What is PRONOUN?A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which," "none," and "you" to make your sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
Grammarians classify pronouns into several types, including the personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun, the interrogative pronoun, the indefinite pronoun, the relative pronoun, the reflexive pronoun, and the intensive pronoun.
Example :
I Me Mine
She Her Hers
He Him His
We Us Ours
They Them Theirs
It It Its
You You Yours
Pronouns are words like: he, you, ours, themselves, some, each... If we didn't have pronouns, we would have to repeat a lot of nouns. We would have to say things like:
- Do you like the president? I don't like the president. The president is too pompous.
With pronouns, we can say:
- Do you like the president? I don't like him. He is too pompous.
Personal Pronouns
I, me, you, he, him, she...
I, me, you, he, him, she...
Demonstrative Pronouns
this, that, these, those
this, that, these, those
Possessive Pronouns
mine, yours, his...
mine, yours, his...
Interrogative Pronouns
who, what, which...
who, what, which...
Reflexive Pronouns
myself, yourself, himself...
myself, yourself, himself...
Reciprocal Pronouns
each other, one another
each other, one another
Indefinite Pronouns
another, much, nobody, few, such...
another, much, nobody, few, such...
Relative Pronouns
who, whom, which...
who, whom, which...
Pronoun Case
subjective, objective, possessive
subjective, objective, possessive
Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun refers to a specific person or thing and changes its form to indicate person, number, gender, and case.Subjective Personal Pronouns
A subjective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the sentence. The subjective personal pronouns are "I," "you," "she," "he," "it," "we," "you," "they."In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a subjective personal pronoun and acts as the subject of the sentence:
- I was glad to find the bus pass in the bottom of the green knapsack.
- You are surely the strangest child I have ever met.
Objective Personal Pronouns
An objective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object of a verb, compound verb, preposition, or infinitive phrase. The objective personal pronouns are: "me," "you," "her," "him," "it," "us," "you," and "them."In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is an objective personal pronoun:
- Seamus stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.
- After reading the pamphlet, Judy threw it into the garbage can.
Possessive Personal Pronouns
A possessive pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as a marker of possession and defines who owns a particular object or person. The possessive personal pronouns are "mine," "yours," "hers," "his," "its," "ours," and "theirs." Note that possessive personal pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives like "my," "her," and "their."In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a possessive personal pronoun:
- The smallest gift is mine.
Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points to and identifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these" refer to things that are nearby either in space or in time, while "that" and "those" refer to things that are farther away in space or time.The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that," "these," and "those." "This" and "that" are used to refer to singular nouns or noun phrasesand "these" and "those" are used to refer to plural nouns and noun phrases. Note that the demonstrative pronouns are identical todemonstrative adjectives, though, obviously, you use them differently. It is also important to note that "that" can also be used as a relative pronoun.
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a demonstrative pronoun:
- This must not continue.
Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns are "who," "whom," "which," "what" and the compounds formed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever," "whomever," "whichever," and "whatever"). Note that either "which" or "what" can also be used as an interrogative adjective, and that "who," "whom," or "which" can also be used as a relative pronoun.You will find "who," "whom," and occasionally "which" used to refer to people, and "which" and "what" used to refer to things and to animals.
"Who" acts as the subject of a verb, while "whom" acts as the object of a verb, preposition, or a verbal.
The highlighted word in each of the following sentences is an interrogative pronoun:
- Which wants to see the dentist first?
Relative Pronouns
You can use a relative pronoun is used to link one phrase or clauseto another phrase or clause. The relative pronouns are "who," "whom," "that," and "which." The compounds "whoever," "whomever," and "whichever" are also relative pronouns.You can use the relative pronouns "who" and "whoever" to refer to the subject of a clause or sentence, and "whom" and "whomever" to refer to the objects of a verb, a verbal or a preposition.
In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a relative pronoun.
- You may invite whomever you like to the party.
Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun referring to an identifiable but not specified person or thing. An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all, any, none, or some.The most common indefinite pronouns are "all," "another," "any," "anybody," "anyone," "anything," "each," "everybody," "everyone," "everything," "few," "many," "nobody," "none," "one," "several," "some," "somebody," and "someone." Note that some indefinite pronouns can also be used as indefinite adjectives.
The highlighted words in the following sentences are indefinite pronouns:
- Many were invited to the lunch but only twelve showed up.
Reflexive Pronouns
You can use a reflexive pronoun to refer back to the subject of the clause or sentence.The reflexive pronouns are "myself," "yourself," "herself," "himself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves." Note each of these can also act as an intensive pronoun.
Each of the highlighted words in the following sentences is a reflexive pronoun:
- Diabetics give themselves insulin shots several times a day.
Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used to emphasise its antecedent. Intensive pronouns are identical in form to reflexive pronouns.The highlighted words in the following sentences are intensive pronouns:
- I myself believe that aliens should abduct my sister.