PRONOUN
Definition
Pronouns are small words that take the place of a noun. The word or phrase replaced by a pronoun is called an antecedent. For example:
When Robert was fixing the car,he cut his hand
(Robert is a noun. He is a pronoun that refers to the antecedent, Robert)
We can use a pronoun instead of a noun. Pronouns are words like: he,you,ours,themselves,some,each,etc. If we didn’t have pronouns,we would have to repeat a lot of nouns. We would have to say things like:
With pronouns, we can say :
FUNCTION
Pronouns are used to:
❖ Refer to a noun (called its antecedent) that usually comes before the pronoun.
❖ Make your writing clearer,smoother,and less awkward.
Pay attention to the examples below. Decide which ones the antecedents are and which ones the pronouns are:
1) Roberto feels that he can win the race.
2) Terry and Jim know that they are best friends
In the first sentence, the noun antecedent is Roberto and he is the pronoun. In the second sentence, Terry and Jim are the noun antecedents and they is the pronoun.
KINDS
A. PERSONAL PRONOUN
Personal pronouns represent specific people or things. They are used depending on:
Example :
● I like coffee
● John helped me
● Do you like coffee
● John loves you
● He runs fast
● Did Ram beat him?
● She is clever
● Does Mary know her?
● It doesn’t work
● Can the engineer repair it?
● We went home
● Anthony drove us
● Do you need a table for three?
● Did John and Mary beat you at doubles?
● They played doubles
● John and Mary beat them
B.DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
A demonstrative pronoun represents a thing or things:
● Near in distance or time (this,these)
● Far in distance or time (that,those)
Example :
◆ This tastes good
◆ Have you seen this?
◆ These are bad times
◆ Do you like these?
◆ That is beautiful
◆ Look at that!
◆ Those were the days!
◆ Can you see those?
◆ This is heavier than that
◆ These are bigger than those
C.POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Possessive pronouns are used to refer to a specific person/people or thing/things (the “antecedent”) belonging to a person/people (and sometimes belonging to an animal/animals or thing/things).
We use possessive pronouns depending on:
Examples:
✔ Look at these pictures. Mine is the big one. (subject= my picture)
✔ I like your flowers. Do you like mine? (object= my flowers)
✔ I looked everywhere for your key. I found John’s key but i couldn’t find yours (object=your key)
✔ My flowers are dying. Yours are lovely. (subject=your flowers)
✔ Here is your car. Ours is over there,where we left it. (subject=our car)
✔ Your photos are good. Ours are terrible. ( subject= our photos)
D.INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
Interrogative Pronouns are used to ask questions. The interrogative pronoun represents the thing no known (what we are asking the question about). There are four main interrogative pronoun: who,whom,what,which. Notice that the possessive pronoun whose can also be an interrogative pronoun (an interrogative possessive pronoun).
Look at these example questions. In the sample answer,the noun phrase that the interrogative pronoun represents is shown in bold.
E.REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
A reflexive pronoun is used when one wants to refer back to the subject of the sentence or clause. Reflexive pronouns end in “self “(singular) or “selves “(plural).
There are eight reflexive pronouns:
Look at these examples:
F.RECIPROCAL PRONOUN
Reciprocal pronoun is used when each of two or more subjects is acting in the same way towards the other. For example, A is talking to B. and B is talking to A. therefore the two sentences can be combined as follows:
❖ A and B are talking to each other.
OR
❖ A,B and C are talking to one another.
The action is “reciprocated”. john talks to Mary and Mary talks to John. I give you a present and you give me a present. The dog bites the cat and the cat bites the dog.
There are only two reciprocal pronouns,and they are both two words:
● Each other
● One another
When these reciprocal pronouns are used:
● There must be two or more people,things or groups involved (so we cannot use reciprocal pronouns with I,you [singular],he/she/it),and.
● They must be doing the same thing
Look at other examples below:
◆ John and Mary love each other.
◆ Peter and David hate each other.
◆ The ten prisoners were all blaming one another.
◆ Both teams played hard against each other.
◆ We gave each other gifts.
G.INDEFINITE PRONOUN
An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person,thing or amount. It is vague and “not definite “. some typical indefinite pronouns are:
● All,another,any,anybody/anyone,anything,each,everybody/everyone,everything,few,many,nobody,none,one,several,some,somebody/someone
Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at “another “ in the following sentences:
1) He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)
2) I’d like another drink,please. (adjective)
Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun should also agree (in number and gender). look at these examples:
● Each of the players has a doctor.
● I met two girls. One has given me her phone number.
Similarly,plural pronouns need plural agreement:
● Many have expressed their views.
H.RELATIVE PRONOUN
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that introduces a relative clause. It is called a “relative “ pronoun because it “relates “ to the word that it modifies.
There are five relative pronouns: who,whom,whose,which,that. Who (subject) and whom (object) are generally only for people. Whose is for possession (for people or things). which is for things. That can be used for people** and things and as subject and object in defining relative clauses (clauses that are essential to the sentences and don’t simply add extra information). Relative pronouns can refer to singular or plural,and there is no difference between male and female. Look at these examples showing defining and non-defining relative clauses:
I.PRONOUN CASE
Pronouns (and nouns) in english display “case “ according to their function in the sentences. Their function can be:
⮚ Subjective (they act as the subject)
⮚ Objective (they act as the object)
⮚ Possessive (they show possession of something else)
The following table shows the different forms for pronouns depending on case
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