Pronouns

How would you feel if you had to repeat the same name or place while talking? This is why we have pronouns in English to help us escape this repetitiveness by replacing nouns. One of the basic concepts of English grammar, understanding pronounce can help you prepare for English for bank, government & competitive exams. Scroll through this blog to know about pronouns, useful list of major pronouns, types as well as examples.

Check Out: English for Competitive Exams

What is a Pronoun?

A pronoun is simply any word that takes the place of a noun. It helps us knock out the repetitive use of names, places, people or things. For example, in a sentence like ‘Ram is out with friends and Ram will be back before dawn’, using a pronoun can replace the second use of ‘Ram’ in the latter part of the sentence. So, the correct sentence would be: Ram is out with friends and he will be back before dawn.

Pronouns replace nouns in a sentence and can be in singular or plural form or at the place of the subject, object, indirect object, and more. 

Also read: Prepositions

Types of Pronouns

There are 7 main types of pronouns and are as follows:

1. Personal Pronouns
2. Possessive Pronouns
3. Reflexive Pronouns
4. Indefinite Pronouns
5. Interrogative Pronouns
6. Relative Pronouns
7. Demonstrative Pronouns

Let’s understand each of these pronouns in detail:

Pronoun	Use	Example
Personal	Replace proper nouns like names and things I always keep a book with me. We will be going to the park.	He and him She and her I and me They and them We and us
Possessive	Indicate ownership or possession of something are known as possessive pronouns This book belongs to me.	My, your, its, his, her, our, their and whose
Reflexive	Describe a course of action carried by someone on their own. This type is used when subject and verb are the same. He wrote himself a letter. She can do makeup all by herself. They can go to the amusement park themselves.	Use -self in the end Myself Himself Ourselves
Indefinite	Represent countable and uncountable nouns Bring some snacks upstairs. Everyone is present in the class today.	Some, other, none, one, anybody, everybody, and no one
Interrogative	Used as questions Where are the policemen? Who are you?	Who, what, which, whose
Relative	Indicate a relative clause or connect a clause with the sentence are relative pronouns This is the dish that was cooked by Sandhya. Which are the best books for gate?	What, who, whom, that, which, this
Demonstrative	Used to describe a thing in singular or plural form. These cannot be understood without reference or context These are beautiful clothes. This is a beautiful house.	That, this, these and those

Also Read: Active & Passive Voice

Pronouns Cases

Pronouns cases are classified into three categories, i.e. subjective, objective and possessive pronouns cases. 

1. Subject pronouns case is used to describe the subject and its complements
2. Objective pronouns case is used with objectives of verbs and prepositions
3. Possessive pronouns case are used to describe ownerships

Subjective Pronouns	Objective Pronouns	Possessive Pronouns
I	Me	My, Mine
We	Us	Our, Ours
He	Him	His
She	Her	Her
They	Them	Theirs
Who	whom	whose

Also Read: Figures of Speech

Rules of Pronouns

Now let’s take a look at the rules of pronouns:

Rule 1

Use plural pronouns when two singular nouns are connected with the help of and.

• Sanya and Priya is out with friends. (Incorrect Version)
• Sanya and Priya are out with their friends. (Correct Version)

Rule 2

Singular Pronouns should be used when singular nouns are connected by either, or, neither, nor.

• I can’t choose between these two. Neither of them are delicious. (Incorrect)
• I can’t choose between these two. Neither of them is delicious. (Correct)

Rule 3

Objective Pronouns cases should be used after the words ‘let’,’ but’,’ expect’ &’ between’.

• Everyone sang except I on the annual day (Incorrect Version)
• Everyone sang except me on the annual day (correct version)

Rule 4

Pronouns used before verb should be in the nominative case and when used after verb should in the objective case.

• I ams speaking to him.
• We are going to the park.

Rule 5

Personal nouns when replacing the nouns should be according to the nouns or agree with them.

• She loves his baby boy.
• She loves her baby boy.

Also Read English Grammar Tenses Rule with Examples

Worksheet

Here is a pronoun worksheet for you to practice:

1. After call you & ____ (I/me) must discuss few matters.
2. I took Sonia’s doll from ____ (she/her)
3. What did ___ (them/they) do about the crime rate in the city?
4. Kids are coloring in ____ (their/them) books.
5. ____ (they/ them) are wearing black for the party
6. Sonali is helping _____ (she/her) friends with homework.
7. Nayan is out,____ (his/him) paper is due tomorrow.
8. ____ (they/them) finished their homework.
9. Did she saw ___ (us/we) sneaking out?
10. Where do ____ (you/your) want to go?

1. I
2. Her
3. They
4. Their
5. They
6. Her
7. His
8. They
9. Us
10. You

FAQs

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