What Is A Pronoun?

What is a pronoun in English grammar? One of the nine parts of speech in the English language
is the pronoun.
In English grammar, pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase.
A pronoun is used instead of a noun or noun phrase in a sentence. A pronoun may take place of
the name of a person, place or thing.
Pronoun examples: I, me, we, they, you, he, she, it, yours, himself, ourselves, its, my, that, this,
those, us, who, whom…

TYPES OF PRONOUN
Personal Pronouns
There are two types of personal pronouns: subject and object.
When the person or thing is the subject of the sentence, subject pronouns are used.
Subject pronoun list: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
Subject pronoun examples:
 I  like to watch TV, but he does not.
 You cannot judge a tree by its bark.
 She struck him on the nose.
 He studies hard to pass the exam.
Object pronouns are used when the person or thing is the object of the sentence.
Object pronoun list: me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them.
Examples:
 Sophia likes me but not him.
 John will call you soon.
 Don’t tell her the truth.
 I helped him pull his boots off.
Reflexive Pronouns
In English, reflexive pronouns are used when a person or thing acts on itself.
Reflexive pronoun list: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves,
themselves.
Examples:
 She tried it herself.
 Tom hurt himself.
In English they all end in –self or –selves and must refer to a noun phrase elsewhere in the same
clause.

Possessive Pronouns
In English, possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession or ownership. They
are: mine, yours, his,  hers, ours, yours, theirs.
Possessive pronoun list: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, yours, theirs.
Examples:
 Do you see that woman over there? Her dog is very friendly.
 Is that your house? No, ours is the one beside it.
 his is my laptop. It’s mine.
 These books are mine, not yours.
 This is my brother ‘s book.  It’s his.
Demonstrative Pronouns
The demonstrative pronouns are the same words as the demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these,
and those). They often distinguish their targets by pointing or some other indication of position.
They can be either near or far in distance or time, specifically.
Demonstrative pronoun list: this, that, these, those.
Pronoun examples:
  This is an enormous field.
 Can you see that?
 These  are delicious cookies.

Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that refers to non-specific beings, objects, or places.
Indefinite Pronouns can also function as other parts of speech too, depending on context.
Indefinite Pronoun List: another, anybody/ anyone, anything, each, either, enough, everybody/
everyone, everything,…
Pronoun examples:
 I don’t want anyone to see it.
 Is there anything in that box?
 You can’t blame him for everything.
 Each company is fighting to protect its own commercial interests.
 Much has happened since we met.
 No one can cope with her in English.
Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that relates to the word that it modifies and is not specific. In
English, relative pronouns are who, whom, which, whose, and that. They refer back to people or
things previously mentioned, and they are used in relative clauses.
Relative pronoun list: who, whom, which, whose, that.
Pronoun examples:
 The woman who  called yesterday wants to buy the house.
 Now they were driving by the houses which Andy had described.
 She is an artist whose work I really admire.
 The author  whom you criticized in your review has written a letter in reply.
ASSESSMENT

Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun to fill the blank, remembering that demonstratives
include the words this, that, these and those.

1. I really like watching old shows. _________ are some of the best things on TV.
A. Those
B. That
C. This
D. These

2. Please hand me __________ .

A. those
B. that
C. this
D. these
 3. _____________is some of the nicest weather we’ve had lately.

A. Those
B. That
C. This
D. These
Choose one of the following indefinite pronouns to fill each blank: something, everyone, anywhere

1. After the parade, __________ met up in the town square.

A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere

2. Would you like __________ to drink.

A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere

3. I searched all over, but couldn’t find my notes __________ .

A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere

Select an interrogative pronoun to fill the blank in each sentence.

1. __________ flavor do you prefer?

A. Whom
B. Which
C. Who

2. I heard someone at the door but wasn’t sure __________ it was.

A. what
B. which
C. whom

3. _________ do you want for lunch?

A. what
B. which
C. who

Choose the correct personal pronoun to fill each blank.

1.________ am learning to speak better English.

A) I

B) Me

C) You

2.Thanks for the package! Please leave _________ on the table.

A) them

B) them

C) it

3.Ben was surprised when _________ discovered that his friends were hiding in the living room.

A) she

B) he
C) they

Choose the correct possessive pronoun to fill each blank.

1. I lost _________ phone last night.

A. mine
B. my
C. ours

2. They bought new furniture for _________ house.

A. mine
B. their
C. ours

3.We’re going to get _________ test results today.

A. mine
B. yours
C. our

4. I’m always talking to _________.

A. themselves
B. myself
C. herself

5.John likes to do things by _________.

A. myself
B. ourselves
C. himself

6.You can do it _________.

A. yourself
B. himself
C. themselves
7. The tallest child, _________ was also oldest, was also most outgoing.

A. who
B. that
C. whose
8. I don’t recognize the song _________ is playing.

A. which
B. that
C. who
9. I rode my bike, _________ has a headlight, home in the dark.

A. that
B. whom
C. which