Simple and Fast Learn English : Parts of Speech – PRONOUN

Parts of Speech : Pronoun

A pronoun is a word used to replace or substitute for a noun. Pronouns are handy because they allow us to refer to people, places, things, or ideas without repeating the noun over and over. They help make sentences less repetitive and more concise. Pronouns can refer to specific individuals or objects (e.g., “he,” “she,” “it,” “they”) or be more general (e.g., “everyone,” “everything”).
Here are some common types of pronouns in English:

1. Personal Pronouns:

Personal pronouns are words that replace specific individuals, objects, or things in a sentence. They are an essential part of language and can be categorized into three main types: subjective, objective, and possessive.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each type, along with sample sentences:

a. Subjective Pronouns:

Subjective pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of a sentence. They include:

1. I – used for the first person singular.
   • Example: I am going to the store.
2. You – used for the second person singular (informal), and second person plural.
   • Example: You are my best friend.
3. He – used for the third person singular masculine.
   • Example: He is coming to the party.
4. She – used for the third person singular feminine.
   • Example: She is an excellent musician.
5. It – used for the third person singular neuter or for animals and things.
   • Example: It is a beautiful day.
6. We – used for the first person plural.
   • Example: We are going on a trip.
7. They – used for the third person plural.
   • Example: They won the game.

b. Objective Pronouns: Objective pronouns are used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition. They include:

1. Me – used for the first person singular.
   • Example: John gave the book to me.
2. You – used for the second person singular (informal), and second person plural.
   • Example: She is talking to you.
3. Him – used for the third person singular masculine.
   • Example: She met him at the park.
4. Her – used for the third person singular feminine.
   • Example: He gave the gift to her.
5. It – used for the third person singular neuter or for animals and things.
   • Example: The cat chased the mouse; it caught it.
6. Us – used for the first person plural.
   • Example: They invited us to their party.
7. Them – used for the third person plural.
   • Example: We saw them at the concert.

c. Possessive Pronouns: Possessive pronouns show ownership or possession. They include:

1. My – shows possession for the first person singular.
   • Example: This is my car.
2. Your – shows possession for the second person singular (informal), and second person plural.
   • Example: Is this your pen?
3. His – shows possession for the third person singular masculine.
   • Example: The book is his.
4. Her – shows possession for the third person singular feminine.
   • Example: I have her necklace.
5. Its – shows possession for the third person singular neuter or for animals and things.
   • Example: The dog wagged its tail.
6. Our – shows possession for the first person plural.
   • Example: This is our house.
7. Their – shows possession for the third person plural.
   • Example: The kids built their sandcastle.

Personal pronouns are fundamental to effective communication, as they help avoid repetition, keep sentences concise, and clarify who or what a sentence is referring to.

 

2. Relative Pronouns:

Relative pronouns are words that introduce relative clauses in a sentence. Relative clauses provide more information about a noun in the main clause. The most common relative pronouns in English are “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.” Here’s a detailed explanation of each with sample sentences:

1. Who: Used to refer to people.
   • The person who is standing by the door is my brother.
   • She’s the one who won the competition.
2. Whom: Also used for people, particularly in formal language, and typically as the object of a verb or preposition.
   • The artist whom you admire is coming to the gallery.
   • He’s the doctor whom we consulted for a second opinion.
3. Whose: Shows possession and is used for people and things.
   • The girl whose book was stolen is upset.
   • This is the house whose roof needs repairs.
4. Which: Used to refer to things or animals.
   • The car, which is red, belongs to my friend.
   • The cat, which we adopted last year, is very playful.
5. That: Can be used for both people and things, and it’s often used in restrictive clauses (clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence).
   • The book that I’m reading is very interesting.
   • The store that sells vintage clothes is downtown.

Remember that you can often omit the relative pronoun in informal speech or writing, especially when it is the object of the relative clause:

• The person (who/whom) I met yesterday was very friendly.
• The car (that/which) we bought last week broke down.

In these examples, the relative pronouns in parentheses can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentences. This is common in spoken English but less so in formal writing.

 

3. Demonstrative Pronouns:

Demonstrative pronouns are words that are used to indicate or demonstrate specific nouns in a sentence. They help identify whether the noun is near or far in terms of distance or time. There are four main demonstrative pronouns in English: “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” Here’s a detailed explanation of each with sample sentences:

1. This: Used to refer to a singular noun that is close in proximity (either in space or time).
   • This is my new phone.
   • Can you pass me this book, please?
2. That: Used to refer to a singular noun that is farther away or took place in the past (either in space or time).
   • That tree over there is very tall.
   • I remember that day vividly.
3. These: Used to refer to plural nouns that are close in proximity (either in space or time).
   • These shoes are on sale.
   • These cookies are delicious.
4. Those: Used to refer to plural nouns that are farther away or took place in the past (either in space or time).
   • Look at those birds in the sky.
   • I miss those days we spent together.

Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone in a sentence, replacing a specific noun. They do not require a noun to follow. For example:

• This is my favorite sweater. (Here, “this” replaces “sweater.”)
• Those are my parents. (Here, “those” replaces “parents.”)

It’s important to note that the choice of demonstrative pronoun depends on the number (singular or plural) and distance (near or far) of the noun you are referring to.

 

4. Interrogative Pronouns:

Interrogative pronouns are words used to ask questions and gather information. They introduce questions and typically request specific details about a person or thing. There are five primary interrogative pronouns in English: “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “what,” and “which.” Here’s a detailed explanation of each with sample sentences:

1. Who: Used to ask about a person or people.
   • Who is your best friend?
   • Who will be attending the meeting?
2. Whom: Also used to inquire about people, particularly as the object of a verb or preposition. It is more formal and less commonly used in modern spoken English.
   • Whom did you invite to the party?
   • To whom should I address this letter?
3. Whose: Used to ask about possession or ownership.
   • Whose car is parked in front of the house?
   • Whose idea was it to start this project?
4. What: Used to ask about things, actions, or situations.
   • What is your favorite color?
   • What are you doing this weekend?
5. Which: Used to inquire about specific items or choices within a group.
   • Which book would you like to read?
   • Which restaurant should we go to for dinner?

Interrogative pronouns are crucial in forming questions and seeking information. They can be used at the beginning of a question or within the question itself to gather more specific details:

• Who is coming to the party tonight?
• To whom did you lend your umbrella?
• Whose turn is it to speak?
• What are you studying in school?
• Which movie do you want to watch tonight?

The choice of interrogative pronoun depends on whether you’re asking about people, possession, things, choices, or specific details within a group.

 

5. Indefinite Pronouns:

Indefinite pronouns are words that do not refer to any specific person, thing, or amount. Instead, they refer to non-specific people or things in a more general or indefinite manner. Indefinite pronouns can be singular, plural, or both, depending on the context. Here’s a detailed explanation of some common indefinite pronouns with sample sentences:

1. Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
   • Anyone: Refers to any person, regardless of who.
     • Anyone can join the club.
     • I’ll help anyone who needs assistance.
   • Someone: Refers to a particular, but unspecified, person.
     • Someone is at the door.
     • Can someone pass me the salt?
   • Nobody: Refers to no person.
     • Nobody was home when I arrived.
     • He said he saw nobody at the park.
   • Everybody: Refers to every person.
     • Everybody enjoys a good laugh.
     • Everybody is invited to the party.
2. Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
   • Some: Refers to an unspecified number or portion of something.
     • Can you give me some cookies?
     • Some people prefer tea over coffee.
   • Many: Refers to a large number of people or things.
     • Many students participated in the event.
     • Many options are available.
   • Few: Refers to a small number or a small portion of something.
     • Few people can solve this puzzle.
     • I have a few books to lend.
3. Singular and Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
   • All: Refers to the whole of a group, whether singular or plural.
     • All is forgiven. (singular)
     • All were in favor of the proposal. (plural)
   • Both: Refers to two people or things.
     • Both of them are excellent musicians.
     • I like both the blue and the green shirts.
   • Neither: Refers to not one nor the other of two people or things.
     • Neither of them could solve the riddle.
     • Neither option is acceptable.
4. Others: Refers to additional unspecified people or things.
   • We can invite others to the meeting if necessary.
   • Some students passed the exam, while others failed.
5. None: Refers to not any person or thing.
   • None of the cookies were left.
   • None of the options were correct.

Indefinite pronouns are versatile and can be used to express a wide range of ideas in sentences. They are particularly helpful when you want to refer to people or things without specifying them individually.

 

6. Reflexive Pronouns:

Reflexive pronouns are pronouns that are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. They reflect the action of the verb back onto the subject, indicating that the subject is performing the action on itself. Reflexive pronouns always end in “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural). Here’s a detailed explanation of reflexive pronouns with sample sentences:

1. Singular Reflexive Pronouns:
   • Myself: Refers to the speaker or subject.
     • I’m going to treat myself to a nice meal tonight.
     • I myself saw the accident.
   • Yourself: Refers to the person being spoken to (second person).
     • Can you please introduce yourself to the group?
     • You can do it yourself.
   • Himself: Refers to a male subject (third person).
     • He taught himself how to play the guitar.
     • He himself realized the mistake.
   • Herself: Refers to a female subject (third person).
     • She designed the website herself.
     • She herself made the decision.
   • Itself: Refers to a non-human subject or an animal.
     • The cat is cleaning itself.
     • The machine operates by itself.
2. Plural Reflexive Pronouns:
   • Ourselves: Refers to the speaker and others (first person).
     • We completed the project by ourselves.
     • We ourselves organized the event.
   • Yourselves: Refers to the people being spoken to (second person).
     • You should be proud of yourselves.
     • Did you bake these cookies yourselves?
   • Themselves: Refers to a group of people or things (third person).
     • They all enjoyed themselves at the party.
     • The books are organized by themselves.
3. Reflexive Pronouns in Action:

Reflexive pronouns are used to indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself. They often appear in sentences with verbs that show some kind of self-action:

1. • She washed herself before going to bed.
   • They made the decision themselves.
   • I can’t believe I did that to myself.
   • Please help yourself to some food.
   • The cat is grooming itself.

Reflexive pronouns are essential for conveying actions that individuals or things perform on themselves, emphasizing self-action or self-involvement.

 

7. Reciprocal Pronouns :

Reciprocal pronouns are pronouns that indicate an action or feeling that is reciprocated between two or more people or things. In English, the most common reciprocal pronoun is “each other.” Reciprocal pronouns are used when two or more individuals or entities perform an action or have a feeling toward one another. Here are some examples and more details:

1. “Each other”: This is the most commonly used reciprocal pronoun. It is used when two people or things perform an action or have a mutual feeling toward each other.
   • They love each other.
   • Sarah and Tom helped each other with their homework.
   • The two teams competed against each other fiercely.
   • John and Mary smiled at each other across the room.
2. “One another”: This reciprocal pronoun is used when more than two people or things are involved in an action or have a mutual feeling.
   • The students in the class were always kind to one another.
   • The family members supported one another during difficult times.
   • The neighbors often borrow tools from one another.

Reciprocal pronouns are essential in English to express actions or relationships that involve mutual interactions. They help convey the idea that the action is shared or reciprocated between the individuals or things mentioned in the sentence.