Types of Pronouns
I. Personal Pronouns
I, you, he, she, we, they, me, you, him, her, us, them
Personal pronouns are often used to refer back to people and things.
1. Subject Pronoun: I, you, he, she, we, they
Subject pronouns replace nouns that are the subject of their clause.
Example:
Salman is angry, and he wants Sally to apologize.
2. Object Pronoun: me, you, him, her, us, them
Object pronouns are used to replace nouns that are the direct or indirect object of a clause.
Example:
Give her the book.
Important Rule: Subject and Object Pronouns
Never combine a subject pronoun and an object pronoun in phrases like her and I or he and me. Whenever 'and' or 'or' links an object pronoun (her, me) and a subject pronoun (he, I), one of those pronouns will always be wrong.
Examples:
- (i) Her and I went home. (Incorrect)
- (ii) She and I went home. (Correct)
Order of Personal Pronouns (General Rule: 231)
The order of personal pronouns in a sentence should be 231 i.e., the second person should come before the third and the third person before the first.
Examples:
- (i) You, he and I are going to Mumbai. [231]
- (ii) You and he have submitted the form. [23]
- (iii) You and I should work together. [21]
Exception: Unpleasant Acts or Mistakes (Order: 123)
If referring to an unpleasant act or while accepting a mistake, the order of personal pronouns in a sentence should be 123.
Examples:
- (i) You and he have stolen the watch. [23]
- (ii) I, you and he will be punished. [123]
II. Possessive Adjective (Determiner)
my, your, his, her
Possessive adjectives are not pronouns, but rather determiners. It is beneficial to learn them at the same time as pronouns, however, because they are similar in form to the possessive pronouns. Possessive adjectives function as adjectives, so they appear before the noun they modify. They do not replace a noun as pronouns do.
III. Possessive Pronoun
mine, yours, his, hers
Possessive pronouns replace possessive nouns as either the subject or the object of a clause. Because the noun being replaced doesn't appear in the sentence, it must be clear from the context.
Example:
This book is mine.
Joint Ownership Rule
If two people possess the same item, and one of the joint owners is written as a pronoun, use the possessive form for both.
Examples:
- (i) You and Anita's home (Incorrect)
- (ii) Yours and Anita's home (Incorrect)
- (iii) Anita's and your home (Correct)
Here, when one of the co-owners is written as a pronoun, we have used possessive adjective (my, your, her, our, their). Avoid possessive pronouns (mine, yours, hers, ours, theirs) in such constructions.
No Apostrophes
The possessive pronouns yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs, and whose never need apostrophes. Avoid mistakes like her's and your's.
IV. Reflexive & Intensive Pronoun
myself, yourself, himself, herself
Pronouns that end in -self or -selves are called reflexive pronouns. There are nine reflexive pronouns: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, oneself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when both the subject and the object of a verb are the same person or thing.
Example:
Shweta bought it for herself.
Cannot Replace Subject
A reflexive pronoun cannot be used as a substitute for the subject.
Examples:
- (i) Ashish and myself decided to join the army. (Incorrect)
- (ii) Ashish and I decided to join the army. (Correct)
Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns emphasize the subject of a clause. They are not the object of the action. The intensive pronoun can always be removed from a sentence without changing the meaning significantly, although the emphasis on the subject will be removed.
Examples:
- (i) I baked this cake myself.
- (ii) I myself went to finalize the deal.
V. Indefinite Pronouns
one, some, any, anyone, everybody, something
Indefinite pronouns are used for persons and objects in a general way.
Agreement with Gender
While referring to anybody, everybody, everyone, anyone, each, etc, the pronoun he or she is used according to the context.
Examples:
- (i) I shall be glad to help everyone of my boys in his studies.
- (ii) Everyone of the Miss India contestants tried to improve herself through rigorous training.
Consistency with "One"
The indefinite pronoun one should be used throughout, if used at all, i.e., its Subject – one, Objective - one, Possessive – one's and Reflexive – oneself should be used.
Examples:
- (i) One should take care of one's house.
- (ii) One should help oneself.
VI. Relative Pronouns
who, whom, whose, which, that
Usage Rules
- Who is used for persons only and which is used for things without life and for animals.
- That is used for persons and things.
- Who/Which is used in both defining and non-defining cases, that is used in defining case.
Examples:
- (i) This is the man who brought the news.
- (ii) The horse which I recently bought is an Arab.
- (iii) This is the man that brought the news.
Special Cases for "That"
That is used after superlative degree, all, same, only, none, nothing.
Examples:
- (i) He was the most eloquent speaker that I ever heard.
- (ii) It is only dogs that bark.
Who vs. Whom
Who is used in nominative case i.e., it is followed by a verb while whom is used in objective case i.e, it is not followed by a verb.
Examples:
- (i) This is the boy who broke the glass.
- (ii) The girl whom I met today was his friend.
VII. Interrogative Pronouns
who, whom, whose, which, what
Usage Rules
- Who is used for person
- Which is used for both persons and things. It implies selection
- After preposition whom is used instead of who
Examples:
- (i) Who was knocking at the door?
- (ii) Which of these boys will win the prize?
- (iii) By whom was the flower plucked?
- (iv) About whom are you talking?
VIII. Distributive Pronouns
either, neither, each
Either and Neither (For Two)
Either and Neither are used when referring to one out of two persons or things.
Examples:
- (i) Either of the two girls will go there.
- (ii) Neither of the two brothers has been selected.
For More Than Two
When one out of more than two is referred any, any one, none, no one, are used.
Examples:
- (i) None of these boys will enter the class.
- (ii) Any one of the students can participate in the debate.
Each (For Two or More)
Each is used for two or more than two persons or things.
Examples:
- (i) Each of the students contributed hundred rupees.
- (ii) Each of the two boys is doing his work.
IX. Reciprocal Pronouns
each other, one another
Each Other (For Two)
Each other is used for two persons or things.
Examples:
- (i) The two sisters loved each other.
- (ii) The two brothers disliked each other.
One Another (For More Than Two)
One another is used for more than two persons or things.
Examples:
- (i) Friends should help one another.
- (ii) Good girls do not fight with one another.
X. Demonstrative Pronouns
this, that, these, those
This and These (Near the Speaker)
This and these are used for the persons or things which are near the speaker.
This is used for one person or thing and these is used for more than one person or thing.
Examples:
- (i) This laptop is a present for you.
- (ii) These flowers are beautiful.
That and Those (Away from the Speaker)
That and those are used for the persons or things which are away from the speaker.
That is used for one person or thing and those is used for more than one person or thing.
Examples:
- (i) That girl is my friend.
- (ii) Those pencils are mine.