This lesson helps us understand what an indefinite adjective is, how many indefinite adjectives we have in English, and how to use them in a sentence.
What is an indefinite adjective in English?
An indefinite adjective is a word that comes before a noun and modifies it. It modifies the noun in a non-specific way, meaning it does not refer to a definite or specific number.
A list of indefinite adjectives in English:
- Some
- Many
- Plenty of
- Much
- More
- Less
- A lot of
- A few/the few
- Several
- Enough
- Other
- Little/a little/the little
Some people from an NGO came to meet you at the office.
In the example, the word ‘some’ works as an indefinite adjective as it modifies the noun ‘people’. It refers to an indefinite quantity of the noun. The quantity it refers to is considered good.
I have been to many countries, but the diversity that we see in India is unparalleled.
The word, in this example, modifies the noun ‘countries‘ by defining it with an uncertain quantity. The word ‘many’ refers to a large number of something.
Examples of an indefinite adjective
- Some people never learn from their mistakes.
- Many people signed up for the webinar, but only a few people came.
- We still have plenty of options if this does not work out.
- There is not much food left for you.
- This guy has more money than he actually needs.
- Please leave. I need fewer distractions.
- You showed less confidence in the meeting.
- We had a lot of time to get there in time, but we still got late.
- There are several companies that are into skill development training these days.
- I have given you enough chances to correct the mistake.
- This one might trouble you on the trip. Use the other car.
Indefinite adjectives that are used with countable nouns
- Some
- Many
- A lot of/lots of
- Several
- Plenty of
- More
- Several
- A few/the few
- Fewer
- More
- Other
Indefinite adjectives that are used with uncountable nouns
- Much
- Enough
- Less
- Little/a little/the little
Examples:
- The pasta tasted great even without putting much cheese in it.
- She gathered enough courage to face her fears.
- I like to have less milk in my tea.
- Show me a little sincerity about the situation.
Indefinite adjectives that are used with both countable and uncountable nouns
- A lot of/lots of
- Some
- Plenty of
- More
- Enough
Examples:
- He has a lot of experience with this work. (uncountable)
- A lot of artists came in her support. (countable)
- You need to have some courage to get out of the situation you are in. (uncountable)
- After college, I used to teach some kids. (countable)
- You have got plenty of meat on your plate. (uncountable)
- They wrote plenty of articles about our company. (countable)
- There is more milk in the fridge. (uncountable)
- We still have more papers to go through. Hurry up. (countable)
- We have had enough fun. Let’s go home now. (uncountable)
- We have been given enough chances to prove our worth. (countable)
Please note that the nouns being modified in these examples are underlined.
Indefinite adjective vs indefinite pronoun
Most of the words in the list above can function as both an adjective and a pronoun. As a pronoun, they don’t take a noun after them and stand alone.
- I bought a lot of new pants last month for charity. I still have some with me. (indefinite pronoun)
- We are looking for some writers. (indefinite adjective)
- Thousands of people joined the protest in the morning at the TED Mall. Many of them are still there. (indefinite pronoun)
- I gave him many ideas to get rich. (indefinite adjective)
- There were over 200 guests. Several of them are still in the hall.
- Several people were fired last month.
- You can eat this. I have more.
- Give me more water.
Notice that when these words function as an adjective, they have a noun after them that they modify. And when they function as a pronoun, they refer to a noun and stand alone. The nouns that the indefinite adjectives modify in these examples are underlined.
Not all indefinite pronouns can function as indefinite adjectives
- Someone
- Something
- Anyone
- Anything
- Everyone
- Everything
- No-one
- Nothing
Examples:
- Someone came to see you at the office an hour ago.
- I have everything that I need.
- Nothing is impossible.
These are words that function as indefinite pronouns; they don’t function as adjectives. Don’t consider them an indefinite adjective.
An indefinite adjective in famous quotes
- “I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” ― Marilyn Monroe
- “So many books, so little time.” ― Frank Zappa
- “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” ― Oscar Wilde
- A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ― William Shakespeare
- You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated. ― Maya Angelou
- “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember — the only taste of success some people get is to take a bite out of you.” ― Zig Ziglar
FAQs
What is an indefinite adjective?
An indefinite adjective is a word that comes before a noun and modifies it with an unspecific quantity. Ex – We need some bikes. Ex – She has got a lot of money.
What are 3 indefinite adjectives?
Examples of indefinite adjectives:
1. Many students are in support of the teacher.
2. Do you have some milk?
3. There’s plenty of time to do this.
4. They are asking for more money.
Is more an indefinite adjective?
Yes, the word ‘more’ is an indefinite adjective. Ex – More people are needed in this department.
How do you use indefinite adjectives in a sentence?
Indefinite adjectives are used to modify a noun with an unspecific quantity. It comes right before the noun it modifies. Ex – Many people still believe in ghosts. Ex – We needed a little motivation to pull that off. Ex – You put a lot of sugar in the tea.
Now, we know what an indefinite pronoun is and everything about it. Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.
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