PARTS OF SPEECH: PRONOUNS

Learning the Nine Types of Pronouns

Understanding and using pronouns correctly can be a challenge because of their many
categories, functions, and confusing names, but success is possible, so read on!

A pronoun is a word such as we, them, or anyone that replaces a noun or another pronoun. Pronouns must match
the number and gender of the noun they stand for and be in a case (form) that matches its function. Pronouns
have the same functions as nouns: They may act as subjects and subject complements, direct objects, indirect
objects, and objects of prepositions. The noun that a pronoun refers to is called the antecedent of the pronoun.
In the sentence “George wrote the essay in class and typed it later” the noun essay is the antecedent of the
pronoun it. If you cannot point to the antecedent of a pronoun in your writing, you need to change the wording so
that your meaning will be clear to the reader. For more on antecedents as well as number and case agreement,
gender bias, and other specific pronoun issues, see other resources. Here is an explanation of the nine types of
pronouns:

A. PERSONAL PRONOUNS: Personal pronouns refer to specific persons, places, or things.

1. Subjective Case: A personal pronoun should be in the subjective case (form) if the pronoun functions as a
subject or subject complement. A subject pronoun usually comes before the verb; a subject complement
pronoun follows a linking verb.

Singular Plural Examples:

First person: I we We are successful. (Subject)
Second person: you you They like pizza. (Subject)
Third person: he/she/it they The winners were Kim and I. (Subject
complement)

2. Objective case: If a pronoun stands for any other noun than a subject or subject complement, use
the objective case. Object pronouns can be direct objects (DO), indirect objects (IO), or
objects of
prepositions (OP). Notice that you and it are in both lists.

Singular Plural Examples:

First person: me us The secretary notified us today. (DO)
Second person: you you My aunt wrote me a letter. (IO)
Third person: him/her/it them For her, I would do anything. (OP)

B. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS: Possessive pronouns act as adjectives that show ownership.

1. These possessive pronouns act as adjectives showing ownership:

Singular Plural Examples:

First person: my our My friend found his dog.
Second person: your your Their cat sharpened its claws.
Third person: his/her/its their

Note: Do not confuse the pronoun its with the contraction it’s, which means it is.

2. These possessive pronouns stand for an adjective possessive pronoun plus a noun:
Example: That backpack is mine. (“mine” = “my backpack”)

Singular Plural Example:

First person: mine ours The decision is yours to make.
Second person: yours yours (yours = “your decision”)
 Third person: his/hers theirs

C. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS: Indefinite pronouns are noun substitutes that are not specific
(definite) in meaning.

1. Indefinite pronouns fall into two categories:

List 1. Pronouns that refer to a non-specific noun:
anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, nobody,
none, no one, nothing, somebody, someone, something
Example: Nothing gets accomplished without some effort.

List 2. Pronouns that refer to a specific noun whose meaning is clear only because of a previous
mention or because of words that follow the indefinite pronoun:
all, another, any, both, each, either, few, many, neither, one, some, several.
Examples: Several are planning to fly to New York.
(The identity of the group that is flying to New York would have
already been mentioned.)
Do you want some of these books?
(Books makes clear the meaning of some.)

Note: The indefinite pronouns in List 2 function simply as adjectives when they are
are directly followed by nouns.
Examples: Several students received awards.
My mother baked some pies for the picnic.

2. Indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural. The verbs (underlined) must match in number.

another neither
anybody nobody Examples:
anyone no one There are four groups of students,
anything nothing and each has its own assignment.
Singular each one Something unexpected is happening.
either somebody
everybody something
everyone someone
everything

both Examples:
few Both of the documents were signed.
Plural many Many in the audience agree with the speaker.
several

Note: When these indefinite pronouns are followed by a prepositional phrase, the
pronoun should agree in number with the noun that is the object of the preposition.

Singular all more Examples: Some of the planning is finished.

or Plural any most Some of the apples are ripe.
either
(depending on none Remember that the verb must agree in number with
the noun it some the bolded antecedent. “Planning” takes a
stands for) singular verb and “apples” takes a plural verb.
D. RELATIVE PRONOUNS: A relative pronoun connects (relates) an adjective clause or a noun
clause to the rest of the sentence.

1. Relative pronouns that introduce adjective clauses: When a relative pronoun introduces an
adjective clause, the pronoun refers to a noun already mentioned in the main clause of the sentence.

who whose whom which that

Examples (Adjective clauses are underlined):

The mystery novel that she recently completed will be published next year.
(That refers back to novel and acts as a direct object in the adjective clause.)
Healing is more rapid for patients who have a positive attitude.
(Who refers back to patients and acts as the subject of the adjective clause.)

2. Relative pronouns that introduce noun clauses:

who whom what which whose

whoever whomever whatever whichever that

Within a sentence, a noun clause may function as a subject, complement, appositive, or object of a verb
or preposition. The relative pronoun acts as a subject or object within the noun clause, though
the normal word order may be changed. Note: Who and whoever are used as subject pronouns,
and whom and whomever are used as object pronouns. (Noun clauses are underlined.)

Examples: Whoever uses the kitchen should wash the dishes. (The noun clause is the
subject of the sentence. Whoever is the subject of the noun clause.)
The criminal got what he deserved. (The noun clause is the direct object of the verb
got. Within the noun clause, what is the direct object of the verb deserved,
even though it comes before the verb.)

E. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS: An interrogative pronoun introduces a question.

who whom what which whose

whoever whomever whatever whichever

Notice the similarity of this list to the relative pronoun list. Like relative pronouns,
interrogative pronouns can have different grammatical functions. As in all questions, the word
order may not be normal.

Examples: Whose books are those? (adjective modifying books)

Whom will Mr. Broder select as head of the committee? (direct object of
the verb will select)
In which of his two poems does the author express himself most
effectively? (object of the preposition in)

F. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS: The four demonstrative pronouns point out nouns. They often
act as 1.) adjectives, indicating which person(s), places(s), or thing(s) are being referred to or as
2.) noun substitutes when the noun is understood.

this that these those

Examples: These problems are easy to solve. (adjective modifying problems)

 Do you like this wallpaper? (adjective modifying wallpaper)
You like these apples, but I prefer those. (These acts as an adjective
modifying
apples; those acts as a pronoun that stands for the noun apples.)
G. INTENSIVE PRONOUNS: Intensive pronouns emphasize nouns or other pronouns. They
immediately follow the noun they emphasize. If an intensive pronoun is omitted, the sentence
will still make sense grammatically.

Singular: myself yourself himself herself itself

Plural: ourselves yourselves themselves

Examples: The bank president himself called to apologize for the error.
(Himself emphasizes president.)
She herself was not as concerned as others were about the problem.
(Herself emphasizes she.)

H. REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS: Reflexive pronouns rename subjects of action verbs. They

function as various types of objects. If the reflexive pronoun is omitted, the sentence will
not make sense. Note that the following list is the same as the list of intensive pronouns above.

Singular: myself yourself himself herself itself

Plural: ourselves yourselves themselves

Examples: The logger cut himself with his ax. (direct object of the verb cut)
Kim poured herself a cup of coffee. (indirect object of the verb cut)
The old man was talking loudly to himself. (object of the preposition to)

I. RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS: Reciprocal pronouns refer to individual parts of a preceding

plural noun.
each other one another

Examples: The children waved goodbye to each other as they parted.

The students helped one another study before the test.