WHAT IS PRONOUN IN GRAMMAR
Pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun to avoid the repetition of a noun. Let us see a few examples.
EXAMPLES
• Susan is absent because she is ill
Thus, the word “she” is used here instead of the name Susan and avoids repetition of the noun.
TYPES OF PRONOUNS
Pronouns are further classified into seven types.
• Personal pronouns
• Indefinite pronouns
• Relative pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Interrogative pronouns
• Reflexive and emphatic pronouns
• Reciprocal pronouns
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns are called so because they are used for persons
EXAMPLES
• I am writing.
• They are doing their homework.
Cases
Personal pronouns have three main cases
• The possessive case
• The subjective case
• The objective case
Personal pronoun
1st person pronoun
Subjective case
I, we
Possessive case
My, our
Objective case
me
2nd person pronoun
Subjective case
You
Possessive case
Your, yours
Objective case
You
3rd person pronoun
Subjective case
He, she, it, they
Possessive case
His, hers, its
Objective case
Him, her, it, them
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns do not point to particular nouns. We use them when an object does not need to be specifically identified. As such it can remain indefinite.
• They include; few everyone all some everybody nobody others anything somethings etc.
EXAMPLES
• Somebody left the door open.
• Anything will work for now.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Relative means connected with something. Relative pronouns link different parts of a sentence. They include who whom which that whatever
EXAMPLES
• The student who got first position was given a prize.
• She lives in Islamabad which is the capital of Pakistan.
• I really love the pen that my father gifted me.
In the above given examples the words who, which and that are relative pronouns
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
These pronouns take the place of a noun that is already mentioned or it demonstrated or points out the noun.
• These include that, this, those etc.
EXAMPLES
• This is my book.
• Such is his thinking.
• Those are bright color pencils.
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
Interrogative pronouns are used for posing questions. They include who whom which what whoever etc.
EXAMPLES
• Who will be the winner?
• What are they baking?
• Who is at the door?
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Reflexive means going back to itself. It shows that the action affects the person who performs the function or action. Reflexive pronouns end in ‘self’ or ‘selves’ . Reflexive pronouns include himself, Herself, themselves, myself, etc.
EXAMPLES
• He hurts himself.
• We must help ourselves.
• I saw myself in the mirror.
EMPHATIC IR INTENSIVE PRONOUNS
Emphatic or intensive means giving force or emphasis. An intensive pronoun is used for putting focus on the noun. In other words, emphatic pronouns pit emphasis on the subject of the sentence. They are written exactly as the reflexive pronouns.
EXAMPLES
• I myself did it.
• She herself wanted to go there.
• The cat itself hurt its kitten.
RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS
Reciprocal means that two people or group do the same thing to each other. They treat each other in the same way.
EXAMPLES
• Sarah likes Sana and Sana likes Sarah.
So, we can instead say that Sara and Sana like each other
There are two reciprocals in English language; each other and one another
EACH OTHER
Each other is used for two persons
ANOTHER
Another is used for more than two
EXAMPLES
• We give one another gifts on Eid.
• Two sincere friends respect each other.
• We must stop fighting one another.
