What is a Pronoun?
Grammarians classify pronouns into several types, including the personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun, the interrogative pronoun, the indefinite pronoun, the relative pronoun, the reflexive pronoun, and the intensive pronoun.
Very useful Pronoun LESSONS in PowerPoint presentation:
1. Basic
2. Advanced 1
3. Advanced 2
3. Review
3. Supplementary
Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun refers to a specific person or thing and changes its form to indicate person, number, gender, and case.Subjective Personal Pronouns
A subjective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the sentence. The subjective personal pronouns are "I," "you," "she," "he," "it," "we," "you," "they."In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a subjective personal pronoun and acts as the subject of the sentence:
- I was glad to find the bus pass in the bottom of the green knapsack.
- You are surely the strangest child I have ever met.
- He stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.
- When she was a young woman, she earned her living as a coal miner.
- After many years, they returned to their homeland.
- We will meet at the library at 3:30 p.m.
- It is on the counter.
- Are you the delegates from Malagawatch?
Objective Personal Pronouns
An objective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object of a verb, compound verb, preposition, or infinitive phrase. The objective personal pronouns are: "me," "you," "her," "him," "it," "us," "you," and "them."In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is an objective personal pronoun:
- Seamus stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.
- After reading the pamphlet, Judy threw it into the garbage can.
- The agitated assistant stood up and faced the angry delegates and said, "Our leader will address you in five minutes."
- Deborah and Roberta will meet us at the newest café in the market.
- Give the list to me.
- I'm not sure that my contact will talk to you.
- Christopher was surprised to see her at the drag races.
Possessive Personal Pronouns
A possessive pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as a marker of possession and defines who owns a particular object or person. The possessive personal pronouns are "mine," "yours," "hers," "his," "its," "ours," and "theirs." Note that possessive personal pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives like "my," "her," and "their."In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a possessive personal pronoun:
- The smallest gift is mine.
- This is yours.
- His is on the kitchen counter.
- Theirs will be delivered tomorrow.
- Ours is the green one on the corner.
Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points to and identifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these" refer to things that are nearby either in space or in time, while "that" and "those" refer to things that are farther away in space or time.The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that," "these," and "those." "This" and "that" are used to refer to singular nouns or noun phrasesand "these" and "those" are used to refer to plural nouns and noun phrases. Note that the demonstrative pronouns are identical todemonstrative adjectives, though, obviously, you use them differently. It is also important to note that "that" can also be used as a relative pronoun.
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a demonstrative pronoun:
- This must not continue.
- This is puny; that is the tree I want.
- Three customers wanted these.
Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns are "who," "whom," "which," "what" and the compounds formed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever," "whomever," "whichever," and "whatever"). Note that either "which" or "what" can also be used as an interrogative adjective, and that "who," "whom," or "which" can also be used as a relative pronoun.You will find "who," "whom," and occasionally "which" used to refer to people, and "which" and "what" used to refer to things and to animals.
"Who" acts as the subject of a verb, while "whom" acts as the object of a verb, preposition, or a verbal.
The highlighted word in each of the following sentences is an interrogative pronoun:
- Which wants to see the dentist first?
- Who wrote the novel Rockbound?
- Whom do you think we should invite?
- To whom do you wish to speak?
- Who will meet the delegates at the train station?
- To whom did you give the paper?
- What did she say?
Relative Pronouns
You can use a relative pronoun is used to link one phrase or clauseto another phrase or clause. The relative pronouns are "who," "whom," "that," and "which." The compounds "whoever," "whomever," and "whichever" are also relative pronouns.You can use the relative pronouns "who" and "whoever" to refer to the subject of a clause or sentence, and "whom" and "whomever" to refer to the objects of a verb, a verbal or a preposition.
In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a relative pronoun.
- You may invite whomever you like to the party.
- The candidate who wins the greatest popular vote is not always elected.
- In a time of crisis, the manager asks the workers whom she believes to be the most efficient to arrive an hour earlier than usual.
- Whoever broke the window will have to replace it.
- The crate which was left in the corridor has now been moved into the storage closet.
- I will read whichever manuscript arrives first.
Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun referring to an identifiable but not specified person or thing. An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all, any, none, or some.The most common indefinite pronouns are "all," "another," "any," "anybody," "anyone," "anything," "each," "everybody," "everyone," "everything," "few," "many," "nobody," "none," "one," "several," "some," "somebody," and "someone." Note that some indefinite pronouns can also be used as indefinite adjectives.
The highlighted words in the following sentences are indefinite pronouns:
- Many were invited to the lunch but only twelve showed up.
- The office had been searched and everything was thrown onto the floor.
- We donated everything we found in the attic to the woman's shelter garage sale.
- Although they looked everywhere for extra copies of the magazine, they found none.
- Make sure you give everyone a copy of the amended bylaws.
- Give a registration package to each.
Reflexive Pronouns
You can use a reflexive pronoun to refer back to the subject of the clause or sentence.The reflexive pronouns are "myself," "yourself," "herself," "himself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves." Note each of these can also act as an intensive pronoun.
Each of the highlighted words in the following sentences is a reflexive pronoun:
- Diabetics give themselves insulin shots several times a day.
- The Dean often does the photocopying herself so that the secretaries can do more important work.
- After the party, I asked myself why I had faxed invitations to everyone in my office building.
- Richard usually remembered to send a copy of his e-mail tohimself.
- Although the landlord promised to paint the apartment, we ended up doing it ourselves.
Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used to emphasise its antecedent. Intensive pronouns are identical in form to reflexive pronouns.The highlighted words in the following sentences are intensive pronouns:
- I myself believe that aliens should abduct my sister.
- The Prime Minister himself said that he would lower taxes.
- They themselves promised to come to the party even though they had a final exam at the same time.
Written by Heather MacFadyen