Pronouns

Pronoun
Mostly, a pronoun is used to replace a noun. Pronouns are usually short words, used to
make sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
Examples:
Clutching the coin, Maria ran to the shops. She went straight to the counter and
bought the sweets.
She is a pronoun. !n this example, it replaces the noun Maria. Pronouns are used "or
brevity. !magine how wearisome a long prose would be i" the writer used the "ull noun in
this case Maria every time.#
$he %&mile walk passes through pasture, parkland and woodland. !t takes you
alongside many points o" interest including a disused air"ield.
!t is a pronoun. !n this example, it replaces the %&mile walk.#
$ell the "inance team that they can use the minibus tomorrow.
$hey is a pronoun. !t replaces the "inance team.#
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns represent people or things. Pronouns may be:
Subjective Personal Pronouns
$hese are used as sub'ects in sentences. (or example:
)ou are happy.
$hey won the league.
Objective Personal Pronouns: $hese are the versions used when the personal
pronouns are ob'ects like direct ob'ects, indirect ob'ects, and ob'ects o" prepositions#.
(or example:
Paul knows her.
$he personal pronoun is a direct ob'ect.#
Paul gave them the letter.
$he personal pronoun is an indirect ob'ect.#
Paul went with him.
$he personal pronoun is an ob'ect o" a preposition.#
Choosing Personal Pronouns
*ative English speakers rarely make mistakes when selecting which personal pronoun
to use. +owever, whether we know it or not, we all select a personal pronoun having "irst
determined its:
Number
!s the personal pronoun representing something singular or plural,
Person
!s the personal pronoun representing something:
!n the "irst person, $his is the speaker himsel" or a group that includes the speaker,
i.e., !, me, we, and us.#
!n the second person, $his is the speaker-s audience, i.e., you.#
!n the third person, $his is everybody else, i.e., he, she,it, they.#
Gender
!s the personal pronoun representing something male, "emale, or neuter,
Case
!s the personal pronoun representing something which is a sub'ect or an ob'ect,
The Personal Pronouns and Their Possessive Versions
$he table below shows the sub'ective personal pronouns and the ob'ective personal
pronouns. (or completeness, it also shows the associated possessive ad'ectives and
absolute possessive pronouns.
.
Person Sub'ective
Case
/b'ective Case Possessive
Case
Possessive
0d'ective
Possessive
Case 0bsolute
Possessive
Pronouns
(irst Person
Singular
! me their mine
Second Person
Singular
you you your yours
$hird Person
Plural
he1she1it him1her1it his1her1its his1hers1its
(irst Person
Plural
we us our ours
Second Person
Plural
you you your yours
$hird Person
Singular
they them their theirs
Demonstrative Pronouns
$he demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those. 2ike all pronouns, they
replace nouns. 3emonstrative pronouns are used to replace speci"ic people or things
that have been previously mentioned or are understood "rom context#.
0 demonstrative pronoun tells us whether it is replacing something singular or plural and
whether that things# is close by or "arther away.
This and That Represent Singular Nouns
$his and that replace singular nouns.
$his represents something close by. (or example:
$his is very smelly.
$hat represents something "arther away. (or example:
)ou can smell that "rom here.
These and Those Represent Plural Nouns
$hese and those replace plural nouns.
$hese represents something close by. (or example:
$hese smell rotten.
$hose represents something "arther away. (or example:
3o not paint those.
The Difference beteen Demonstrative Pronouns and Demonstrative !djectives
$he demonstrative ad'ectives are this, that, these, and those i.e., the same words as
the demonstrative pronouns#. +owever, demonstrative ad'ectives modi"y nouns or
pronouns. $hey cannot stand alone to play the role o" a noun. (or example:
$his soup is very smelly.
)ou smell that "actory "rom here.
$hese apples smell rotten.
3o not paint those "ences.
3emonstrative ad'ectives modi"y nouns shown in bold above#.
"nterrogative Pronouns
$he main interrogative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, and what. 4hoever,
whomever, whichever, and whatever can also be interrogative pronouns.#
!nterrogative pronouns are used to ask 5uestions. $he interrogative pronoun represents
the thing that the 5uestion is about.#
Examples o" !nterrogative Pronouns
6
+ere are some examples o" interrogative pronouns shaded#:
4ho won the race,
4hom shall we ask,
4hose did they take,
4hich is the greater,
4hat is that,
*ow look at this 5uestion:
4hich "eat is the greater,
$his is not an interrogative pronoun. !t is an interrogative ad'ective. $he word which
modi"ies "eat. $here"ore, it-s an ad'ective.#
"nterrogative Pronouns #nding $ever
$he interrogative pronouns with the su""ix &ever are used "or emphasis or to show
surprise. $hey are 5uite rare. (or example:
4hoever would want to eat such a gross thing,
4hatever did you say,
%hat are "ndefinite Pronouns
0n inde"inite pronoun re"ers to a non&speci"ic person or thing.
$he most common ones are: all, any, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone,
everything, "ew, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, and someone.
2ike all pronouns, an inde"inite pronoun is a substitute "or a noun.
Examples o" !nde"inite Pronouns
+ere are some examples o" inde"inite pronouns:
0 classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.
/" those who say nothing, "ew are silent.
Everything is "unny as long as it is happening to somebody else.
Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.
! don-t know anything about music. !n my line, you don-t have to.
The Difference beteen "ndefinite Pronouns and "ndefinite !djectives
4hen a word like all, any, anyone, etc. is used as an ad'ective, it is known as an
inde"inite ad'ective. !n the examples below, the inde"inite pronouns are shaded.#
0ll in the lobby must remain seated.
$his is an inde"inite pronoun.#
0ll personnel in the lobby must remain seated.
$his is an inde"inite ad'ective. !t modi"ies personnel.#
Please take some to Mrs Chandler.
inde"inite pronoun#
Please take some lemons to Mrs Chandler.
$his is an inde"inite ad'ective. !t modi"ies lemons.#
"ndefinite Pronouns Singular or Plural
$he biggest issue with inde"inite pronouns is determining whether they are singular or
plural. +ere is a list:
7
Singular !nde"inite
Pronouns
Plural !nde"inite Pronouns !nde"inite Pronouns 4hich Can be
Singular or Plural
0nother
0nybody
0nyone
0nything
Each
Either
Enough
Everybody
Everyone
Everything
2ess
2ittle
Much
*either
*obody
*o&one
*othing
/ne
/ther
Somebody
Someone
Something
8oth
(ew
(ewer
Many
/thers
Several
0ll
0ny
More
Most
*one
Some
Such
%hat !re Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns show ownership. $he term possessive pronoun covers possessive
ad'ectives and absolute possessive pronouns.
$he possessive pronouns are:
my
your
his
her
its
our
their
whose
!bsolute Possessive Pronouns
mine
yours
his
hers
ours
theirs
Possessive Pronouns Replace Nouns
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate who or what# owns something. 2ike all
pronouns, possessive pronouns take the place o" nouns in sentences.
2ook at these examples:
$ake Sarah-s car to the party.
$ake her car to the party.
!n this example, the possessive ad'ective her replaces Sarah.#
9
$ake hers to the party.
!n this example, the absolute possessive pronoun hers replaces Sarah-s car.#
Examples o" Possessive Pronouns
8elow are examples o" possessive pronouns. $here is a mix o" possessive ad'ectives
and absolute possessive pronouns.#
$ake her spoon and put it by your plate.
$hese are both possessive ad'ectives.#
+is view is that it-s come to the end o" its working li"e.
$hese are both possessive ad'ectives.#
0nyone who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined. $his is a
possessive ad'ective.#
+umans are the only animals that have children on purpose with the exception o"
guppies, who like to eat theirs.
$his is an absolute possessive pronoun.#
4e cherish our "riends not "or their ability to amuse us, but "or ours to amuse them.
our and their : possessive ad'ectives 1 ours : absolute possessive pronoun#
Reciprocal Pronouns
0 reciprocal pronoun expresses a mutual action or relationship. !n English, the reciprocal
pronouns are:
Each other
/ne another
Examples o" ;eciprocal Pronouns
+ere are some examples o" reciprocal pronouns:
<ack and <ill hate each other.
*ote: <ack hates <ill, and <ill hates <ack. $he action is reciprocated.#
$he cray"ish starting attacking one another.
$he team members played their hearts out "or one another.
$hey gave each other presents.
+ave you seen each other-s solution,
*ote: Each other is treated as singular. $here"ore, the possessive apostrophe is
placed be"ore the s.#
$he competitors were deliberately blocking one another-s view to gain an advantage.
*ote: /ne another is treated as singular. $here"ore, the possessive apostrophe is
placed be"ore the s.#
#ach Other or One !nother
+ere-s the 5uick answer: !" the antecedent is two things, use each other. !" it-s more than
two, use one another.
+ere-s a longer explanation:
0 reciprocal pronoun is used when at least one thing reciprocates another-s action i.e.,
does the same thing back#. 0s a result, the antecedent o" a reciprocal pronoun i.e.,
what it re"ers back to# is always something plural. (or example:
/ur dog and cat love each other.
+ere, the antecedent o" each other is our dog and cat, which is plural.#
$hey love each other.
+ere, the antecedent o" each other is they, which is plural. !n this example, they
re"ers to our dog and cat.#
4hen the antecedent is two things like in both examples above#, use each other as the
reciprocal pronoun. +owever, when the antecedent is three or more things, use one
another.
2ook at these examples:
/ur two dogs and your cat love one another.
=
+ere, the antecedent o" one another is our two dogs and your cat, which is three
things.#
$hey love one another.
+ere, the antecedent o" one another is they, which we know represents three things.#
*ote: !" your readers pick you up "or using the wrong reciprocal pronoun, then you have
some world&class grammar pedants on your hands.
#ach Other&s Not #ach Others&
$he pronouns each other and one another are singular entities despite having plural
antecedents#. $here"ore, when showing possession, the apostrophe comes be"ore the s.
$his is a .>>? rule.
3o you two admire each other-s courage,
*ote: Each other is treated as singular. $here"ore, the possessive apostrophe is
placed be"ore the s.#
3o you three admire one another-s courage,
*ote: /ne another is treated as singular. $here"ore, the possessive apostrophe is
placed be"ore the s.#
%hat !re Relative Pronouns
0 relative pronoun is a pronoun that introduces an ad'ective clause. !n English, the
relative pronouns are:
$hat
4hich
4ho
4hom
4hose
0 relative pronoun is used to start a description "or a noun. $his description is called an
ad'ective clause or a relative clause.# $he description comes a"ter the noun to:
.# !denti"y it.
(or example:
$he lady who made your dress is waiting outside.
$he noun is the lady. $he relative pronoun is who. $he ad'ective clause identi"ying
the lady is shaded.#
! saw the dog which ate the cake.
$he noun being identi"ied is the dog.#
4e did not know the tune that had been playing..
$he noun being identi"ied is the tune.#
6# $ell us more in"ormation about it.
(or example:
Mrs Miggins, who owns a pie shop, is waiting outside.
$he noun is Mrs Miggins. $he ad'ective clause tells us some in"ormation about her.#
! rode my bike, which now had two "lat tyres, back home.
$he noun is my bike. $he ad'ective clause tells us some in"ormation about it.#
Relative Pronouns 'for People and Things(
)our choice o" relative pronoun is determined by whether it re"ers to a person or a thing.
)our choices are:
4ho and whom re"er to people.
4hich re"ers to things.
$hat and whose re"er to people or things.
*ote: 8e aware that a "air proportion o" your readers will not like you using that "or
people. !t is good advice to avoid using that "or people, especially in "ormal writing.
Relative Pronouns 'in Different Cases(
@
)our choice o" relative pronoun is not 'ust determined by whether it re"ers to people or
things. !t is also determined by the role the relative pronoun plays in its clause. (or
example:
People
or
$hings
Sub'ective Case /b'ective Case Possessive Case
People 4ho $he boy who
rang the bell#
4hom $he boy
whom you met#
4hose $he boy
whose bike was
stolen#
$hings 4hich $he candle
which melted#
4hich $he candle
which you made#
4hose $he candle
whose wick had
snapped#
People
/r
$hings
that
$he dog that bit the
postman#
4hich $he candle
which you made#
4hose $he dog
whose bark sounds
like cough#
%hat !re Refle)ive Pronouns
$he re"lexive pronouns are: mysel", yoursel", hersel", himsel", itsel", ourselves,
yourselves, and themselves.
$hese words can be either re"lexive pronouns or emphatic pronouns.
0 re"lexive pronoun is used with another noun or pronoun# when something does
something to itsel". (or example:
<ohn pinched himsel".
$he re"lexive pronoun himsel" tells us that <ohn did something to <ohn.#
Contrast the example above with this:
<ohn pinched his sister.
$here is no re"lexive pronoun in this example.#
Examples o" ;e"lexive Pronouns
8elow are some examples o" re"lexive pronouns. Asing a re"lexive pronoun means you
do not have to repeat the sub'ect shown here in bold#. ;epeating the sub'ect would be
clumsy.#
0lison still does not trust hersel".
0lison does not trust 0lison.#
$he members argued amongst themselves "or an hour.
$he members argued amongst the members.#
4e o"ten ask ourselves why we le"t 2ondon.
4e o"ten ask us.#
*ote: $he sub'ect is known as the antecedent o" the re"lexive pronoun.#
!denti"ying ;e"lexive Pronouns
!n most sentences, somebody does something to someone else. (or example:
! like him.
+e spoke to her.
She thumped him.
$he dog bit her.
+owever, sometimes people or things# do things to themselves, and this is when you
can use mysel", yoursel", hersel", himsel", itsel", ourselves, yourselves, and themselves
as re"lexive pronouns. (or example:
! like mysel".
+e spoke to himsel".
B
She thumped hersel".
$he dog bit itsel".
Some ;eal Examples o" ;e"lexive Pronouns
+ere are some real examples o" re"lexive pronouns:
! o"ten 5uote mysel". !t adds spice to my conversation.
4e "or"eit three&"ourths o" ourselves in order to be like other people.
!" the world should blow itsel" up, the last audible voice would be that o" an expert
saying it can-t be done.
!" history repeats itsel", and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man
be o" learning "rom experience.
*ote: Sometimes, the sub'ect can be implied. (or example:
$he ability to delude yoursel" may be an important survival tool.
$his could also have been written:
$he ability o" you to delude yoursel" may be an important survival tool.
%hat !re "ntensive Pronouns
$he intensive pronouns also called emphatic pronouns# are: mysel", yoursel", hersel",
himsel", itsel", ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
$hese words can be either intensive pronouns or re"lexive pronouns.
$his page is about their use as intensive pronouns.
Asing !ntensive Pronouns
0n intensive pronoun re"ers back to another noun or pronoun# in the sentence to
emphasiCe it. (or example:
$he mayor himsel" attended the ceremony.
$he mayor is the noun being intensi"ied. !t is called the antecedent o" the intensive
pronoun.#
4hen used "or emphasis, a word like himsel" is called an intensive pronoun which is
also known as an emphatic pronoun#.
Examples o" !ntensive Pronouns
+ere are some examples o" intensive pronouns:
She will do it hersel".
$he intensive pronoun hersel" emphasiCes that she will do it. +er husband won-t do it.
+er son won-t do it. S+E will do it.#
$he boys baked these scones themselves.
$he intensive pronoun themselves emphasiCes that the boys baked the scones, i.e.,
not their mothers.#
! heard the lie mysel".
$he intensive pronoun mysel" emphasiCes that ! heard the lie.#
*ote: !t-s not always about people:
$he dog opened the cupboard itsel".
)ou can test i" it-s an intensive pronoun by removing it and seeing i" you get the same
e""ect by emphasiCing the thing you-re trying to emphasiCe with your voice shown here
in uppercase#.
S+E will do it.
! heard the lie.
$+E 3/D opened the cupboard.
She saw Michael type it hersel"
%