Pronoun and Its Types

What is Pronoun?

Definition

A pronoun is a word used as a substitute for a noun. It refers to the specific person, place, or thing mentioned earlier in that sentence. It helps to avoid the repetition of the same noun again and again.

He, she, it, you, I, me, they, him, her, his, them, all, anyone, someone, are some examples of pronouns.

Pronoun Sentence Examples:

1. Emma is my best friend. She lives in our neighborhood. She loves reading and cooking.
2. I buy a new mobile. It has a 32 MP selfie camera. It is a dual sim mobile. 

 Types Of Pronouns

These are types of pronouns.

• Personal 
• Possessive 
• Demonstrative
• Reflexive 
• Relative
• Interrogative
• Intensive
• Indefinite

Pronoun types

1. Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns are used as a substitute for the person's name. 

When these pronouns come at the place of a subject of  sentence they are known as the subject pronoun i.e. I, you, he, she, it, they, etc.

Examples 

• James lost his keys. He found it everywhere but couldn't find it. 

• Lora is a chef by profession. She has tried almost every recipe. She has been working since 2010.

When these pronouns substitute the object name they are known as the object pronouns.

Examples 

• I hit the wooden table with an ax. I hit it many times but it was too hard.

• He gave me some good ideas.

• He called them and told them about the current situation.

2. Possessive pronouns

 

These pronouns show possession of a noun. Mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs are some examples.

Example

• He lost his mobile at the beach.
• The children are playing with their cats.
• She is doing her hair.

3. Demonstrative pronouns

These pronouns are used to point out specific people, things, animals, and places. i.e. is. These pronouns can be used as either a subject or an object.

Example

• This is the road where accident happened.
• I don't like that style.
• These are my new shoes.
• I wrote with this pen.
• He broke that mug yesterday.

4. Reflexive

"Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the clause or sentence". 

himself, herself, itself, myself, yourself(single), themselves, ourselves, yourselves(plural)

Reflexive pronouns

Examples

• I bought a new car for myself.
• They are planning to save some money for themselves.
• She made this decision by herself.   

5. Intensive pronouns

These pronouns come right after the subject and emphasize on the subject. They are also known as emphatic pronouns.

They are similar to the reflexive pronouns but they are not necessary for the sentence.

Examples 

• I myself write this.
• He himself will organize everything.
• They themselves performed on the stage.
• She herself planted these vegetables.

6. Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns links a clause or phrase to the noun or pronoun. 

They also connect an independent clause or phrase to a dependent clause(sentence).

who, whom, which, what, that, whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever

Examples

• The person, who met me in the bus was my friend.
• Suggest a movie, which you liked the most.
• This is what I want.
• Order now whatever you want to eat.

7. Indefinite pronouns

These are the pronouns that don't refer to any specific noun or pronoun.

some, any, none, anybody, anyone, all, both, each, everyone, someone, somebody, nobody, few, many, several, some, most, etc.

Examples 

• Many of the students don't like grammar.
• Some of them are still working.
• Everyone is busy.
• Somebody try to  snatch her bag.
• I liked both flavors.

8. Interrogative pronouns

'Interrogative pronouns are pronouns used to ask questions about unknown people or things'.

The interrogative pronouns are who, whom, which, and what.

Examples

• Who is in the car?
• Which is your favorite?
• Whose bag is this?

Don't confuse determiners(that come before a noun) with Interrogative pronouns. These pronouns always replace a noun.

9. Determiners

"A distributive pronoun considers members of a group separately, rather than collectively" They include each, either, neither, anyone, no  one, none etc.

Examples

• None of them helped me.
• Each of them performed well.
• Everyone can participate in debates.
• I may sold either of these two laptops.

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