Indefinite pronouns Startblock Pronouns that refer to an unknown or nonspecific person or thing are called indefinite pronouns.

Indefinite pronouns Two indefinite pronouns that refer to people are jemand (someone) and niemand (no one). Use the ending -en for the accusative case and -em for the dative. Jemand hat seinen Personalausweis an der Passkontrolle vergessen. Someone left his I.D. card at passport control. Herr Klein will mit niemandem sprechen. Mr. Klein doesn’t want to speak with anyone.

Indefinite pronouns To talk about indefinite things, use alles (everything), etwas (something), or nichts (nothing). Etwas and nichts do not change in different cases; alles is declined like the neuter definite article das. Wir haben noch nichts gegessen. We haven’t eaten anything yet. Ich habe alles ins Handgepäck gepackt. I packed everything in the carry-on. Möchten Sie etwas zu trinken bestellen? Would you like to order something to drink? Meine Schwester kann dir mit allem helfen. My sister can help you with everything.

ACHTUNG Indefinite pronouns In conversation, etwas may be shortened to was. Ex.: Kann ich dich was fragen? — Remember that man is singular. When man is the subject, always use a verb in the third-person singular.

Use the pronoun man to talk about people in general. Indefinite pronouns Use the pronoun man to talk about people in general. Man darf im Flugzeug nicht rauchen. You’re not allowed to smoke on an airplane. In Liechtenstein spricht man Deutsch. In Liechtenstein they speak German. In Hamburg ist man froh, wenn es im Winter nicht zu viel schneit. In Hamburg we’re happy if it doesn’t snow too much in winter Man soll zwei Stunden vor dem Abflug am Flughafen sein. One should be at the airport two hours before departure.