Parts of Speech : Pronoun

By | July 15, 2024

Pronoun :

Pronouns are words used to replace nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences clearer.

Here are the types of pronouns with examples:

 

1. Personal Pronouns:

A personal pronoun is a type of pronoun that typically refers to a specific person, group of people, or thing.
 

Types of Personal Pronouns:

– Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject (the person or thing performing the action) in a sentence. Here are examples for each subject pronoun:

  1. I
    • Sentence: I am going to the store.
    • Explanation: “I” is the subject pronoun referring to the speaker.
  2. You
    • Sentence: You are my best friend.
    • Explanation: “You” is the subject pronoun referring to the person being spoken to.
  3. He
    • Sentence: He loves playing football.
    • Explanation: “He” is the subject pronoun referring to a male person.
  4. She
    • Sentence: She is reading a book.
    • Explanation: “She” is the subject pronoun referring to a female person.
  5. It
    • Sentence: It is raining outside.
    • Explanation: “It” is the subject pronoun referring to the weather.
  6. We
    • Sentence: We are going on vacation next week.
    • Explanation: “We” is the subject pronoun referring to the speaker and others.
  7. They
    • Sentence: They are playing in the park.
    • Explanation: “They” is the subject pronoun referring to a group of people.

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– Object Pronouns

Object pronouns are used as the object of a verb or preposition. They replace nouns that receive the action of the verb. Here are examples for each object pronoun:

  1. Me
    • Sentence: John called me yesterday.
    • Explanation: “Me” is the object pronoun receiving the action of the verb “called.”
  2. You
    • Sentence: Can I borrow you for a moment?
    • Explanation: “You” is the object pronoun as the direct object of the verb “borrow.”
  3. Him
    • Sentence: She gave the book to him.
    • Explanation: “Him” is the object pronoun receiving the book (indirect object).
  4. Her
    • Sentence: I saw her at the party last night.
    • Explanation: “Her” is the object pronoun receiving the action of seeing.
  5. It
    • Sentence: The cat chased the mouse, but couldn’t catch it.
    • Explanation: “It” is the object pronoun referring to the mouse.
  6. Us
    • Sentence: They invited us to their wedding.
    • Explanation: “Us” is the object pronoun as the direct object of the verb “invited.”
  7. Them
    • Sentence: We sent a gift to them for their anniversary.
    • Explanation: “Them” is the object pronoun receiving the gift.

2.  Possessive Pronouns:

Indicate ownership

Types of Possessive Pronouns:

– Possessive adjective

are used to show ownership or possession. Here are examples for each possessive adjective pronoun:

  1. My
    • Sentence: My car is parked outside.
    • Explanation: “My” shows that the car belongs to the speaker.
  2. Your
    • Sentence: Is this your bag?
    • Explanation: “Your” shows that the bag belongs to the person being spoken to.
  3. His
    • Sentence: His dog is very friendly.
    • Explanation: “His” shows that the dog belongs to a male person.
  4. Her
    • Sentence: She forgot her keys at home.
    • Explanation: “Her” shows that the keys belong to a female person.
  5. Its
    • Sentence: The cat licked its paw.
    • Explanation: “Its” shows that the paw belongs to the cat.
  6. Our
    • Sentence: Our team won the match.
    • Explanation: “Our” shows that the team belongs to the speaker and others.
  7. Their
    • Sentence: Their house is on the corner.
    • Explanation: “Their” shows that the house belongs to a group of people.

– Possessive Pronouns:

mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs

Possessive pronouns replace nouns to show ownership. Here are examples for each possessive pronoun:

  1. Mine
    • Sentence: This book is mine.
    • Explanation: “Mine” indicates that the book belongs to the speaker.
  2. Yours
    • Sentence: Is this jacket yours?
    • Explanation: “Yours” indicates that the jacket belongs to the person being spoken to.
  3. His
    • Sentence: The blue car is his.
    • Explanation: “His” indicates that the blue car belongs to him.
  4. Hers
    • Sentence: That pencil is hers.
    • Explanation: “Hers” indicates that the pencil belongs to her.
  5. Its
    • Sentence: The nest is its.
    • Explanation: “Its” indicates that the nest belongs to the bird or animal.
  6. Ours
    • Sentence: This victory is ours.
    • Explanation: “Ours” indicates that the victory belongs to the speaker and their group.
  7. Theirs
    • Sentence: The green house is theirs.
    • Explanation: “Theirs” indicates that the green house belongs to them.
    • Example: The red car is mine.

 

3. Reflexive Pronouns:

Refer back to the subject of the sentence.

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same entity. They emphasize that the action affects the subject itself. Here are examples of reflexive pronouns:

  1. Myself
    • Example: I cooked dinner for myself.
    • Explanation: “Myself” emphasizes that the action (cooking dinner) was done by the speaker for their own benefit.
  2. Yourself
    • Example: Make sure to take care of yourself.
    • Explanation: “Yourself” emphasizes that the action (taking care) should be done by the person being spoken to for their own benefit.
  3. Himself
    • Example: He taught himself how to play the guitar.
    • Explanation: “Himself” emphasizes that the action (learning to play guitar) was done by him for his own benefit.
  4. Herself
    • Example: She bought a present for herself.
    • Explanation: “Herself” emphasizes that the action (buying a present) was done by her for her own benefit.
  5. Itself
    • Example: The cat groomed itself.
    • Explanation: “Itself” emphasizes that the action (grooming) was done by the cat for its own benefit.
  6. Ourselves
    • Example: We organized the party by ourselves.
    • Explanation: “Ourselves” emphasizes that the action (organizing the party) was done by us for our own benefit.
  7. Yourselves
    • Example: Please help yourselves to some food.
    • Explanation: “Yourselves” emphasizes that the action (helping to food) should be done by the people being spoken to for their own benefit.
  8. Themselves
    • Example: They cleaned up the mess by themselves.
    • Explanation: “Themselves” emphasizes that the action (cleaning up) was done by them for their own benefit..

4. Demonstrative Pronouns:

Point to specific things.

are used to point out specific persons or things. They replace nouns to indicate which person or thing is being referred to, based on proximity and whether the item is singular or plural. Here are examples of demonstrative pronouns:

  • This
    • Example: This is my favorite song.
    • Explanation: “This” replaces the noun “song” and indicates that the speaker is referring to a specific song that is nearby or recently mentioned.
  • That
    • Example: I want to buy that dress.
    • Explanation: “That” replaces the noun “dress” and indicates that the speaker is referring to a specific dress that is farther away or has been previously mentioned.
  • These
    • Example: Can you pass me these papers?
    • Explanation: “These” replaces the noun “papers” and indicates that the speaker is referring to specific papers that are nearby or in their immediate vicinity.
  • Those
    • Example: Look at those beautiful flowers.
    • Explanation: “Those” replaces the noun “flowers” and indicates that the speaker is referring to specific flowers that are farther away or not in their immediate vicinity.

5. Interrogative Pronouns:

Used to ask questions.

Interrogative pronouns are words used to ask questions. They are used to inquire about unknown information and include words like “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “what.” These pronouns are essential for forming questions in English. For example:

  • Who: Who is that person?
  • Whom: Whom did you speak to?
  • Whose: Whose coat is this?
  • Which: Which book do you want to read?
  • What: What are you doing?

 

6. Relative  Pronouns:

Introduce relative clauses.

Relative pronouns are used to connect a dependent clause (also known as a relative clause) to a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They include words such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” Relative pronouns serve two main functions:

  1. Introducing the relative clause: They begin a clause that provides additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause.
  2. Acting as a subject or object: Within the relative clause, relative pronouns function as either the subject or object of the verb.

Here are some examples of relative pronouns in sentences:

  • Who: The person who called me left a message.
  • Whom: The man whom I met yesterday is my new neighbor.
  • Whose: This is the author whose books I enjoy reading.
  • Which: The book, which is on the table, belongs to Sarah.
  • That: This is the car that I want to buy.

 

7. Indefinite Pronouns:

Refer to non-specific persons or things.

Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to any specific person, thing, amount, or place. They are used to refer to non-specific things or people in a general sense. Indefinite pronouns can be singular, plural, or both, depending on their context. Some common indefinite pronouns include:

  1. Singular Indefinite Pronouns: refer to one person or thing.
    • Anyone: Anyone can join the club.
    • Someone: Someone is at the door.
    • Nobody: Nobody knows the answer.
  2. Plural Indefinite Pronouns: refer to more than one person or thing.
    • Some: Some of the books are missing.
    • Several: Several people attended the meeting.
    • Many: Many have tried, but few have succeeded.
  3. Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns: can refer to either singular or plural depending on context.
    • All: All of the cake is gone. (singular)
    • All: All of the students are here. (plural)
    • None: None of the water was left. (singular)
    • None: None of the people are coming. (plural)