Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.
Easy Examples of Pronouns
In these examples, the nouns being replaced are in bold, and the pronouns
are shaded:
Jack met Jill in Boston. He first saw her in a Chinese restaurant.
(In this example, the pronoun "he" replaces the noun "Jack," and the
pronoun "her" replaces the noun "Jill.")
Another example:
Visitors descend on New York's Central Park. They swarm
across it like locusts.
(Here, the pronoun "they" replaces the noun "visitors," and the
pronoun "it" replaces the noun phrase "New York's Central Park.")
In the last example, the pronoun "it" replaced a noun phrase ("New York's
Central Park") not a single noun. Right then, let's update our definition:
Definition for Pronoun
A pronoun is a word that replaces anything functioning as a noun. This includes:
A Noun (a single-word noun).
For example:
Playful and curious, foxes like to play with balls, and they often steal them from
backyards and golf courses.
(Here, the pronouns "they" and "them" replace the single-word nouns "foxes"
and "balls.")
A Noun Phrase (a multi-word noun).
For example:
The arctic fox handles the cold better than most animals on Earth. It does not
feel the cold until the temperature drops to –70°C.
(Here, the pronoun "it" replaces the noun phrase "the arctic fox.")
A Noun Clause (a multi-word noun with its own subject and verb).
For example:
We understand why some people dislike foxes. It is because a fox will
decimate a chicken coop.
(Here, the pronoun "it" replaces the noun clause "why people dislike foxes.")
In normal writing, most nouns appear in noun phrases because adding any word (even "a" or
"the") to a noun turns it into a noun phrase. (Noun clauses are far less common.)
Basic Article Usage
Do not confuse indefinite pronouns with indefinite determiners (also called
quantifiers or, in traditional grammar, indefinite adjectives). Here's the
difference: An indefinite pronoun stands alone and function as subject or
object in a sentence. An indefinite determiner modifies a noun or a pronoun.
Here are some examples with indefinite determiners (boldand shaded blue)
and indefinite pronouns (shaded yellow).
Some people have so much respect for their superiors they
have none left for themselves. (Playwright George Bernard Shaw)
Each one of us alone is worth nothing. (Revolutionary Che Guevara)
(Indefinite determiners can even modify indefinite pronouns.)
Indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. Here's a list:
Always Singular. another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either,
enough, everybody, everyone, everything, less, little, much, neither,
nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, and
something.
Always Plural. both, few, fewer, many, others, and several.
Singular or Plural. all, any, more, most, none, some, and such.
Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that represents a noun and expresses
its position as near or far (including in time). The demonstrative pronouns are
"this," "that," "these," and "those."
Easy Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns
This is ludicrous.
Is that yours?
Eat these tonight.
Throw those away.
Like all pronouns, demonstrative pronouns replace nouns or noun phrases.
More specifically, a demonstrative pronoun stands in for something that has
been previously mentioned or is understood from context (called
its antecedent).
Do you remember the lobster with the blue claw? Can I
have that please?
(Here, "that" stands in for something previously mentioned. The
antecedent of "that" is the noun phrase "the lobster with the blue
claw.")
This is delicious.
(Here, the context tells us what "this" represents. The antecedent of
"this" is "lobster" or "meal.")
Do you remember the two lobsters holding claws? Can I
have those please?
(The antecedent of "those" is shown in bold.)
These are delicious.
(Remember that, with demonstrative pronouns, the antecedent does
not always appear in nearby text. The antecedent is often understood
from the context of the speaker's surroundings.)
The singular demonstrative pronouns "this" and "that" stand in for singular
things (e.g., "the lobster with the blue claw"). The plural demonstrative
pronouns "these" and "those" stand in for plural things (e.g., "the two lobsters
holding claws").
As well as telling us whether its antecedent is singular or plural, a
demonstrative pronoun also tell us whether its antecedent is near or distant.
"That" and "those" stand in for distant things (e.g., "the lobsters in the tank").
"This" and "these" stand in for near things (e.g., "the lobsters on the plate").
Paint this but not that. Remove these but not those.
(Demonstrative pronouns are pretty efficient. They tell us what, how
many, and where. These two short sentences convey the following
information: "Paint the nearby wall I'm pointing to but not the distant
wall I'm pointing to. Remove the picture hooks I'm pointing to but not
those distant picture hooks I'm pointing to.")
Remember that demonstrative pronouns stand in for things. (Typically, they
stand in for a noun phrase or a previously expressed idea.) Demonstrative
pronouns do not modify nouns. When "this," "that," "these," and "those"
modify nouns, they are demonstrative determiners (called demonstrative
adjectives in traditional grammar). In the four examples below, we have
demonstrative determiners modifying nouns (shown in bold). In the first four
examples above, the demonstrative pronouns stood in for these nouns.
This idea is ludicrous.
Is that bike yours?
Eat these crumpets tonight.
Throw those rolls away.
Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is a word that replaces a noun (or a noun phrase) and
shows ownership. The possessive pronouns are "mine," "yours," "his," "hers,"
"ours," and "theirs."
Examples:
My phone is dead. Pass me yours .
Did you know that Labrador is mine ?
The house on the corner is theirs .
Possessive Determiners Are Also Classified
as Pronouns
The possessive determiners "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their"
(called possessive adjectives in traditional grammar) are also classified as
possessive pronouns because they too replace nouns and show ownership.
(They are said to be "pronominal," i.e., having the traits of a pronoun.) Look at
this example:
Examples:
My plane is delayed.
Your dinner is ready.
Could you bring his tea out to him?
Remember not to judge a book by its cover.
I would have knocked on their door, but I heard their baby crying.
Possessive Pronouns (Absolute Possessive Pronouns
and Possessive Determiners)
Here is a list of personal pronouns with their corresponding possessive
determiners and possessive pronouns:
Personal Possessive Determiner Possessive Pronoun
Pronoun
I MY MINE
This house bigger than my house. This house is bigger than mine.
you YOUR YOURS
Is this your wallet? Is this yours?
he HIS HIS
Use his car tomorrow morning. Use his tomorrow morning.
she HER HERS
I like her painting. I like hers.
it ITS [not used]
I can see its fin.
we OUR OURS
You can use our lawnmower. You can use ours.
they THEIR THEIRS
Did they show you their plan? Did they show you theirs?
Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun is paired with another noun or pronoun to show it is
acting on itself. They have a different function to emphatic pronouns, but
they're the same words ("myself," "yourself," "herself," "himself," "itself,"
"ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves"). In these examples, the subject
(in bold) is the antecedent of the reflexive pronoun.
Alison does not trust herself.
I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation. (Playwright
George Bernard Shaw)
If the world blew itself up, the last voice would an expert's saying it's
impossible. (Actor Peter Ustinov)
Why Should I Care about Reflexive Pronouns?
"You" can't do something to "myself"; only "I" can. The most common mistake involving
reflexive pronouns is using one when the subject of the verb is not doing something to
itself. (In these examples, the subjects, which are also the antecedents of the reflexive
pronouns) are shown in bold.)
He did it to myself.
I did it to myself.
He did it to himself.
Most often, writers make this mistake because they think "myself" sounds more formal
than "me."
He insulted the doctor and myself.
Here are better versions:
He insulted me and the doctor.
Please pass any comments to me or the director.
(Note how "me" now comes first. If it didn't, these sentences would sound
awkward, and that also contributes to writers going for "myself.")
Here's the issue. The antecedent of "myself" is always "I." If "I" isn't doing something to
"myself," then "myself" is wrong. Ironically, lots of people who mistakenly use "myself,"
"yourself," etc. do so believing a reflexive pronoun sounds more highbrow than the
correct personal pronoun ("me," "you," etc.).
Don't write "hisself"...ever. It's "himself."
Impersonal Pronouns
Sometimes, pronouns are used to refer to no antecedent. They are called impersonal
pronouns. There are three impersonal pronouns: you, one, and they. You and one carry
the same meaning as they refer to “any person, people in general”. However, you is less
formal than one and more common in everyday English.
Examples:
1) You should pay to attention to the announcement. (informal)
2) One should pay to attention to the announcement. (formal)
As an impersonal pronoun, they means “some people or somebody” in spoken English.
However, the antecedent is implied or not stated.
Example:
Why did Ann lose her job?
They fired her.
On the sentence above, they refers to the people for whom Ann worked.
Impersonal Pronoun “It and There”
The pronoun ‘it’ does not refer to a person or thing or to any other part of the sentence.
‘It’ is one of the most commonly used impersonal pronouns in English. ‘It’ can refer to
many unspecified subjects depending on the context.
It was raining heavily yesterday.
It’s very cold today. (the weather)
It is Saturday.
Some functions and examples:
Infinitive Subject
It is impossible to beat them. (To beat them is impossible)
It is unbelievable!
To emphasize
It was George who saved your life!
It was me who wrote the essay.(I did it!)
---
“There” used as a pronoun for introducing a statement about someone that exists or
something that happens (to introduce the subject of the sentence):
There’s a spider in the bath.
there is/are:
There isn’t much time left.
There are 24 teams competing in the tournament.
is/are there?:
Are there any other suggestions?
there may be/there should be/there seems to be etc:
There seems to be a lot of confusion.
there lives/follows/comes etc:
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful and very kind princess.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when a big decision has to be taken.
Other
