MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a plural indefinite pronoun?

1. Few

2. Many

3. Somebody

4. Both

The correct answer is: Somebody

The correct answer is based on the understanding of indefinite pronouns and their usage in sentences. Plural indefinite pronouns are those that refer to a non-specific quantity or number of items or people and are inherently plural in form, which means they refer to more than one entity. "Few" and "many" are plural indefinite pronouns because they refer to an unspecified number of items or people, indicating more than one. "Both" is also a plural indefinite pronoun, as it directly refers to two entities. In contrast, "somebody" is considered a singular indefinite pronoun. It refers to one individual, without specifying who that person is. Therefore, "somebody" does not function in a plural context, which distinguishes it from the other options. Understanding this distinction helps clarify why "somebody" is the correct choice for what is NOT a plural indefinite pronoun.