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What is a pronoun? Pronouns are used in the place of a noun to avoid it having to be named twice. For example: Suzy threw the boomerang and it came back to her. In this sentence, 'it' is a pronoun that represents the boomerang, and 'her' is a pronoun that refers to Suzy. Without pronouns, we'd have to say Suzy threw the boomerang and the boomerang came back to Suzy. Without pronouns, how would we even say 'we'?
In English, a pronoun used as a substitute for an antecedent noun that is clearly understood, and with which it agrees in person, number, and gender.
Pronouns are classified as personal (I, we, you, he, she, it, they), demonstrative (this, these, that, those), relative (who, which, that, as), indefinite (each, all, everyone, either, one, both, any, such, somebody), interrogative (who, which, what), reflexive (myself, herself), possessive (mine, yours, his, hers, theirs). There are also pronominal adjectives, sometimes called possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their).
1. Personal Pronouns / Subject Pronouns You already know subject pronouns, even if you didn't know that's what they were called. Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject in a sentence. You might also see them called 'personal' pronouns, as they designate the person speaking (I, me, we, us), the person spoken to (you), or the person or thing spoken about (he, she, it, they, him, her, them). The following commonly used words are subject pronouns:
I we you (singular and plural) he she it they
Personal pronoun examples: I will be leaving soon. You are welcome. She is the new teacher. He speaks three languages. They are very friendly neighbors.
2. Object Pronouns Object pronouns are used as the object of a verb or a preposition.
me us you (singular and plural) her him it them
Object pronoun examples: They offered me a ride. ('Me' is the object of the verb 'offered.') This letter is addressed to me. ('Me' is the object of the preposition 'to.') They gave us free tickets to the show. ('Us' is the object of the verb 'gave.')
3. Possessive Pronouns A possessive pronoun designates ownership and can substitute for noun phrases.
mine ours yours (singular and plural) hers his theirs
Possessive pronoun examples: The green gloves are mine. That cat is hers. The red house is theirs.
Possessive Adjectives / Pronominal Adjectives 'Pronominal' describes something that resembles a pronoun, as by specifying a person, place, or thing, while functioning primarily as another part of speech. A pronominal adjective is an adjective that resembles a pronoun. 'Her' in 'her car' is a pronominal adjective.
my our your her his their
4. Reflexive Pronouns Reflexive pronouns might be the easiest group to remember because they all have one thing in common: the ending 'self' or 'selves.' That's because reflexive pronouns show how the actions of an aforementioned person or group affects him or her (or them).
myself yourself herself himself itself ourselves yourselves themselves
Reflexive pronoun examples I bought myself a new car. That man thinks a great deal of himself. We may be deceiving ourselves.
5. Intensive Pronouns Intensive and reflexive pronouns are actually the exact same words (ending with 'self' or 'selves'), but they function differently in a sentence. Intensive pronouns not only refer back to a previously mentioned person or people, but they also emphasize. As their name suggests, they intensify.
Intensive pronoun examples: I myself was certain of the facts. The trouble is in the machine itself. The cooks themselves eat after all the guests have finished.
6. Indefinite Pronouns As the word 'indefinite' suggests, these pronouns do not specify the identity of their referents. They are more vague than other pronouns.
all another any anybody anyone anything both each either everybody everyone everything few many most neither nobody none no one nothing one other others several some somebody someone something such
Indefinite pronouns examples: Both were candidates. No one is home. Several of the workers went home sick.
7. Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative pronouns specify a particular person or thing.
such that these this those
Demonstrative pronouns examples I don't much care for these. Who's that? Such are the fortunes of war.
8. Interrogative Pronouns This group of pronouns question which individual referent or referents are intended by the rest of the sentence.
what whatever which whichever who whoever whom whomever whose
Interrogative pronoun examples: Who left? Which of these is yours? Do whatever you please.
9. Relative Pronouns Relative pronouns introduce a dependent clause and refer to an antecedent (simply the word or phrase to which a pronoun refers). For instance, who in the child who is wearing a hat or that in the house that you live in.
as that what whatever which whichever who whoever whom whomever whose
Relative pronoun examples: The car that has a flat tire needs to be towed. The visitor who came yesterday left his phone number. Do whatever you like.
10. Archaic Pronouns There are several pronouns that have fallen out of common usage but appear frequently in older texts, so there is still a good chance that you will encounter them. 'Thee' is an old word for 'you' used only when addressing one person, while 'thy' is an old word for 'your.' 'Thine' indicates the one or ones belonging to thee.
thou thee thy thine ye
Archaic pronoun examples: Thou shalt not kill. With this ring, I thee wed. Thy name is more hateful than thy face. To thine own self be true.
A full list of every word that can be considered a pronoun or pronominal adjective:
all another any anybody anyone anything as aught both each each other either enough everybody everyone everything few he her hers herself him himself his I idem it its itself many me mine most my myself naught neither no one nobody none nothing nought one one another other others ought our ours ourself ourselves several she some somebody someone something somewhat such suchlike that thee their theirs theirself theirselves them themself themselves there these they thine this those thou thy thyself us we what whatever whatnot whatsoever whence where whereby wherefrom wherein whereinto whereof whereon wherever wheresoever whereto whereunto wherewith wherewithal whether which whichever whichsoever who whoever whom whomever whomso whomsoever whose whosever whosesoever whoso whosoever ye yon yonder you your yours yourself yourselves
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