Pronoun
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Definition
A Pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun to avoid repetition and make sentences smoother.Example:
Ram is a good boy. He is honest.
(Here he is used instead of Ram.)
Kinds (Types)
1. Personal PronounsPronouns that refer to specific persons or things.
Subjective Case: I, we, you, he, she, it, they
Objective Case: me, us, you, him, her, it, them
Examples:
She is my friend.
The teacher called him.
2. Possessive Pronouns
Pronouns that show possession and are not followed by a noun.
my/mine, our/ours, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, their/theirs
Objective Case: me, us, you, him, her, it, them
Examples:
She is my friend.
The teacher called him.
2. Possessive Pronouns
Pronouns that show possession and are not followed by a noun.
my/mine, our/ours, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, their/theirs
Examples:
This book is mine.
That house is theirs.
This book is mine.
That house is theirs.
3. Demonstrative Pronouns
Pronouns used to point out specific persons or things.
Pronouns used to point out specific persons or things.
Words: this, that, these, those
Examples:
This is my bag.
Those are mangoes.
Examples:
This is my bag.
Those are mangoes.
4. Reflexive Pronouns
Pronouns used when the action reflects back to the subject.
Words: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Pronouns used when the action reflects back to the subject.
Words: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Examples:
He hurt himself.
She prepared the food herself.
5. Emphatic Pronouns
Pronouns used to emphasize the subject, showing the action was done personally.
Words: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Examples:
The principal himself attended the meeting.
I myself completed the work.
Pronouns used to emphasize the subject, showing the action was done personally.
Words: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Examples:
The principal himself attended the meeting.
I myself completed the work.
6. Relative Pronouns
Pronouns that join two clauses and relate to a noun mentioned before.
Words: who, whom, whose, which, that
Examples:
This is the boy who won.
I found the book that you lost.
Pronouns that join two clauses and relate to a noun mentioned before.
Words: who, whom, whose, which, that
Examples:
This is the boy who won.
I found the book that you lost.
7. Interrogative Pronouns
Pronouns used to ask questions.
Words: who, whom, whose, which, what
Examples:
Who is calling?
What do you want?
Pronouns used to ask questions.
Words: who, whom, whose, which, what
Examples:
Who is calling?
What do you want?
8. Indefinite Pronouns
Pronouns that refer to persons or things in a general way.
Words: someone, anyone, everyone, nobody, something, many, few, all, some
Examples:
Someone is at the door.
Many were absent.
Pronouns that refer to persons or things in a general way.
Words: someone, anyone, everyone, nobody, something, many, few, all, some
Examples:
Someone is at the door.
Many were absent.
9. Distributive Pronouns
Pronouns that refer to persons or things one at a time.
Words: each, either, neither
Examples:
Each of the boys is present.
Neither of the answers is correct.
Pronouns that refer to persons or things one at a time.
Words: each, either, neither
Examples:
Each of the boys is present.
Neither of the answers is correct.
10. Reciprocal Pronouns
Pronouns used when two or more persons act on each other.
Words: each other, one another
Examples:
They helped each other.
The students respect one another.
Pronouns used when two or more persons act on each other.
Words: each other, one another
Examples:
They helped each other.
The students respect one another.
Reflexive vs Emphatic Pronouns (Clear Concept)
Reflexive Pronouns1. Used when the subject and object are the same.
2. The action comes back to the subject.
3. They are necessary for the sentence meaning.
Examples:
He hurt himself.
(He and himself = same person; action returns to him.)
If we remove the pronoun:
❌ He hurt. (Meaning incomplete)
Emphatic Pronouns
1. Used to stress or highlight the subject.
2. They are not necessary for meaning.
3. The sentence is complete even without them.
Examples:
The principal himself attended the meeting.
If we remove the pronoun:
✔ The principal attended the meeting. (Still correct)
Simple Trick for Students
If removing the pronoun changes or breaks the meaning, it is Reflexive.
If removing it does not change the meaning, it is Emphatic.
The Case of Personal Pronouns
1. First Person(Refers to the speaker)
Singular
Subject: I
Object: me
Possessive Adjective: my
Possessive Pronoun: mine
Example:
I have my book. The book is mine.
Subject: I
Object: me
Possessive Adjective: my
Possessive Pronoun: mine
Example:
I have my book. The book is mine.
Plural
Subject: we
Object: us
Possessive Adjective: our
Possessive Pronoun: ours
Example:
We completed our work. The work is ours.
Subject: we
Object: us
Possessive Adjective: our
Possessive Pronoun: ours
Example:
We completed our work. The work is ours.
2. Second Person
(Refers to the person spoken to)
(Refers to the person spoken to)
Singular & Plural (same forms)
Subject: you
Object: you
Possessive Adjective: your
Possessive Pronoun: yours
Example:
You forgot your bag. The bag is yours.
Subject: you
Object: you
Possessive Adjective: your
Possessive Pronoun: yours
Example:
You forgot your bag. The bag is yours.
3. Third Person
(Refers to the person or thing spoken about)
(Refers to the person or thing spoken about)
Singular (Masculine)
Subject: he
Object: him
Possessive Adjective: his
Possessive Pronoun: his
Example:
He lost his pen. The pen is his.
Singular (Feminine)
Subject: she
Object: her
Possessive Adjective: her
Possessive Pronoun: hers
Example:
She brought her notebook. The notebook is hers.
Subject: she
Object: her
Possessive Adjective: her
Possessive Pronoun: hers
Example:
She brought her notebook. The notebook is hers.
Singular (Neuter)
Subject: it
Object: it
Possessive Adjective: its
Possessive Pronoun: — (not used separately)
Example:
The dog wagged its tail.
Subject: it
Object: it
Possessive Adjective: its
Possessive Pronoun: — (not used separately)
Example:
The dog wagged its tail.
Plural
Subject: they
Object: them
Possessive Adjective: their
Possessive Pronoun: theirs
Example:
They finished their project. The project is theirs.
Subject: they
Object: them
Possessive Adjective: their
Possessive Pronoun: theirs
Example:
They finished their project. The project is theirs.
Important Reminder
Possessive Adjectives are used before nouns → my book, their house
Possessive Pronouns are used alone → mine, yours, theirs
A pronoun must agree in number, gender, and person with its antecedent (the noun it replaces).
Every student must bring his or her book.
The boys finished their work.
4. Singular Indefinite Pronouns Take Singular Verb
Words like: each, everyone, someone, anybody, neither, either, etc. take singular verbs.
✔ Everyone is ready.
✔ Each of the boys has arrived.
7. Possessive Rule (Very Important)
Possessive adjectives → used before noun
✔ My school
✔ Our house
Possessive pronouns → never before noun
❌ Mine book
❌ Ours school
✔ This school is ours.
8. ‘Each, Either, Neither’ Are Singular
✔ Each of the players is ready.
✔ Neither of the two answers is correct.
10. Use ‘That’ for Things, ‘Who’ for Persons
✔ The book that I bought.
11. ‘Its’ vs ‘It’s’
Its = possessive
It’s = it is
✔ The dog wagged its tail.
✔ It’s raining.
Possessive Adjectives are used before nouns → my book, their house
Possessive Pronouns are used alone → mine, yours, theirs
Important Rules
1. Agreement with AntecedentA pronoun must agree in number, gender, and person with its antecedent (the noun it replaces).
Every student must bring his or her book.
The boys finished their work.
2. Correct Case (Subject / Object / Possessive)
Use subject pronouns before verbs.
✔ She is my friend.
❌ Her is my friend.
Use object pronouns after verbs or prepositions.
✔ The teacher called him.
✔ This gift is for her.
Use subject pronouns before verbs.
✔ She is my friend.
❌ Her is my friend.
Use object pronouns after verbs or prepositions.
✔ The teacher called him.
✔ This gift is for her.
3. Order of Personal Pronouns (2–3–1 Rule)
When admitting fault or referring to multiple persons:
Second person → Third person → First person
✔ You, he and I will go.
✔ You, he and I made the mistake.
When admitting fault or referring to multiple persons:
Second person → Third person → First person
✔ You, he and I will go.
✔ You, he and I made the mistake.
✔ You and he are ready.
❌ I, you and he made the mistake.
📌 If “I” is included, it generally comes last.
4. Singular Indefinite Pronouns Take Singular Verb
Words like: each, everyone, someone, anybody, neither, either, etc. take singular verbs.
✔ Everyone is ready.
✔ Each of the boys has arrived.
5. Reflexive Pronouns Are Not Used as Subjects
❌ Myself went there.
✔ I went there.
Use reflexive pronouns only when action reflects back.
❌ Myself went there.
✔ I went there.
Use reflexive pronouns only when action reflects back.
6. Reflexive Pronoun Must Agree with Subject
✔ She hurt herself.
✔ They blamed themselves.
✔ She hurt herself.
✔ They blamed themselves.
7. Possessive Rule (Very Important)
Possessive adjectives → used before noun
✔ My school
✔ Our house
Possessive pronouns → never before noun
❌ Mine book
❌ Ours school
✔ This school is ours.
8. ‘Each, Either, Neither’ Are Singular
✔ Each of the players is ready.
✔ Neither of the two answers is correct.
9. Who vs Whom
Who → subject
Whom → object
✔ Who called you?
✔ Whom did you meet?
Who → subject
Whom → object
✔ Who called you?
✔ Whom did you meet?
10. Use ‘That’ for Things, ‘Who’ for Persons
✔ The book that I bought.
✔ The boy who won the prize.
11. ‘Its’ vs ‘It’s’
Its = possessive
It’s = it is
✔ The dog wagged its tail.
✔ It’s raining.
12. Pronoun Should Be Clear (No Ambiguity)
The pronoun must clearly refer to one noun.
❌ Ram told Shyam that he was wrong. (Who?)
✔ Ram told Shyam, “You are wrong.”
The pronoun must clearly refer to one noun.
❌ Ram told Shyam that he was wrong. (Who?)
✔ Ram told Shyam, “You are wrong.”