Pronouns are a type of word that is used to replace or refer to a noun. They can be used to avoid repetition, clarify meaning, and make sentences more fluid. There are several different types; including personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, interrogative, and relative pronouns.
Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun. We use pronouns so we do not have to repeat nouns again and again.
Examples:
(Without Pronouns)
David is an artist. David teaches art at the university. The university let’s David exhibit David’s paintings at the university’s gallery. David has also painted the ceiling of the gallery on his own.
(With Pronouns)
David is an artist. He teaches art at the university. The university lets him exhibit his paintings at the university’s gallery. He has also painted the ceiling of the gallery himself. “
Types of Pronoun
There are many different types of pronouns that we can use instead of nouns in different ways.
-
Subject pronoun
is the one doing the action and object pronoun is the one receiving the action.
Example:
She will show them the way.
-
Possessive adjectives
are technically classified as adjectives and not pronouns, but together with possessive pronouns they show possession or ownership. We use possessive adjectives before nouns and possessive pronouns after nouns. We do not repeat the noun after possessive pronouns.
Example:
That is my shirt. (Possessive adjective)
That shirt is mine. (Possessive pronoun)
-
Reflexive pronouns
are used to refer back to the subject.
Example:
Bob made the letterbox himself.
|
|
Subject Pronoun |
Object Pronoun |
Possessive Adjective |
Possessive Pronoun |
Reflexive Pronouns |
|
1st person singular |
I |
me |
my |
mine |
myself |
|
1st person plural |
we |
us |
our |
ours |
ourselves |
|
2nd person singular |
you |
you |
your |
yours |
yourself |
|
2nd person plural |
you |
you |
your |
yours |
yourselves |
|
3rd person singular (Male) |
he |
him |
his |
his |
himself |
|
3rd person singular (Female) |
she |
her |
her |
hers |
herself |
|
3rd person singular (Nonliving objects and animals} |
it |
it |
its |
(not used) |
itself |
|
3rd person plural |
they |
them |
their |
theirs |
themselves |
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