Pronouns

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What are pronouns?
1.    Pronouns are usually short words.  They are used to replace nouns.

 Examples:
Clutching the coin, Maria ran to the shops.  She went straight to the counter
       and bought the sweets.
       ("She" is a pronoun.  In this example, it replaces the noun "Maria".  Pronouns
       are used for brevity.  Imagine how wearisome a long prose would be if the writer
       used the full noun (in this case "Maria") every time.)
 The 8-mile walk passes through pasture, parkland and woodland.  It takes you
       alongside many points of interest including a disused airfield.
       ("It" is a pronoun.  In this example, it replaces "the 8-mile walk".)
 Tell Peter that he can use the Ferrari tomorrow.
       ("He" is a pronoun.  It replaces "Peter".)

 2.    "I", "you", "he", "she", "it", "we", "they" and "who" are all pronouns.  As these pronouns often replace nouns representing people, they are called the "personal pronouns".
 

 PERSONAL PRONOUNS CHANGE! 

 Personal pronouns change depending on the role they place in the sentence.  In general, this does not cause difficulties for native English speakers.  The changes are:
I > me he > him she > her
we > us they > them who > whom

"You" and "it" never change.  The versions shown first above (like "he") are said to be in the subjective case; whereas, the second versions (like "him") are said to be in the objective case.  This is covered more in the lessons "Nouns" and "Who & Whom".  

 


 WHO & WHOM 

 "Who" is the personal pronoun which causes the most confusion.  In short, use "who" when it is the subject of a verb, else use "whom".
Who saw whom first?
      (The first "who" is the subject of the verb "to see".  The second
      "whom" is not the subject of a verb.)

 This is covered more in the lesson "Who & Whom".  

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The different types of pronouns:

1.    The term "pronoun" covers many words, some of which do not fall easily under the description given in Section 1.  There are many different kinds of pronouns. In general, these do not cause difficulties for native English speakers.  The list below is mainly for reference purposes.

 Demonstrative Pronouns
These pronouns are used to demonstrate (or indicate).  "This", "that", "these" and "those" are all demonstrative pronouns.
 This is the one I left in the car.
       (In this example, the speaker could be indicating to a mobile phone; in which 
       case, the pronoun "this" replaces the words "mobile phone".) 
 Shall I take those?
 
 Indefinite Pronouns 
 Unlike demonstrative pronouns, which point out specific items, indefinite pronouns are used for non-specific things.  This is the largest group of pronouns.  "All", "some", "any", "several", "anyone", "nobody", "each", "both", "few", "either", "none", "one" and "no one" are the most common.
 Somebody must have seen the driver leave.
       (somebody - not a specific person)
 


 NO ONE NOT NO-ONE

There is no hyphen in the word "no one".
No one is qualified to take the position.
No-one lifted a finger.
  [picture]
 

 NONE IS SINGULAR 

The word "none" is singular.
None of them was present.
       ("was" - correct; "were" would be wrong)
  [picture]
None are developed abroad.
      (should be "is" - not "are")

  This is covered in more detail in the lesson "Singular?"

 Interrogative Pronouns 
 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.
 Who told you to do that?
 
 Possessive Pronouns
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.
 Have you seen her book?
      (In this example, the pronoun "her" replaces a word like "Sarah's".)


  ITS NOT IT'S 

The word "its" (note, no apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, just like "his", "her" and "my".
Can you see its pale-coloured belly?
Jenkins failed the final test and its re-sit.

"It's" (with an apostrophe) is short for "it is" or "it has". If you cannot substitute "it's" with "it is" or "it has", then it is wrong!  This is covered more in the lesson "Apostrophes".  

 Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to add more information to a sentence.  "Which", "that", "who" (including "whom" and "whose") and "where" are all relative pronouns.
 Dr Adam Sissons, who lectured at Cambridge for more than 12 years, should
       have known the difference.
      (In this example, the relative pronoun "who" introduces the clause "who studied
       at Cambridge for 12 years" and refers back to "Dr Adams Sissons".) 
 The man who first saw the comet reported it as a UFO. 
       (In this example, the relative pronoun "who" introduces the clause "who first 
        saw the comet" and refers back to "the man".) 

  COMMAS OR NOT? 

 The first example above has commas around the clause "who studied at Cambridge for 12 years"; whereas, the second example does not have commas around "who first saw the comet".  These clauses are called "relative clauses".
 
The first example refers to "Dr Adam Sissons" and the second example refers back to "the man".  These are called the "antecedents" of the relative clauses.

 When a relative clause (like "who saw the comet") is required to identify the antecedent (in this case "the man"), then no commas are used.  When it is just additional information (like "who studied at Cambridge for 12 years"), then commas are required.

This is covered more in Sections 2 and 3 of the lesson "Which & Who".

 Absolute Possessive Pronouns
These pronouns also show possession.  Unlike possessive pronouns (see above), which are adjectives to nouns, these pronouns sit by themselves.  "Mine", "yours", "his", "hers", "ours" and "theirs" are all absolute possessive pronouns.
 The tickets are as good as ours.
 Shall we take yours or theirs?


  NO APOSTROPHES 

 There are no apostrophes in absolute possessive pronouns (also called "absolute possessives").
Shall I take yours?
Paul's scores were better than her's.

This is also covered in the lesson "Apostrophes".  

 Reciprocal Pronouns 
Reciprocal pronouns are used for actions or feelings that are reciprocated. The two most common reciprocal pronouns are "each other" and "one another".
They like one another.
They talk to each other like they're babies.

 Reflexive Pronouns 
A reflexive pronoun ends "...self" or "...selves" and refers to another noun or pronoun in the sentence.  The reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
John bakes all the bread himself.
      (In this example, the reflexive pronoun "himself" refers back to the noun "John".)

  NEVER "HISSELF" 

There is no such word as "hisself".  It is always "himself".

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