READ & LEARN

Pronouns are used to replace nouns. A different pronoun is required depending on two elements – the noun being replaced and the function that noun has in the sentence. In English, pronouns only take the gender of the noun they replace in the 3rd person singular form. The 2nd person plural pronouns are identical to the 2nd person singular pronouns except for the reflexive pronoun.

Personal Pronouns

The role of the personal pronoun is to take the place of a noun in a sentence. It can be used as a subject or an object (direct, indirect, object of the preposition) in a text/speech, and can serve as a good way to help you avoid repetition of specific nouns.

She and her are known as personal pronouns.

The other personal pronouns are I and me, you,

he and him, it, we and us, and they and them.

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are used to connect relative clauses to independent clauses. Usually, they introduce additional information about something mentioned in the sentence. Relative pronouns include that, what, which, who, and whom. Traditionally, who refers to people, and which and that refer to animals or things.

Examples:

• The woman who called earlier didn’t leave a message.

• All the dogs that got adopted today will be loved.

• My car, which is nearly twenty years old, still runs well.

Demonstrative Pronouns

That, this, these and those are demonstrative pronouns. They take the place of a noun or noun phrase that has already been mentioned. This is used for singular items that are nearby.

These is used for multiple items that are nearby.

Examples:

• Here is a letter with no return address. Who could have sent this?

• What a fantastic idea! This is the best thing I’ve heard all day.

• If you think gardenias smell nice, try smelling these.

That is used for singular items that are far away.

Those is used for multiple items that are far away.

Examples:

• A house like that would be a nice place to live.

• Some new flavours of soda came in last week. Why don’t you try some of those?

• Those aren’t swans, they’re geese.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are used when you need to refer to a person or thing that doesn’t need to be specifically identified. Some common indefinite pronouns are one, other,

none, some, anybody, everybody, and noone. Examples:

• Everybody was late to work because of the traffic jam.

• It matters more to some than others.

• Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. They usually take singular verbs.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns end in -self or -selves: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves,

yourselves, themselves. Use a reflexive pronoun when both the subject and object of a verb refer to the same person or thing.

Examples:

• They booked themselves a room at the resort.

• I told myself it was nothing.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronoun is a pronoun that can take the place of a noun phrase to show ownership. They are mine, yours, its, his, hers, ours, theirs.

Examples:

• This bag is mine.

• That bag looks like his.

• These shoes are not hers.