Wir Ain Leed

Indefinite Pronouns

  1. The relative indefinite refers to no particular person and in Scots it is a body but ane may also be used as an indefinite pronoun.
    Note that in Scots a living or dead body is usually referred to as the bouk, a dead body is also a corp, plural corpse.

    That daes a body guid.
    That does one good.
    Gin a body trysts a body.
    If one visits someone.
    A body's sel.
    One's self.
    A body wadna skaithe thairsel.
    One wouldn't injure oneself.
    Thare's ane comin doun the street nou.
    There is someone coming down the street now.

  2. Thaim is also used indefinitely.

    Thaim that wants tae eat parritch can eat parritch.
    Those who wish to eat porridge may eat porridge.
    Gie't back til thaim that's aucht it.
    Give it back to whom it belongs.

  3. Other indefinite pronouns are:

    awbody everyone onybody anyone
    aw that and so forth onything anything
    awthing everything some some
    ilk ane each (one) somebody someone
    ocht anything something something

    Ilk ane o ye tak a gun.
    Each one of you take a gun.
    Awthing's ill.
    Everything is bad.
    Dae ye hae ocht for me?
    Do you have anything for me?
    Something wis makkin a sair dirdum.
    Something was making a terrible noise.

    Daes onybody ken whaur ma breeks is?
    Does anyone know where my trousers are?

    Awbody's wantin tae gang til the dance the morn's nicht.
    Everyone wants to go to the dance tomorrow night.
    Is thare onything guid at the picturs the nicht?
    Is anything good on at the cinema this evening?

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