KINDS OF PRONOUNS
A. Personal Pronouns
| Singular/Plural | Subjective | Objective | Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | I | me | my, mine |
| 2nd Person | you | you | your, yours |
| 3rd Person | he she it |
him her, hers it |
his her, hers its |
| 1st Person | we | us | our, ours |
| 2nd Person | you | you | your, yours |
| 3rd Person | they | them | their, theirs |
⮚ If the pronouns are in the singular form we should order:
i. Second person in the first position
ii. Third person in the second position
iii. First person in the third position
Remember: 231 persons (singular pronoun)
Example:
You, He & I are invited to the wedding party.
⮚ If the pronouns are in plural form the order is:
i. First person in the first position
ii. second person in the second position
iii. Third person in the third position.
Remember: 123 persons (the plural form).
Example:
⮚ If the pronouns are in plural form the order is:
i. First person in the first position
ii. second person in the second position
iii. Third person in the third position.
Remember: 123 persons (the plural form).
Example:
We, You & they were absent yesterday.
Use of Personal Pronouns
Subjective pronoun
a. The subject pronoun is used in the subject position of a sentence before the main verb with a noun.
Examples:
They are going to a party tonight.
You, he and I have done well.
b. The subjective case of the pronoun must be used if the pronoun is an appositive of a subject.
Example:
The two of us-he and I did not agree to her proposal.
c. Subjective pronouns can be the complements of the verb to be.
Examples:
It is I.
It was he who chose the colour.
d. Subjective pronouns are used to be infinitive when it has no clear subject.
Examples:
I would not want to be he.
The winner was certain to be he.
e. Subjective pronouns are used in the comparison is held between two nominatives.
Examples:
You run faster than he.
He is as tall as I.
Objective pronouns
a. The objective case of the pronoun must be used if the pronoun is a direct or indirect object and the object of a preposition.
Examples:
You saved Rohit and her.
There is no enmity between you and me.
They prohibited you and me from playing in the street.
b. Objective pronouns are used after 'than' and 'as . . . as' when the comparison is held between two objectives.
Examples:
He loves you as much as me.
She respects you less than me.
c. We use objective pronouns after the transitive verb Let.
Examples:
Let him go.
Let him do what he wants.
d. Like and unlike following objective pronouns when they are treated as prepositions.
Examples:
You are like her.
He is unlike them in every respect.
e. Words such as but and except, when they are used as prepositions, take object pronouns.
Examples:
Everyone was there but me.
Nobody but her would do a thing like that.
B. Demonstrative Pronouns
this → singular → (near)
Use of Personal Pronouns
Subjective pronoun
a. The subject pronoun is used in the subject position of a sentence before the main verb with a noun.
Examples:
They are going to a party tonight.
You, he and I have done well.
b. The subjective case of the pronoun must be used if the pronoun is an appositive of a subject.
Example:
The two of us-he and I did not agree to her proposal.
c. Subjective pronouns can be the complements of the verb to be.
Examples:
It is I.
It was he who chose the colour.
d. Subjective pronouns are used to be infinitive when it has no clear subject.
Examples:
I would not want to be he.
The winner was certain to be he.
e. Subjective pronouns are used in the comparison is held between two nominatives.
Examples:
You run faster than he.
He is as tall as I.
Objective pronouns
a. The objective case of the pronoun must be used if the pronoun is a direct or indirect object and the object of a preposition.
Examples:
You saved Rohit and her.
There is no enmity between you and me.
They prohibited you and me from playing in the street.
b. Objective pronouns are used after 'than' and 'as . . . as' when the comparison is held between two objectives.
Examples:
He loves you as much as me.
She respects you less than me.
c. We use objective pronouns after the transitive verb Let.
Examples:
Let him go.
Let him do what he wants.
d. Like and unlike following objective pronouns when they are treated as prepositions.
Examples:
You are like her.
He is unlike them in every respect.
e. Words such as but and except, when they are used as prepositions, take object pronouns.
Examples:
Everyone was there but me.
Nobody but her would do a thing like that.
B. Demonstrative Pronouns
this → singular → (near)
that → singular → (far)
these → plural → (near)
those → plural → (far)
Demonstrative pronouns can also be used as determiners.
Example:
Hand me that hammer.
Demonstrative pronouns can also be used as qualifiers
Example:
She wanted that much money?
C. Reflexive / Intensive Pronouns: the "self" pronouns
These pronouns can be used only to reflect or intensify a word already there in the sentence.
Reflexive / intensive pronouns cannot replace personal pronouns.
Examples:
I saw myself in the mirror.
I’ll do it myself.
Note: The following words are substandard and should not be used: theirselves theirself hisself ourself
Example:
Hand me that hammer.
Demonstrative pronouns can also be used as qualifiers
Example:
She wanted that much money?
C. Reflexive / Intensive Pronouns: the "self" pronouns
These pronouns can be used only to reflect or intensify a word already there in the sentence.
Reflexive / intensive pronouns cannot replace personal pronouns.
Examples:
I saw myself in the mirror.
I’ll do it myself.
Note: The following words are substandard and should not be used: theirselves theirself hisself ourself
D. Indefinite Pronouns
Singular:
one
someone
anyone
no one
everyone
each
somebody
anybody
nobody
everybody
(n)either
something
anything
nothing
everything
Examples:
Somebody is coming to dinner.
Neither of us believes a word Harry says.
Plural:
both
Singular:
one
someone
anyone
no one
everyone
each
somebody
anybody
nobody
everybody
(n)either
something
anything
nothing
everything
Examples:
Somebody is coming to dinner.
Neither of us believes a word Harry says.
Plural:
both
few
several
Examples
Both are expected at the airport at the same time.
Several have suggested cancelling the meeting.
Singular with non-countable / Plural with countable:
some
Examples
Both are expected at the airport at the same time.
Several have suggested cancelling the meeting.
Singular with non-countable / Plural with countable:
some
any
none
all
most
Examples:
Some of the dirt has become a permanent part of the rug.
Some of the trees have been weakened by the storm.
Indefinite pronouns use apostrophes to indicate possessive cases.
Examples:
The accident is nobody’s fault.
How will the roadwork affect one's daily commute?
Some indefinite pronouns may also be used as determiners.
one, each, either, neither, some, any, one, all, both, few, several, many, most
Note: Singular indefinite pronouns have singular forms like he, him, her, himself, etc.
Examples:
Everybody should do his duty.
E. Interrogative Pronouns:
Interrogative pronouns produce information questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. (who whose whom which what)
Examples:
What do you want?
Who is there?
Examples:
Some of the dirt has become a permanent part of the rug.
Some of the trees have been weakened by the storm.
Indefinite pronouns use apostrophes to indicate possessive cases.
Examples:
The accident is nobody’s fault.
How will the roadwork affect one's daily commute?
Some indefinite pronouns may also be used as determiners.
one, each, either, neither, some, any, one, all, both, few, several, many, most
Note: Singular indefinite pronouns have singular forms like he, him, her, himself, etc.
Examples:
Everybody should do his duty.
E. Interrogative Pronouns:
Interrogative pronouns produce information questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. (who whose whom which what)
Examples:
What do you want?
Who is there?
F. Distributive Pronouns:
Distributive pronouns like: each, either and neither are singular and take a singular verb.
Examples:
Each of the girls was wearing a red frock.
Either of these three candidates can be selected.
a) Each is used before the main verb, and after the object if there is a phrase following it.
Examples
We have each advised him to give up drinking.
We gave them each some money.
b) Each and every is not the same. Each can be followed by of and may occur after subject, but every can not be followed by of and doesn't occur after subject.
Examples:
Each of them went there.
They each want to deal with us.
c) 'Anyone' or 'Any' and None should be used in speaking of more than two persons or things
Examples:
She was more beautiful than anyone (not either) of her three sisters.
I did not buy any one of the four books.
None of the flowers is fresh.
G. Reciprocal Pronouns
The compound pronouns, which express mutual action or relation, are called reciprocal pronouns.
Distributive pronouns like: each, either and neither are singular and take a singular verb.
Examples:
Each of the girls was wearing a red frock.
Either of these three candidates can be selected.
a) Each is used before the main verb, and after the object if there is a phrase following it.
Examples
We have each advised him to give up drinking.
We gave them each some money.
b) Each and every is not the same. Each can be followed by of and may occur after subject, but every can not be followed by of and doesn't occur after subject.
Examples:
Each of them went there.
They each want to deal with us.
c) 'Anyone' or 'Any' and None should be used in speaking of more than two persons or things
Examples:
She was more beautiful than anyone (not either) of her three sisters.
I did not buy any one of the four books.
None of the flowers is fresh.
G. Reciprocal Pronouns
The compound pronouns, which express mutual action or relation, are called reciprocal pronouns.
They include each other and one another.
⮚ Each other is usually used in speaking of two persons or things and one another when speaking about more than two.
Examples:
The two brothers loved each other.
We should all love one another.
H. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns introduce relative (adjectival) clauses.
Examples:
That is the person whom I love.
The person who gets the highest score gets the gold medal.
The car that we bought doesn't run well.
The relative pronouns are which, that, whom, whose etc.
who or whom pronouns
Who is used when the blank is followed by the verb and whom is used when there is a noun or pronoun after the blank.
Examples:
The she is my teacher who is a religious lady.
The person whom I met yesterday was my brother-in-law.
Note: Whom may be preceded by preposition whereas who takes preposition at end of the sentence.
Examples:
Monika, for whom I was working was very generous about overtime payment.
Monika, who/whom I was working for was very generous about overtime payment.
⮚ Each other is usually used in speaking of two persons or things and one another when speaking about more than two.
Examples:
The two brothers loved each other.
We should all love one another.
H. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns introduce relative (adjectival) clauses.
Examples:
That is the person whom I love.
The person who gets the highest score gets the gold medal.
The car that we bought doesn't run well.
The relative pronouns are which, that, whom, whose etc.
who or whom pronouns
Who is used when the blank is followed by the verb and whom is used when there is a noun or pronoun after the blank.
Examples:
The she is my teacher who is a religious lady.
The person whom I met yesterday was my brother-in-law.
Note: Whom may be preceded by preposition whereas who takes preposition at end of the sentence.
Examples:
Monika, for whom I was working was very generous about overtime payment.
Monika, who/whom I was working for was very generous about overtime payment.
Which or that
Which is used for things without life and for animals Whereas that is used for both persons and things.
Examples:
The house which had been lying vacant for a long time has been sold off.
This is the man that I have been speaking of.
I have lost the watch that my father had presented me.
Note: Which is used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clause whereas that is used in the only restrictive clause which doesn't have commas.
Whose
Whose is used for possessive pronouns or nouns to show possession.
Example:
The house whose walls are painted looks beautiful.
What
What refers to things only. Its antecedent is not expressed. It actually means that which or the thing which
Examples:
What cannot be cured must be endured.
We have found what we have been looking for.
Which is used for things without life and for animals Whereas that is used for both persons and things.
Examples:
The house which had been lying vacant for a long time has been sold off.
This is the man that I have been speaking of.
I have lost the watch that my father had presented me.
Note: Which is used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clause whereas that is used in the only restrictive clause which doesn't have commas.
Whose
Whose is used for possessive pronouns or nouns to show possession.
Example:
The house whose walls are painted looks beautiful.
What
What refers to things only. Its antecedent is not expressed. It actually means that which or the thing which
Examples:
What cannot be cured must be endured.
We have found what we have been looking for.
as
The word as is also sometimes used as a relative pronoun. It is used after the word such and sometimes after the word same.
Examples:
He is such a leader as the country needs today.
His problem is the same as yours.
The word as is also sometimes used as a relative pronoun. It is used after the word such and sometimes after the word same.
Examples:
He is such a leader as the country needs today.
His problem is the same as yours.
more on use of that
a. We use that after adjectives in the superlative degree.
Examples:
Aalam is the best bowler that we have produced.
Even the most foolish person that ever lived may be able to teach us something.
b. We use that after the words 'all', 'same', 'any', 'none', 'nothing', 'only', 'little', 'much', 'everything'
Examples:
All that glitters is not gold.
Nothing that I did please my father.
c. When a sentence has two nouns, one denoting a person and the other a thing, we naturally prefer to use that
Examples:
Both the car and its driver that now came into sight looked.
d. That is also used after the interrogative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, what, etc.
Examples:
Who that I know has hurt you ?
Whose is this house that looks exceptionally beautiful?
a. We use that after adjectives in the superlative degree.
Examples:
Aalam is the best bowler that we have produced.
Even the most foolish person that ever lived may be able to teach us something.
b. We use that after the words 'all', 'same', 'any', 'none', 'nothing', 'only', 'little', 'much', 'everything'
Examples:
All that glitters is not gold.
Nothing that I did please my father.
c. When a sentence has two nouns, one denoting a person and the other a thing, we naturally prefer to use that
Examples:
Both the car and its driver that now came into sight looked.
d. That is also used after the interrogative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, what, etc.
Examples:
Who that I know has hurt you ?
Whose is this house that looks exceptionally beautiful?
Also, Read our other Notes of English for Entrance Exams:
- Article
- Connectives
- Number
- Concord
- Tense Use
- Causative Verbs
- Conditional Sentence
- Voice
- Reported Speech
- Transformation
- Gerund / To-Infinitive
- Sentence Pattern
- Agreement & Disagreement
- Inversion
- Adjectives
- Embedded Question
- Illogical participle Modifiers
- Preposition
- Question Tag
- Pronouns
- Commonly Confused Words
- One Word Substitution
- Words of Comparision
- Specialists
- Phobias
- Killing & Killers
- Graphy Words