indefinitesimple

Indefinitesimple is a term used in some linguistic descriptions to designate a subset of indefinites that appear in their simplest, unmodified form. In this usage, indefinitesimple refers to single-word expressions that introduce non-specific referents and function as the head of a nominal phrase or as a stand-alone pronoun or determiner. The concept highlights the contrast between simple indefinites and more complex indefinite constructions that are formed with additional modifiers, embedded clauses, or compound morphology.

Key features commonly associated with indefinitesimple include their non-referential or non-specific interpretation, their ability to introduce new discourse referents, and their tendency to behave as minimal units in syntax. They often carry little or no explicit definiteness or specificity and can be used across a range of syntactic positions, such as subjects, objects, or adverbial modifiers, depending on the language.

Cross-linguistic patterns show that indefinitesimple forms vary in form and function. In English, simple indefinites include words like somebody, something, anyone, nothing, and somewhere. Many languages have equivalent single-word indefinites such as al-gueín (someone) in Spanish or birisi (somebody) in Turkish, though the exact morphology and grammatical behavior can differ, including case marking, gender, and agreement with verbs or predicates. Some languages prefer separate indefinite pronouns, while others employ determiner-like forms that can attach to nouns.

In research, indefinitesimple is often used as a labeling convenience within typological surveys and corpora to distinguish basic, unmodified indefinites from more complex indefinites. The term is not universally standardized, and its precise boundaries can vary between grammars and annotation schemes.

See also: Indefinite pronouns, Indefinites, Quantifiers, Nominal phrases.