecific)
In the first sentence, we explain we saw a particular car. It might have been the only car, or it could have been a distinctive car among others. In the second example, we offer more information than just having seen a car: We provide the make and type as well.
In the third sentence, we state having seen a car and offer no information beyond that. Such noun references have a grammatical category.
What Is an Indefinite Noun?
Nonspecific nouns are also known as indefinite nouns.
An indefinite noun identifies one or some of many possibilities of a word instead of a known or given reference. The noun is generic or open in what it conveys.
Examples
Jennifer is writing a book.
Esther remembers most of their names.
Tariq is designing a building.
Once again we are referring to nouns that supply general rather than specific or familiar information.
While indefinite nouns are among the most basic of grammatical categories, understanding what they are allows us to apply certain nouns in their proper context. This distinction is particularly relevant during our language acquisition as children.
Indefinite Nouns and Common Nouns
Indefinite nouns are a subset of common nouns. A common noun refers to the general name or category of something or someone, such as spoon, guitar, patio, cabinet, and window. Most English nouns are common nouns.
Common nouns can be both definite and indefinite nouns.
Examples
Jennifer is writing a book [indefinite] about the art [definite] of guitar-making.
A tall boy [indefinite] is among the children [definite] playing in the park [definite].
The computer [definite] is a marvel [indefinite] of modern technology.
Indefinite Nouns and Indefinite Articles
One thing you may have already noticed is that many indefinite nouns are preceded by the indefinite articles a or an:
| a car | a building |
| an art | an olive |
Similar to indefinite nouns, indefinite articles signal to us that what follows is not specific. If we include the article the, we no longer have an indefinite noun but rather one that is distinct.
| the car | the building |
| the art | the olive |
Indefinite Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite nouns can sometimes be confused with indefinite pronouns, which are words that substitute for unknown nouns (i.e., people, places, things). The following are some examples of indefinite pronouns:
| anybody | everyone | someone |
| anyone | everything | something |
Anybody can cut a ham sandwich in half.
Everyone at the concert had a great time.
Everything they say about butterscotch-flavored toothpaste is true.
Does anyone want a ride in my leer jet?
The door won’t properly close. Can someone fix the door jamb?
Something about that propeller cap you’re wearing makes me want one too.
Clearly we can see the difference between these sentences and those with indefinite or definite nouns.
Jamie can cut a ham sandwich in half. (definite [proper noun])
The boys at the concert had a great time. (definite)
An observation they say about butterscotch-flavored toothpaste is true. (indefinite)
Does an executive want a ride in my leer jet? (indefinite)
The door won’t properly close. Can Martin fix the door jamb? (definite [proper noun])
An aspect about that propeller cap you’re wearing makes me want one too. (indefinite noun)
Some words also can be either indefinite nouns or indefinite pronouns depending on the context.
Few can say they have scaled the Eiffel Tower. (indefinite pronoun)
A few have tried to scale the Eiffel Tower, but only one has succeeded. (indefinite noun)
Pop Quiz
Identify the indefinite nouns (not pronouns) in the following sentences.
1. Shane bought a t-shirt at the concert.
2. Can anybody here bring me the shake that I ordered?
3. A luxury SUV is parked in front of the Hills’ house.
4. The shoppers can purchase a few at the book fair.
5. It’s interesting that Zhou would like an armadillo for a pet.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Shane bought a t-shirt at the concert.
2. Can anybody here bring me the shake that I ordered? no indefinite nouns
3. A luxury SUV is parked in front of the Hills’ house.
4. The shoppers can purchase a few at the book fair.
5. It’s interesting that Zhou would like an armadillo for a pet.
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
What about when seemingly definite nouns are indefinite in meaning? I’m thinking of the following book titles:
The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity (Timothy C. Winegard)
The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator (Timothy C. Winegard)
The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance (Henry Petroski)
Clearly, the authors are writing about horses, mosquitoes, and pencils in general rather than about one particular specimen of each. Is there a grammar term for such cases (when a noun is preceded by a definite article but is referring to an indefinite group as a whole)? How would we classify such nouns as written in these book titles—as definite or indefinite? Just curious!
In each of your examples, the noun is still definite in referring to a class of objects as a collectively singular whole, e.g., in its totality, the history of humanity resembles (analogously) one galloping horse.
I see—thank you!