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:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/pronoun_indefinite.rst
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.. _pronoun_indefinite:
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Pronoun Indefinite
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==================
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Summary
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-------
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An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person(s) or thing(s) in general but not to any specific person or thing in
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particular. In English, they are usually translated as "whoever” (in reference to persons) or "whatever" (when referring to
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things).
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Article
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-------
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Biblical Aramaic contains two indefinite pronouns, the pronoun מִי (in reference to persons) and the pronoun מָה
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(in reference to things). These pronouns can also as :ref:`interrogative pronoun<pronoun_interrogative>`, especially when they
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appear at the beginning of a clause/sentence. However, this is not a universal rule; the specific use of these pronouns must
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always be determined from the context. Indefinite pronouns function in a sentence almost exactly like a
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:ref:`relative pronoun<pronoun_relative>` (see examples below).
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Form
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----
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Indefinite pronouns do not change their form based on number, gender, or person. However, the vowels can change depending on the
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vocalization of the word immediately following the pronoun.
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Examples
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--------
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Personal indefinite pronoun (מִי)
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 7:3
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מִֽי־יָרֵ֣א
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**mi**-yare
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**Who**\ \_fears
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**Whoever** is afraid
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.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 32:26
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מִ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י
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**mi** layhwah 'elay
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**Who** to-Yahweh to-me.
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"**Whoever** is on Yahweh's side, come to me"
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.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 21:26
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לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי **מִ֥י** עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה
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lo yada'ti **mi** 'asah 'eth-haddavar hazzeh
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Not I-know **who** did [dir.obj]\_the-thing the-this.
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I do not know **who** has done this thing.
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.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 32:33
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מִ֚י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטָא־לִ֔י
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**mi** 'asher hata-li
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**Who** which sinned\_to-me
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**Whoever** has sinned against me
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.. csv-table:: Example: JDG 10:18
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מִ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָחֵ֔ל לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן
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**mi** ha'ish 'asher yahel lehillahem bivne 'ammon
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**Who** the-man which begins to-fight with-sons-of Ammon?
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**Who** is the man who will begin to fight the Ammonites?
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Impersonal indefinite pronoun (מָה)
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 20:4
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מַה־תֹּאמַ֥ר נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ
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**mah**-ttomar nafshekha we'e'eseh-llakh
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**What**\ \_you-say my-soul and-I-will-do\_for-you.
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"**Whatever** you say, I will do for you."
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.. csv-table:: Example: NUM 23:3
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מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ
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**mah**-yyar'eni wehiggadti lakh
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**What**\ \_he-shows-me and-I-will-tell to-you.
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**Whatever** he shows me I will tell you.
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.. csv-table:: Example: ECC 3:15
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מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא
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**mah**-shehayah kevar hu
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**What**\ \_which-exists already it
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**Whatever** exists has already existed
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