Pronouns

Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases to avoid repetition and simplify sentences. They are essential for fluid and coherent communication. This lesson covers the different types of pronouns, their uses, and examples.

Types of Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They change form based on person, number, gender, and case.

Subjective Case

Used as the subject of a sentence.

• I: First person singular
  • Example: "I am happy."
• You: Second person singular and plural
  • Example: "You are my friend."
• He: Third person singular masculine
  • Example: "He is reading a book."
• She: Third person singular feminine
  • Example: "She loves music."
• It: Third person singular neutral
  • Example: "It is raining."
• We: First person plural
  • Example: "We are going to the park."
• They: Third person plural
  • Example: "They are coming over."

Objective Case

Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

• Me: First person singular
  • Example: "She called me."
• You: Second person singular and plural
  • Example: "I will help you."
• Him: Third person singular masculine
  • Example: "She saw him."
• Her: Third person singular feminine
  • Example: "I talked to her."
• It: Third person singular neutral
  • Example: "We need it."
• Us: First person plural
  • Example: "They invited us."
• Them: Third person plural
  • Example: "She thanked them."

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership and do not require an apostrophe.

Adjectives

Used before nouns.

• My: First person singular
  • Example: "This is my book."
• Your: Second person singular and plural
  • Example: "Is that your car?"
• His: Third person singular masculine
  • Example: "His phone is on the table."
• Her: Third person singular feminine
  • Example: "Her house is big."
• Its: Third person singular neutral
  • Example: "The cat licked its paws."
• Our: First person plural
  • Example: "Our team won."
• Their: Third person plural
  • Example: "Their flight was delayed."

Pronouns

Stand alone and do not precede a noun.

• Mine: First person singular
  • Example: "That book is mine."
• Yours: Second person singular and plural
  • Example: "The decision is yours."
• His: Third person singular masculine
  • Example: "The blue car is his."
• Hers: Third person singular feminine
  • Example: "The jacket is hers."
• Its: Third person singular neutral (rarely used)
  • Example: "The toy is its."
• Ours: First person plural
  • Example: "The victory is ours."
• Theirs: Third person plural
  • Example: "The house at the end of the street is theirs."

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the clause.

• Myself: First person singular
  • Example: "I taught myself to play the guitar."
• Yourself: Second person singular
  • Example: "Did you make this yourself?"
• Himself: Third person singular masculine
  • Example: "He cut himself while cooking."
• Herself: Third person singular feminine
  • Example: "She prepared herself for the interview."
• Itself: Third person singular neutral
  • Example: "The cat cleaned itself."
• Ourselves: First person plural
  • Example: "We organized the event ourselves."
• Yourselves: Second person plural
  • Example: "You should be proud of yourselves."
• Themselves: Third person plural
  • Example: "They enjoyed themselves at the party."

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns point to specific things.

• This: Refers to a singular noun that is near.
  • Example: "This is my favorite book."
• That: Refers to a singular noun that is far.
  • Example: "That is the house I grew up in."
• These: Refers to a plural noun that is near.
  • Example: "These are delicious cookies."
• Those: Refers to a plural noun that is far.
  • Example: "Those are her children playing in the yard."

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns link clauses together.

• Who: Refers to people (subject).
  • Example: "The woman who called is my aunt."
• Whom: Refers to people (object).
  • Example: "The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle."
• Whose: Indicates possession for people or things.
  • Example: "The student whose book you borrowed is waiting for it."
• Which: Refers to animals and things.
  • Example: "The book which is on the table is mine."
• That: Refers to people, animals, and things (used in defining clauses).
  • Example: "The car that he drives is new."

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things.

• Anybody/Anyone: Refers to any person, no specific individual.
  • Example: "Anyone can join the club."
• Somebody/Someone: Refers to an unspecified individual.
  • Example: "Someone left their umbrella."
• Nobody/No one: Refers to not any person, emphasizing the absence of people.
  • Example: "Nobody knows the answer."
• Everybody/Everyone: Refers to all people in a group.
  • Example: "Everyone enjoyed the concert."
• Anything: Refers to any object, event, or situation.
  • Example: "Do you need anything?"
• Something: Refers to an unspecified object, event, or situation.
  • Example: "I have something to tell you."
• Nothing: Refers to not any object, event, or situation.
  • Example: "There is nothing in the fridge."
• Everything: Refers to all objects, events, or situations.
  • Example: "Everything is ready for the party."

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions.

• Who: Used to ask about people (subject).
  • Example: "Who is coming to the party?"
• Whom: Used to ask about people (object).
  • Example: "Whom did you see?"
• Whose: Used to ask about possession.
  • Example: "Whose jacket is this?"
• Which: Used to ask about choices between a limited number of items.
  • Example: "Which color do you prefer?"
• What: Used to ask about things or information.
  • Example: "What is your name?"

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect Case: Using the wrong form of pronouns, especially confusing subjective and objective cases.

  • Incorrect: "Between you and I."
  • Correct: "Between you and me."

• Ambiguity: Using pronouns without clear antecedents.

  • Vague: "He said that he would come." (Who is "he"?)

• Incorrect Possessive Pronouns: Using possessive adjectives instead of possessive pronouns.

  • Incorrect: "That book is my."
  • Correct: "That book is mine."