Use Singular Verbs With Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to unspecific people or things. The following indefinite pronouns are all grammatically singular, even if some of them seem to have a plural meaning:

anybody everybody no one
anyone everyone nothing
anything everything somebody
each neither someone
either nobody something

image what I am talking about.

image Each of my family members are that way — except me.

image image that way — except me.

Note that when each follows a plural pronoun or noun, it is not an indefinite pronoun but a modifier, and the verb should be plural.

image

Note that when neither is paired with nor — as in “Neither my mother nor my brothers ask for help” — these words are not indefinite pronouns but conjunctions joining alternative subjects. The number of the verb should match the number of the subject closer to the verb.