In this article, you will learn about various kinds of pronouns along with examples.
Pronouns are words used in place of a noun or another pronoun, in order to make the sentence less repetitive.
Example: Seema performs every year in the function. This year she will dance.
Types of Pronouns:
1. Singular & Plural Pronouns:
There are several pronouns which seem to be plural but act as singular, taking singular verbs. The most common of these pronouns is anybody, anything, any, each, either, everyone, everybody, nobody, not one, etc. These pronouns must be followed by a singular verb.
Example: Not one of the bananas was (not 'were') ripe.
2. Relative Pronouns:
A relative pronoun is used to link one phrase or clause to another phrase or clause. It is called a 'relative' pronoun because it relates to the word that it modifies and is not specific. There are 5 relative pronouns- who, whom, whose, that, and which. The compounds: whoever, whomever, and whichever; are also relative pronouns.
Examples: You may invite whoever you like to the party.
The person who phoned me last night is my teacher.
3. Demonstrative Pronoun:
These pronouns are used to demonstrate (or indicate). 'This, that, these and those' are all demonstrative pronouns.
Example: This is the one I left in the car.
4. Indefinite Pronoun:
Unlike demonstrative pronouns, which point out specific items, indefinite pronouns are used for non-specific things. All, some, any, several, anyone, nobody, each, both, few, either, none, one and no one are most common.
Example: Somebody must have seen the driver leave.
5. Interrogative Pronoun:
These pronouns are used in questions. Although they are classified as pronouns, it is not easy to see how they replace nouns. Who, which, what, where and how are all interrogative pronouns.
Example: Who told you to do that?
6. Personal Pronoun:
The personal pronouns are I, you, he, she, it, we, they, and who. More often than not (but not exclusively), they replace nouns representing people.
Example: I bought some batteries, but they weren't included.
7. Possessive Pronoun:
Possessive pronouns are used to show possession. As they are used as adjectives, they are also known as possessive adjectives. My, your, his, her, its, our and their- are all possessive pronouns.
Example: Have you seen her book?
8. Reciprocal Pronoun:
Reciprocal pronouns are used for actions or feelings that are reciprocated. The two most common reciprocal pronouns are- each other and one another.
Example: They like one another.
9. Reflexive Pronoun:
A reflexive pronoun ends with 'self' or 'selves' and refers to another noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Example: The dog bit itself.
10. Intensive or Emphatic Pronoun:
An intensive pronoun (sometimes called an emphatic pronoun) refers back to another noun or pronoun in the sentence to emphasize it.
Example: John bakes all the bread by himself.
Additionally, pronouns are used as a subject or object in the sentence. Here, they are also known as subjective and objective pronouns. These are generally personal pronouns.
Subjective Pronouns: I, we, he, she, they, you, it
Objective Pronouns: me, us, him, her, them, your, it
Practice pronouns and revise this article again for clarification.
