What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that can take place of a noun. You can use a pronoun instead of a noun in the sentences. In simple words, a Pronoun is a small category of a noun that can be a substitute for a noun.
Pronoun = Instead of a noun or on behalf of a noun.
Examples of pronouns are:
I, me, he, she, herself, you, it, that, they, each, few, who, ours, themselves, some, whose, someone, etc.
Let's understand with an example:
Ramesh saw Shweta, and he waved at her.
In the above sentence, "he" and "her" are the pronouns we use in Ramesh and Shweta's place.
Why Pronoun?
If you don't use pronouns in the sentences, you will use the same noun repeatedly in the sentence.
Example: Ramesh saw Shweta, and Ramesh waved at Shweta.
Here, we are using nouns(Ramesh and Shweta) unnecessarily, we could simply use pronouns (he and her) to avoid the repetitions of nouns.
Examples of Pronoun in the sentences:
- Ramesh is a good boy. He gets up early in the morning.
- The captain made few rules. He wanted the team to follow them.
- Shweta is a brilliant girl, I know she will top the exam.
- I am looking for Anuj since morning. Has anyone met him?
- Do you like Anuj? I don't like him. He is not friendly.
- I will talk to you later.
- You can talk to me.
- I am 28.
- Shweta will do the task herself.
- Shweta made some cakes. They look tasty.
- I have a gift for your sister. Give it to her.
- I have found a lunch box in the classroom. Is it yours?
- Your team looks good but ours is better.
- The computer restarts itself every morning.
- We told ourselves that we are lucky to be a part of the team.
- I don't need your help. I will do it myself.
Types of Pronouns
1. Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun is a word that we use as a substitute for the name of the person or thing. The personal pronouns are I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
Personal pronouns change depending on how they are used.
For example:
- For singular, use "I"
For plural use "We". - For First Person - I
For the Second person - You
For Third Person - He - For male - He
For female - She
For neuter (not masculine or feminine) - It - For the subject - we
For object - us
2. Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points to specific things using this, that, these, and those. These pronouns can tell the position of a noun as near or far.
Singular - this, that
Plural - these, those
Examples:
- This is a long way to go.
- That is my car.
- Throw these away.
- Those are the books.
- Look at that building.
- Can you see those?
- This is heavier than that.
3. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive or Ownership pronouns show that something belongs to someone. The possessive pronouns are my, our, your, his, her, its, their, mine, ours, yours, hers, theirs, etc.
Examples:
- My train is delayed.
- This is our home.
- This book is mine.
- I could find my passport but Shweta could find hers.
- I don't like my dress but I like yours.
4. Interrogative Pronouns
We use Interrogative pronouns to ask questions. There are mainly 5 interrogative pronouns: who, whom, what, which, and whose.
Examples:
- What is the name of your dog?
- Which is your favorite restaurant?
- Who is your player?
- Whom do you like you meet?
- Whose bike is this?
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place, or thing. The most common Indefinite pronouns are all, any, anyone, anything, each, everybody, few, many, several, none, some, etc.
Examples:
- Each one of you has to participate.
- Many of them have expressed their views.
- Everybody loves Ramesh.
- Everyone is happy.
- Some of them were not ready.
- It is evident that somebody murdered him.
- Can one smoke here?
- Can anyone answer the question?
6. Reflexive Pronouns
When the subject and the object of the sentence are the same, we use Reflexive pronouns. These pronouns end with -self or -selves.
The reflexive pronouns are:
myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves, oneself, itself, yourselves.
Examples:
- I see myself in the mirror every morning.
- He himself has done the work.
- Make yourselves comfortable.
- They look after themselves.
- Why are you blaming yourself?
- The wound itself healed quickly.
- It is not good to think only of oneself.
7. Relative Pronouns
The relative pronoun introduces the relative clause. It is used to refer to a noun mentioned previously.
The common relative pronouns are which, that, who, whichever, whoever, whom, whose, etc. These pronouns can be used to join two sentences.
Examples:
- The car that was stolen was mine.
- I like the person who loves nature.
- Our school, which was founded in 2000, is one of the reputed schools.
- The players, whoever the selectors select, will play the game tomorrow.
- This is John, whom you met at our house last year.
8. Reciprocal Pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns are used when two or more subjects (people or thing) are doing the same thing and experiencing the same consequences or results.
To refer to two people we normally use "each other"
To refer to more than two people, we use "one another".
Examples:
- Ramesh and Shweta helped each other.
- Ram and Ramesh were talking to each other.
- All the players were blaming one another.
