Indefinite Adjectives: List, Examples and Rules
Indefinite adjectives describe a noun in a general, non-specific way: they tell you roughly how many or how much, or which ones without naming them. Common examples are some, any, many, much, few, little, several, all, both, each, every, either, neither, other, another, enough and no – as in “Several students left early” or “Is there any milk?”
They are a kind of adjective (many grammars call them determiners), and they always come before the noun. The real work is choosing the right one: much or many, few or a few, each or every. This page sorts them by the nouns they go with, then covers the pairs that trip people up.
List of indefinite adjectives, by the noun they go with
| Goes with | Indefinite adjectives | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular countable nouns | each, every, either, neither, another, any, one | Every room has a window. |
| Plural countable nouns | many, few, a few, fewer, several, both, other, various, numerous | Several trains were late. |
| Uncountable nouns | much, little, a little, less | There’s little time left. |
| Plural and uncountable nouns | some, any, all, most, more, enough, no, a lot of, plenty of | Some people / some water. |
If you’re unsure whether a noun is countable, see countable and uncountable nouns – it decides most of the choices below.
Examples in sentences
- Some guests stayed until midnight.
- Do you have any questions?
- Many shops close on Sundays.
- We don’t have much money this month.
- Few people noticed the mistake.
- I’ve got a little time before the meeting.
- Several trees fell in the storm.
- All children need sleep.
- Both answers are correct.
- Each player gets two cards.
- Every seat was taken.
- You can park on either side of the street.
- Neither option is cheap.
- Would you like another cup?
- Other students finished sooner.
- Is there enough food for everyone?
- No tickets are left.
Indefinite adjective or indefinite pronoun?
Most of these words can also stand alone as pronouns. The test is simple: is there a noun right after it?
| Adjective (noun follows) | Pronoun (stands alone) |
|---|---|
| Some cakes were burnt. | Some were burnt. |
| Many visitors complained. | Many complained. |
| I’ll take either seat. | I’ll take either. |
| Each student has a locker. | Each has a locker. |
Three forms work only one way. Every and no need a noun (“every day”, “no time”); as pronouns you use everyone / every one and none. None never comes before a noun: “None students” is wrong – say “No students” or “None of the students”.
Distributive adjectives: each, every, either, neither
Four indefinite adjectives – each, every, either, neither – are often called distributive adjectives, because they look at the members of a group one at a time. They share one rule: a singular noun and a singular verb.
- Each – one by one, in a group of two or more: “Each twin has a different laugh.”
- Every – all members, in a group of three or more: “Every student needs a password.” (For a pair, use each or both: “each twin”, not “every twin” when you mean the two of them.)
- Either – one or the other of two: “Either date works for me.”
- Neither – not one and not the other of two: “Neither answer is right.”
Each or every? They often swap, but each stresses the individuals (“each child got a different gift”), and every stresses the whole set (“every child got a gift”). Only every works with almost, nearly and with time patterns like “every three days”.
Pairs that cause most mistakes
Much or many
Many with plural countable nouns (“many books”), much with uncountable nouns (“much traffic”). In positive statements, everyday English usually prefers a lot of: “There’s a lot of traffic” sounds more natural than “There’s much traffic.”
Few or a few, little or a little
The article changes the attitude. A few / a little = some, enough (positive). Few / little = not many, not enough (negative).
- “I have a few friends in town, so I won’t be lonely.” – some friends.
- “I have few friends in town, so I’m often lonely.” – almost none.
- “There’s a little soup left – want some?” / “There’s little hope of finishing today.”
Fewer or less
Traditionally, fewer with countable nouns (“fewer cars”) and less with uncountable ones (“less noise”). The full story, including “10 items or less”, is on fewer versus less.
Some or any
Some in positive statements and in offers or requests (“Would you like some tea?”); any in negatives and most questions (“We don’t have any tea”; “Is there any tea?”). Any in a positive sentence means “it doesn’t matter which”: “Take any seat.”
Another or other
Another (an + other) takes a singular noun: “another chance”. Other takes a plural or uncountable noun: “other chances”, “other information”. With the: “the other side”.
No or not any
“There are no buses” and “There aren’t any buses” mean the same. Don’t combine them: “There aren’t no buses” is a double negative (see double negatives).
Where they go in a noun phrase
Indefinite adjectives come first, before descriptive adjectives: “several old wooden chairs”, “some fresh bread”. Only all and both can come before the, a possessive or a demonstrative: “all the cake”, “both my sisters”, “all these boxes”. You can’t say “the some books” or “my many friends” in the ordinary sense – though “my many friends” is possible as a deliberate, slightly formal phrase. For the order of the descriptive words after them, see the adjective order rule.
How they differ from other limiting adjectives
- Quantitative adjectives also answer “how much?” – the two groups overlap (some, much, enough). Exact numbers (three, first) are definite, not indefinite.
- Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) point to specific things – the opposite of indefinite.
- Possessive adjectives (my, your, their) say whose.
- Interrogative adjectives (which, what, whose) ask.
Practice
A. Choose the correct word.
- There isn’t (much / many) sugar left.
- (Every / Each) of the two doors was locked.
- I know (a few / few) good restaurants near here – let’s try one.
- Would you like (another / other) slice?
- (Neither / Either) answer is correct – both have a mistake.
- (No / None) students were absent.
- The kitchen has (less / fewer) cupboards than I expected.
Answers: 1 much (sugar is uncountable). 2 Each (two doors; every needs three or more, and every can’t be followed by of). 3 a few (positive). 4 another (singular). 5 Neither. 6 No (none can’t come before a noun). 7 fewer (countable).
B. Adjective or pronoun? Underline the indefinite word and decide.
- Several were broken.
- Both teams played well.
- I’d like some.
- Any colour will do.
Answers: 1 pronoun, 2 adjective (before teams), 3 pronoun, 4 adjective (before colour).
Quick answers
What is an indefinite adjective? A word like some, many, few, any or several that describes a noun without being specific about number or identity.
Is “some” an adjective or a pronoun? Both. “Some people” – adjective; “Some left early” – pronoun.
Are “each” and “every” indefinite adjectives? Yes; together with either and neither they are also called distributive adjectives, and all four take a singular noun.
Are numbers indefinite adjectives? No. “Three cats” is exact, so three is a definite (numeral) adjective. “Several cats” is indefinite.
Checked against Merriam-Webster, the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook. Spotted an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
