PRONOUNS

What is Pronoun?Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. We can use a pronoun instead of a noun. If we didn’t have pronouns, we would have to repeat a lot of nouns. We would have to say things like:

• Do you like the president? I don’t like the president. The president is too pompous.

With pronouns, we can say:

• Do you like the president? I don’t like him. He is too pompous.

KINDS and FUNCTIONS of

PRONOUNS

Pronouns (and nouns) in English display “case” according to their function in the sentence.The function can be:1. subjective (they act as a subject)2. objective (they act as the object)3. possessive (they show possession of something

else)

SingularSpeaker Subjective/Nominative

CaseObjective Case Possessive Case

First Person I me my (mine)

Second Person you you your (yours)

Third Person

Masculine: he Masculine: him Masculine: his

Feminine: she Feminine: her Feminine: hers

Neuter: it Neuter: it Neuter: its

PluralFirst Person we us our (ours)

Second Person you you your (yours)

Third Person All genders: they them their (theirs)

Example:A problem of case: Mary and I or Mary or me?

1. Mary and I are delighted to be here today.(NOT Mary and me)

2. The letter was addressed to Mary and me.(NOT Mary and I)

ExplanationIn Sentence 1, Mary and I are subjects, which is why the pronoun takes the subjective case (“I”).

In Sentence 2, Mary and I are subjects, which is why the pronoun takes the objective case (“me”)

Compound Personal PronounsCompound personal pronouns are personal pronouns to which the suffix –self (or the plural –selves) is added.

Examples:

myself yourself thyself himself itself

herself themselves ourselves yourselves

Reflexive PronounsReflexive pronouns are compound personal pronouns that “reflect” the action of the verb back to the subject.

Example:They can defend themselves.

He hit himself on the thumb with a hammer.

Intensive PronounsIntensive pronouns are compound personal pronouns used for emphasis.

Examples:They themselves can defend the fort.

He himself did the work.

Take note!Compound personal pronouns should be limited to the reflexive and intensive uses as explained on the previous slides. They should not be used in the place of personal pronouns.

Examples:Alice and myself will be there to help. (Incorrect)Alice and I will be there to help. (Correct)

Interrogative PronounsInterrogative pronouns are used to ask a question.

Examples:

who whom whose which

what

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN WHOSingular and Plural

Simple/Compound Nominative Case Objective Case Possessive Case

Simple who whom Whose

Compound whoever whomever whosever

Demonstrative PronounsDemonstrative pronouns point out the person or thing referred.

Examples:

this these that those

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns do not point out definite persons or things and do not usually have antecedents (word for which the pronoun stands)

Indefinite PronounsSingular

each either neither one

everybody everyone anybody anyone

somebody someone nobody no one

Plural both few Several many

Singular/Plural

someany none all

most

Numerical PronounsNumerical pronouns can either be cardinal or ordinal numbers and are used to take the place of nouns in sentence.

Cardinal Numbers one two three

Nominal Numbers first second third

Reciprocal PronounsReciprocal pronouns indicate an exchange of action in accordance with what is suggested by the verb.

Examples:

Each other- used when two persons or things are involvedOne another- used when more than two persons or things are involved.

Relative PronounsRelative pronouns are used to introduce dependent clauses.

Examples:

who whom whose whichthat

Sources

• Smart English by San Miguel, et. al. (pages 20-22)• Merriam-Webster Dictionary Mobile App• English Grammar Mobile App