Understanding Pronoun - English Grammar Concepts with Examples

What is Pronoun?

A pronoun is a word which is used instead of a Noun.

Examples:

  1. My friend Alex came to my residence yesterday and Alex spent the whole day with me.
  2. My friend Alex came to my residence yesterday and he spent the whole day with me.

The word Alex is a noun. In the second sentence Alex (Noun) is replaced by the word he.

Here, he is known as a Pronoun.

I, we, you, he, she, they, it are personal pronouns.

Examples:

  • I am glad to receive you.
  • She suffers in her present job.
  • We will meet again on Sunday.
  • They returned home safely.
  • It is in the steel box.

In the above sentences the underlined pronouns are acting as the subjects of the sentences. So they are called Subjective Personal Pronouns.


Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns represent people or things. The personal pronouns are:

  • I
  • You
  • He
  • She
  • It
  • We
  • they

Personal Pronouns are of two types:

  1. Objective Personal Pronoun
  2. Possessive Personal Pronoun

1. Objective Personal Pronouns

In a sentence if a personal pronoun takes the form of object of the sentence, it is called as Objective Personal Pronoun.

Objective personal pronouns are, me, you, her, him, it, us, them and her.

  1. The Principal said, "Dear Students, our Chief Guest will address you."
  2. Please, don't force me to accept your gift.
  3. We have to advise him to live with her in their interest.
  4. It is hung on the wall.
  5. Give us an opportunity.
  6. Please treat them in a decent manner.

2. Possessive Personal Pronouns

This kind of Noun is a word which reveals the possessive aspect of an object or a person.

The possessive personal pronouns are - yours, mine, his, hers, ours, theirs, and its.

  1. Brother, the big house in our village is YOURS and the plot in the town is MINE.
  2. HIS is in the cupboard.
  3. THEIRS will be handed over to them shortly. iv. OURS is a very nice farm house.


Demonstrative Pronoun

The words of pronouns that are used to point out the objects to which they refer.

This, that, these and those are Demonstrative Pronouns.

Examples:

  1. This is one of the shirts which I purchased on the eve of my marriage.
  2. Mangoes from any other place are not so tasty as those from Salem in South India.
  3. These are the favourites of youngsters among the latest designs of 'T' shirts in our shop.
  4. The car which I posses now is costlier than that used during my youth.

 

Interrogative Pronouns

An Interrogative pronoun is used to ask questions.

The interrogative pronouns are who, whom, which, where, whoever, wherever, whichever and whatever.

Examples:

  1. Who discovered America?
  2. By whom this book was written?
  3. Which is your choice of the gift articles exhibited here?
  4. What is your ambition in life?
  5. Is it not your duty to enter the names of whoever visited this premises?
  6. Are we to accept whatever reason you put forth for your failure?
  7. Are we to accept whichever may be your choice of the plots?
  8. Can we take action against whosoever involved in this case?


Relative Pronoun

Relative Pronoun is a word which joins statements, performing the work of a pronoun and also the work of a conjunction.

Examples: The underlined words are called Relative Pronoun.

  1. Yesterday I met my friend Chandran. Chandran had just recovered from his illness.
    Yesterday I met my friend Chandran who had just recovered from his illness.
  1. Just now I have found my Passbook. My Passbook was missing since last Sunday.
    Just now I have found my Passbook which was missing since last Sunday.
  1. You see this ring. The ring was presented by you on the eve of my marriage.
    You see this ring that was presented by you on the eve of my marriage.

 

Indefinite Pronoun

The pronouns which denote persons or things in a general way but do not refer to any particular person or thing are known as Indefinite Pronouns.

Examples: The underlined words are Indefinite Pronoun

  1. Many were invited for the function but only some of them attended.
  2. Everything is placed in the proper place. After the arrival of the place we did not see any of them.
  3. None of them was ready to face the trial in the court.
  4. Each and everyone should be provided with all facilities in our campus.

 

Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive pronoun is a word which refers back to the subject of the sentence of clause.

myself, ourselves, himself, herself, themselves, yourself, yourselves, itself

Reflexive pronouns can also act as intensive pronouns.

Examples:

  1. I myself wash my clothes.
  2. My son himself chose the branch of his higher studies.
  3. My daughter herself chooses her dresses always.
  4. It is better you decide your future of yourself.
  5. We ourselves have planted trees in our colony.
  6. The hen itself hatches its eggs.

 

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronoun is a pronoun that emphasizes its antecedes.

This is also just like reflexive pronoun in revealing its meaning.

Examples:

  1. I myself take full responsibility for these unpleasure incidents.
  2. The Municipal Commissioner himself assured that he would take immediate steps for regular water supply.
  3. They themselves have agreed for a compromise our several issues.
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