indefinites
Words like "some"
Indefinites are words that refer to unspecified persons, things, quantities, or times.
The category includes pronouns like *someone*, *anything*, *nobody*, and *several*, as well as determiners like *some*, *any*, and *few*.
Someone left their umbrella.
I'll take any seat.
The term captures their shared function: pointing without specifying exactly what or who.
Indefinite quantity
various · numerous · countless · multiple · diverse · plenty · myriad · multitude
Unnamed individual
- anyoneUnspecified person
- somebodyUnidentified individual
- anybodyUnspecified individual
- somethingAn unspecified object or matter
anything · everyone · everybody · everything · nothing · nobody · no one · whoever
Not explicitly named
- nonspecificNot clearly defined
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- unnamedNot identified or specified
- unknownNot yet discovered
generic · general · approximate · imprecise · inexact · ambiguous · unclear · unidentified
Uncertain and provisional
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- unresolvedLacking final determination
- undecidedNot having chosen
questionable · doubtful · iffy · uncertain · open-ended · contingent · conditional · pending
Written piece or grammatical word
- determinerNoun-introducing word class
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- quantifierWord expressing amount
- modifierWord altering another
specifier · antecedent · referent · anaphora · syntax · partitive · distributive · existential
some
Indefinite quantity
few · various · numerous · countless · multiple · diverse · plenty · myriad · multitude · sundry
someone
Unnamed individual
something · anything · everyone · everybody · everything · nothing · nobody · no one · whoever · whatever
unspecified
Not explicitly named
- nonspecificNot clearly defined
- indeterminateNot exactly known
- unnamedNot identified or specified
unknown · generic · general · approximate · imprecise · inexact · ambiguous · unclear · unidentified · nondescript
tentative
Uncertain and provisional
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- unresolvedLacking final determination
undecided · questionable · doubtful · iffy · uncertain · open-ended · contingent · conditional · pending · inconclusive
article
Written piece or grammatical word
- determinerNoun-introducing word class
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- quantifierWord expressing amount
modifier · specifier · antecedent · referent · anaphora · syntax · partitive · distributive · existential · universal
indefinitesdefinites
Things known for sure
particulars · definite articles · the · specifics · demonstratives
indefinitesuniversals
Properties holding across all
cardinal numbers · numerals · all · every · each
- indefinite articleGrammar's "a" or "an"
- indefinite detentionImprisonment without set duration
- indefinite leaveAbsence with no return date
- indefinite postponementDelay lacking set endpoint