Types of Pronouns

What is a Pronoun:

A Pronoun is a small word that is used in place of a noun to avoid the repetition of nouns.

Every pronoun must have a clear antecedent (the word for which the pronoun stands).

For Example:

• Shravan is a student and Shravan is studying in 4th standard. 
• Shravan got a gold medal because Shravan secured 1st rank.

The above sentences look awkward because of the repetition of the word Shravan. They can be written in a better way in the following manner by the use of pronouns.

• Shravan is a student and he is studying in 4th standard. 
• Shravan got a gold medal because he secured 1st rank.

The Antecedent of a Pronoun:

Pronouns are generally used with reference to their antecedents. The antecedent of a pronoun is the noun or noun phrase being replaced by the pronoun. In the above sentences, the noun ‘Shravan’ is an antecedent.

Definition of a Pronoun

A Pronoun is a word used instead of a Noun or Noun Phrase.  (Pronoun means for- noun.)

A pronoun can act as a subject (I), object (me), or possessive (my or mine)

Some Common Pronouns:

I, me, he, she, herself, you, it, that, they, each, few, many, who, whoever, whose, someone, everybody, etc.,

There are Twelve types of pronouns as listed below.

Types of Pronouns:

Personal Pronouns:

Personal pronouns are used in place of specific people or things that we are talking about.

We use these Personal Pronouns keeping in view of the Number, Person, Gender and Case:

For Example:

• Sheela is a new student. She doesn’t have any friends.
• Raman and Rajan have attended the class. They are clever students.
• She has done her work.
• I washed the car myself.

More about Personal Pronouns:

Reflexive Pronouns and Emphatic Pronouns:

The Reflexive Pronouns

A Reflexive Pronoun is used when the action done by the subject refers back to the subject in a sentence or clause. It replaces the object of a sentence when it refers to the same person or item in the subject. Reflexive Pronouns end in ‘-self’ (singular) or ‘-selves’ (plural).

Examples:           

• She saw herself in the mirror.
• He blamed himself for the mistake.
• My friend sent himself a copy of it.
• Shravy burnt herself.
• They have prepared themselves for the exam.
• The children made a project themselves.
• I enjoyed myself during the holidays.
• Why can’t you help yourselves?

Emphatic Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns can also be used as Emphatic Pronouns. But their usage and function are different. The Emphatic Pronouns are also called Intensive Pronouns. Emphatic Pronouns are used to emphasize its antecedent (the earlier word to which it refers) and are usually found right after the noun they are emphasizing.

Examples:

• They themselves did the entire project.
• She herself committed suicide.
• I myself have written this book.
• We ourselves planned this tour.
• The dog itself escaped from its owner.
• The students themselves boycotted the classes.

More about Reflexive Pronouns and Emphatic Pronouns:

Demonstrative Pronouns:

A Demonstrative Pronoun is used to replace a noun or a pronoun that has already been mentioned in a sentence. This pronoun is used mainly to avoid repetition that may lead to any kind of confusion.

There are only four Demonstrative Pronouns: this, that, these, those

Examples:

• This is my pen.
• I shall always remember this.
• That is your pen.
• These are your pets.
• Those are your dresses

More about Demonstrative Pronouns:

Indefinite Pronouns:

Indefinite pronouns don’t refer to any particular person or thing. They are used to point to persons or things in general. These pronouns can function as singular, plural or both (singular and plural).

Examples:

• Everybody loves to watch the programme.
• Anybody can answer my question.
• Somebody pushed me from behind.
• Nobody knows how the magician performs the trick.
• Something is better than nothing.
• One must love one’s country.
• Both are possible answers.
• All are invited to attend.
• Some went to watch a movie.
• Some are born great and some achieved greatness
• Such is the rule you have to follow.
• None was there in the garden.
• I saw several without a mask.
• Can you serve me some?
• Nothing seems to be impossible here.
• Anything can happen at any time.
• None but fools have ever believed it.

More about Indefinite Pronouns:

Distributive Pronouns:

Distributive Pronouns refer to persons or things one at a time. It considers members of a group separately, rather than collectively. This pronoun is always singular and is used with a singular noun and verb.

Distributive Pronouns are: Each, either, neither 

Example sentences:

• Each has a different solution to the problem.
• Each of my friends has made a phone call to me today.
• I gave each a book.
• They each played their part.
• Each of the players is playing well. 
• Either of those books can be offered as a gift to her.
• I gave each of my three friends a book.
• Either of them may accept your proposal.
• Two brothers attended the interview.  But Neither has given proper answers.
• Neither of your suggestions will be accepted.
• Neither is suitable for the post.

More about Distributive Pronouns:

Possessive Pronouns:

The Possessive Pronouns replace a noun with an apostrophe and “s” to show ownership or possession of a noun. A Possessive pronoun is mainly used to substitute a noun or a noun phrase in order to prevent the repetition of a noun in the sentence.

Possessive Pronouns are: mine, yours, ours, hers, his, its, theirs

Examples:

• All those plots may be yours.
• This building is mne.
• Mine is a lucrative package.  What about yours?
• Ours is the most innovative way of teaching.
• The mobile in your pocket is mine.
• All the jewellery seen here is hers.
• Out of all the paintings, his is the best.
• His is the most creative brain.
• This new car is theirs.
• There are so many cars parked but theirs is a new one.

More about Possessive Pronouns:

Reciprocal Pronouns:

A Reciprocal Pronoun is used when two or more nouns express a mutual or reciprocal action in a sentence.

The Reciprocal Pronouns are ‘each other’ and ‘one another.’ 

The main purpose of using these pronouns is to stop unnecessary repetition in a sentence and show the collective and reciprocal action that happens between two or more persons or things.

Each Other: When the antecedent of a Reciprocal Pronoun refers to two things in a sentence, we use each other.  

Example Sentences:

• The two brothers always cooperate with each other.
• Kiran and Karuna helped each other in the exam.
• Friends are kind to each other in case of need.
• The wife and husband love each other.

One Another: When the antecedent of a Reciprocal Pronoun refers to more than two things in a sentence, we use one another.  

Example Sentences:

• The family members always quarrel with one another.
• The company directors fought one another last night.
• Friends are kind to one another in case of need.
• The employees started blaming one another.

More about Reciprocal Pronouns:

Relative Pronouns:

A Relative Pronoun is used to join a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun (antecedent) in the previous clause. The Relative Pronoun introduces the relative clause and can be a subject or an object of the verb or the object of a preposition.

Examples:

• Snehith who sent you the gift is my son.
• Do you know Snehith who sent you the gift?
• The lady whom we talked about is an IAS officer.
• This is the man whose money was lost in stocks.
• My son bought a Tesla which is his favourite car.
• He follows what he says.
• This is the situation that I expected. 
• I know a place where we can hide this horse.
• There will be a day when you realise everything.

More about Relative Pronouns:

Interrogative Pronouns:

An Interrogative Pronoun is used to ask a question. When we want to get any kind of information, the most usual way is to ask questions. So, we use an Interrogative Pronoun to get the required information. Usually, we do not find any antecedent to the Interrogative Pronouns because the antecedent is implied or unknown. 

‘Wh’ words are called the Interrogative Pronouns.  But not all. Some of them are Interrogative Adverbs that modify the verb.

• The common Interrogative Pronouns are: What, Who, Whom, Whose and Which
• Interrogative Adverbs are: Where, When, Why and How

Altogether, we normally call them interrogative words which are also known as 6Ws and 1H.

Interrogative Pronouns can be used as subject, object or possessive. Some pronouns can be used for persons, some for things and some for both persons and things.

Examples:

• Who went to the park? (Somebody went to the park. Used as a Subject)
• Whom do you support? (I support Renu. Used as an Object)
• Whose is this car? (This car is Shravn’s. Used as Possessive)
• What is your proposal? (This is my proposal.  Used as a Subject)
• What do you want here? (I want something here. Used as an Object)
• Which is your bike? (R15 is my bike. Used as Subject)
• Which do you prefer to buy? (I prefer to buy this house. Used as an Object)

More about Interrogative Pronouns:

Exclamatory Pronouns:

A pronoun that is used as an exclamation (to express sudden emotion) is called an Exclamatory Pronoun.

In the following sentences the word ‘What’ with the exclamation mark has been used as a Pronoun.

Examples:

• What! Have you met our Principal?
• What! You haven’t attended the class.
• What! I don’t believe what she says.
• What! You have already informed her.
• What! When did she ask me?
• What! She has gone there without my permission.

More about Exclamatory Pronouns:

Impersonal Pronoun ‘It’:

When there is no possibility of using a clear subject in a sentence, we generally use ‘there or it.

When we talk about material things, the word we use is ‘there’ and when we talk about abstract terms, we use impersonal ‘it’.

‘It’ is the only Impersonal Pronoun in English. 

Examples:

• There is a book on the table. It is mine.
• This computer is getting struck.  It is an old one.

More about Impersonal Pronoun ‘It’:

Types of Pronouns Exercises:

• Types of Pronouns Worksheets
• Exercises on Types of Pronouns 
• Types of Pronouns PDF