Indefinite Pronouns & Determiners in French
What are indefinite pronouns and determiners?
A pronoun replaces a noun (or a noun phrase) in a sentence, while a determiner accompanies the noun to add information. Once classified as adjectives, determiners are now considered a category of their own. There are different types of pronouns and determiners. Here, we will focus on the indefinite forms.
Indefinite pronouns and determiners (pronoms et déterminants indéfinis) are used when the person or thing is not identified precisely. They allow us to speak in a general way. Tout, personne, rien, chaque, chacun and quelque chose are examples.
- Example:
- Où est donc passé tout le monde ?Where has everyone gone?
- the determiner tout accompanies the noun phrase le monde
- Ils ont tous disparu.They have all disappeared.
- the pronoun tous replaces the noun phrase tout le monde
Learn how to use the indefinite pronouns and determiners in French grammar with Lingolia’s quick and easy examples, then put your knowledge to the test in the free exercises.
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Je suis perdu. Rien ne me semble familier. Tout semble différent.
Il n’y a personne dans la rue. J’aimerais vraiment demander à quelqu’un de m’indiquer le chemin pour retourner au centre ville. Mais il n’y a aucun passant, aucune passante ici qui pourrait m’aider. On dirait que tout le monde a disparu.
Chaque rue se ressemble. Mais, bien sûr, toutes vont dans différentes directions.
Je crois que j’ai entendu quelque chose. Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un ? Je ferais n’importe quoi pour retourner au centre ville.
How to use indefinite pronouns in French
Indefinite pronouns (pronoms indéfinis) stand alone — they do not accompany a noun; they stand in place of one.
Some indefinite pronouns are variable: they agree in number and gender with the thing or person they are referring to. The variable indefinite pronouns include, for example: chacun, quelqu’un.
- Examples:
- J’aimerais vraiment demander à quelqu’un de m’indiquer le chemin pour retourner au centre ville. I’d really like to ask someone to show me the way back to town.
- Toutes ces rues se ressemblent mais chacune conduit dans une direction différente. All these roads look the same but each one leads in a different direction.
Some indefinite pronouns are invariable, such as personne, rien, quelque chose, n’importe que/n’importe quoi.
- Examples:
- Il n’y a personne dans la rue. There is no one on the street.
- Je crois que j’ai entendu quelque chose. I think I heard something.
- Je ferais n’importe quoi pour retourner au centre ville. I’d do anything to get back to town.
How to use indefinite determiners in French
Indefinite determiners (déterminants indéfinis) always come directly before a noun and modify the noun they accompany.
Some indefinite determiners are variable: they agree in number and gender with the noun they are modifying. Such examples include: aucun, tout, quelque, quelconque, différent, divers, certain, n’importe quel.
- Examples:
- Il n’y aucun passant, aucune passante ici qui pourrait m’aider. There isn’t a single passerby here who could help me.
- Toutes ces rues vont dans différentes directions. All these roads go in different directions.
Some indefinite determiners are invariable, such as chaque, plusieurs.
- Examples:
- Chaque rue se ressemble. Every road looks the same.
- Plusieurs rues vont dans la même direction. Several roads go in the same direction.
Tout as a determiner, pronoun or adverb
Tout is used very often in French. It can be used as an indefinite determiner, an indefinite pronoun, or as an indefinite adverb.
- Examples:
- On dirait que tout le monde a disparu. It feels like everyone has disappeared.
- On dirait que tous ont disparu. It feels like everyone has disappeared.
- Paul est tout perdu. Paul is completely lost.
As an indefinite determiner, tout always comes directly before a noun and agrees in number and gender with the noun it is modifying.
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | tout | tous |
| Feminine | toute | toutes |
If tout is not placed directly before the noun (but is separated from it by an article, a demonstrative determiner, or a possessive determiner), it means “all” or “completely”.
- Examples:
- Toutes les rues se ressemblent. All the roads look the same.
- Toutes ces rues se ressemblent. All these roads look the same.
If tout comes directly before the noun, it means every/each/any.
- Example:
- Toute aide serait bienvenue. Any help would be welcome.
As an indefinite pronoun, tout always stands alone — without a noun — and means “everything”. In addition, tout as an indefinite pronoun has only three different forms: tous/toutes (for people), tout (= everything).
- Example:
- Tout se ressemble. Everything looks the same.
- Les passants ont tous disparu. The passersby have all disappeared.
- Chaque rue se ressemble. Mais, bien sûr, toutes vont dans différentes directions. Every road looks the same. But, of course, they all lead in different directions.
