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What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which,"
"none," and "you" to make your sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.

Grammarians classify pronouns into several types, including the personal pronoun, the
demonstrative pronoun, the interrogative pronoun, the indefinite pronoun, the relative
pronoun, the reflexive pronoun, and the intensive pronoun.

Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun refers to a specific person or thing and changes its form to indicate
person, number, gender, and case.

Subjective Personal Pronouns

A subjective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the
sentence. The subjective personal pronouns are "I," "you," "she," "he," "it," "we," "you,"
"they."

In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a subjective personal pronoun
and acts as the subject of the sentence:

I was glad to find the bus pass in the bottom of the green knapsack.
You are surely the strangest child I have ever met.
He stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.
When she was a young woman, she earned her living as a coal miner.
After many years, they returned to their homeland.
We will meet at the library at 3:30 p.m.
It is on the counter.
Are you the delegates from Malagawatch?

Objective Personal Pronouns

An objective personal pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object of a verb,
compound verb, preposition, or infinitive phrase. The objective personal pronouns are: "me,"
"you," "her," "him," "it," "us," "you," and "them."

In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is an objective personal pronoun:

Seamus stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.

The objective personal pronoun "her" is the direct object of the verb "forced" and the
objective personal pronoun "him" is the object of the preposition "with."
 After reading the pamphlet, Judy threw it into the garbage can.

The pronoun "it" is the direct object of the verb "threw."

The agitated assistant stood up and faced the angry delegates and said, "Our leader
will address you in five minutes."

In this sentence, the pronoun "you" is the direct object of the verb "address."

Deborah and Roberta will meet us at the newest café in the market.

Here the objective personal pronoun "us" is the direct object of the compound verb "will
meet."

Give the list to me.

Here the objective personal pronoun "me" is the object of the preposition "to."

I'm not sure that my contact will talk to you.

Similarly in this example, the objective personal pronoun "you" is the object of the
preposition "to."

Christopher was surprised to see her at the drag races.

Here the objective personal pronoun "her" is the object of the infinitive phrase "to see."

Possessive Personal Pronouns

A possessive pronoun indicates that the pronoun is acting as a marker of possession and
defines who owns a particular object or person. The possessive personal pronouns are
"mine," "yours," "hers," "his," "its," "ours," and "theirs." Note that possessive personal
pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives like "my," "her," and "their."

In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a possessive personal pronoun:

The smallest gift is mine.

Here the possessive pronoun "mine" functions as a subject complement.

This is yours.

Here too the possessive pronoun "yours" functions as a subject complement.

His is on the kitchen counter.

In this example, the possessive pronoun "his" acts as the subject of the sentence.

Theirs will be delivered tomorrow.

In this sentence, the possessive pronoun "theirs" is the subject of the sentence.

Ours is the green one on the corner.

Here too the possessive pronoun "ours" function as the subject of the sentence.

Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points to and identifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these"
refer to things that are nearby either in space or in time, while "that" and "those" refer to
things that are farther away in space or time.

The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that," "these," and "those." "This" and "that" are used
to refer to singular nouns or noun phrases and "these" and "those" are used to refer to plural
nouns and noun phrases. Note that the demonstrative pronouns are identical to demonstrative
adjectives, though, obviously, you use them differently. It is also important to note that "that"
can also be used as a relative pronoun.

In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a demonstrative pronoun:

This must not continue.

Here "this" is used as the subject of the compound verb "must not continue."

This is puny; that is the tree I want.

In this example "this" is used as subject and refers to something close to the speaker. The
demonstrative pronoun "that" is also a subject but refers to something farther away from the
speaker.

Three customers wanted these.

Here "these" is the direct object of the verb "wanted."

Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns are "who,"
"whom," "which," "what" and the compounds formed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever,"
"whomever," "whichever," and "whatever"). Note that either "which" or "what" can also be
used as an interrogative adjective, and that "who," "whom," or "which" can also be used as a
relative pronoun.

You will find "who," "whom," and occasionally "which" used to refer to people, and "which"
and "what" used to refer to things and to animals.

"Who" acts as the subject of a verb, while "whom" acts as the object of a verb, preposition, or
a verbal.

The highlighted word in each of the following sentences is an interrogative pronoun:

 Which wants to see the dentist first?

"Which" is the subject of the sentence.

Who wrote the novel Rockbound?

Similarly "who" is the subject of the sentence.

Whom do you think we should invite?

In this sentence, "whom" is the object of the verb "invite."

To whom do you wish to speak?

Here the interrogative pronoun "whom " is the object of the preposition "to."

Who will meet the delegates at the train station?

In this sentence, the interrogative pronoun "who" is the subject of the compound verb "will
meet."

To whom did you give the paper?

In this example the interrogative pronoun "whom" is the object of the preposition "to."

What did she say?

Here the interrogative pronoun "what" is the direct object of the verb "say."

Relative Pronouns
You can use a relative pronoun is used to link one phrase or clause to another phrase or
clause. The relative pronouns are "who," "whom," "that," and "which." The compounds
"whoever," "whomever," and "whichever" are also relative pronouns.

You can use the relative pronouns "who" and "whoever" to refer to the subject of a clause or
sentence, and "whom" and "whomever" to refer to the objects of a verb, a verbal or a
preposition.

In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a relative pronoun.

You may invite whomever you like to the party.

The relative pronoun "whomever" is the direct object of the compound verb "may invite."

The candidate who wins the greatest popular vote is not always elected.
In this sentence, the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb "wins" and introduces the
subordinate clause "who wins the greatest popular vote." This subordinate clause acts as an
adjective modifying "candidate."

In a time of crisis, the manager asks the workers whom she believes to be the most
efficient to arrive an hour earlier than usual.

In this sentence "whom" is the direct object of the verb "believes" and introduces the
subordinate clause "whom she believes to be the most efficient". This subordinate clause
modifies the noun "workers."

Whoever broke the window will have to replace it.

Here "whoever" functions as the subject of the verb "broke."

The crate which was left in the corridor has now been moved into the storage closet.

In this example "which" acts as the subject of the compound verb "was left" and introduces
the subordinate clause "which was left in the corridor." The subordinate clause acts as an
adjective modifying the noun "crate."

I will read whichever manuscript arrives first.

Here "whichever" modifies the noun "manuscript" and introduces the subordinate clause
"whichever manuscript arrives first." The subordinate clause functions as the direct object of
the compound verb "will read."

Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun referring to an identifiable but not specified person or
thing. An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all, any, none, or some.

The most common indefinite pronouns are "all," "another," "any," "anybody," "anyone,"
"anything," "each," "everybody," "everyone," "everything," "few," "many," "nobody," "none,"
"one," "several," "some," "somebody," and "someone." Note that some indefinite pronouns
can also be used as indefinite adjectives.

The highlighted words in the following sentences are indefinite pronouns:

Many were invited to the lunch but only twelve showed up.

Here "many" acts as the subject of the compound verb "were invited."

The office had been searched and everything was thrown onto the floor.

In this example, "everything" acts as a subject of the compound verb "was thrown."

We donated everything we found in the attic to the woman's shelter garage sale.
In this sentence, "everything" is the direct object of theverb "donated."

Although they looked everywhere for extra copies of the magazine, they found none.

Here too the indefinite pronoun functions as a direct object: "none" is the direct object of
"found."

Make sure you give everyone a copy of the amended bylaws.

In this example, "everyone" is the indirect object of the verb "give" -- the direct object is the
noun phrase "a copy of the amended bylaws."

Give a registration package to each.

Here "each" is the object of the preposition "to."

Reflexive Pronouns
You can use a reflexive pronoun to refer back to the subject of the clause or sentence.

The reflexive pronouns are "myself," "yourself," "herself," "himself," "itself," "ourselves,"
"yourselves," and "themselves." Note each of these can also act as an intensive pronoun.

Each of the highlighted words in the following sentences is a reflexive pronoun:

Diabetics give themselves insulin shots several times a day.

The Dean often does the photocopying herself so that the secretaries can do more
important work.
After the party, I asked myself why I had faxed invitations to everyone in my office
building.
Richard usually remembered to send a copy of his e-mail to himself.
Although the landlord promised to paint the apartment, we ended up doing it
ourselves.

Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used to emphasise its antecedent. Intensive pronouns are
identical in form to reflexive pronouns.

The highlighted words in the following sentences are intensive pronouns:

I myself believe that aliens should abduct my sister.

The Prime Minister himself said that he would lower taxes.
They themselves promised to come to the party even though they had a final exam at
the same time.

Written by Heather MacFadyen

http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos6.htm

Parts of Speech
Chapter 6  - Pronouns

A pronoun is often defined as a word which can be used instead of a noun.  For example,
instead of saying John is a student, the pronoun he can be used in place of the noun John
and the sentence becomes He is a student.  We use pronouns very often, especially so
that we do not have to keep on repeating a noun.  This chapter is about the kind of
pronoun called a personal pronoun because it often refers to a person.  Like nouns,
personal pronouns sometimes have singular and plural forms (I-we, he-they).

Unlike nouns, personal pronouns sometimes have different forms for masculine/male,
feminine/female and neuter  (he-she-it).  Also unlike nouns, personal pronouns have
different forms depending on if  they act as subjects or objects (he-him, she-her).  A
subject is a word which does an action and usually comes before the verb, and an object
is a word that receives an action and usually comes after the verb.  For example, in the
sentence Yesterday Susan called her mother, Susan is the subject and mother is the
object.  The pronoun she can be used instead of Susan and the pronoun her can be used
instead of mother.  The form of a personal pronoun also changes according to what
person is referred to.  Person is used here as a grammar word and means:
1st person or the self (I, me, we),
2nd person or the person spoken to (you),
3rd person or the person spoken about (he, she, him, her, they, them).

There is also a possessive form of the pronoun.  Just as we can make a noun possessive as
in the sentence That is my father's book to mean That is the book of my father, we can
make the pronoun possessive and say That book is his.  There are possessive adjective
forms (such as my, your, his, her etc.) that are discussed with other adjectives in chapter
4.  Possessive pronouns can stand by themselves without nouns, but possessive adjectives,
like other adjectives, are used together with nouns.

There is also an intensive form of the pronoun which intensifies or emphasizes the noun
that it comes after as in the sentence I myself saw him.  The reflexive form of the
pronoun looks exactly like the intensive form but is used when the subject and object of a
verb refers to the same person as in the sentence I saw myself in the mirror.

All of this may sound confusing, but if you study the chart below, it will be clearer:

Singular
Intensive 
Person Subject Object Possessive
Reflexive
1st I me mine Myself
2nd you you yours Yourself
3rd he/she/it him/her/it his/hers himself/herself/itself
Plural
Intensive 
Person Subject Object Possessive
Reflexive
1st we us ours Ourselves
2nd you you yours Yourselves
3rd they them theirs Themselves
Notice that the form you is the same for subject and object, singular and plural and that
there is no neuter singular possessive form.

There are also interrogative pronouns (who, which, what) used for asking questions and
relative pronouns (who, which, what, that) used in complex sentences which will be
discussed in another place.  Some grammar books also talk about demonstrative
pronouns (this, that, these, those) and indefinite pronouns (some, all, both, each, etc.)
which are very similar to adjectives and do not need to be discussed here.

Review this lesson as many times as you want, and when you are ready, take the pop
quiz on this chapter.

©2002 INTERLINK LanguageCenters - Created by Mark Feder