Pronouns

Definition of a pronoun
A pronoun is a substitute for a noun.  The noun is called the antecedent.  Pronouns make our speech less monotonous and interesting.  For a brief time, try speaking and using no pronouns.

Kinds of Prounouns

Personal prounouns are so called because they designate person: the speaker, or first person; the person or thing spoken to, or second person; the person or thing spoken of, or third person.

N.B.: Never use an apostrophe to indicate posession with a personal pronoun. Wrong: The dog hurt it's foot.

Interrogative pronouns ask a question.
They are: who, which, whose, whom, what
Who knocked recently?

Indefinite pronouns refer to no particular person. They are: one, someone, everybody, nobody, several, each, all, neither, either, both, some, few, many, etc.
Everyone did his best. (Note - everyone is singular)

Relative pronouns introduce a clause which describes an antecedent.
They are: who, whom, which, whose, that.
The man who spoke to us is our new neighbor.
Who, whom, and whose refer to persons. Which refers to things.
That refers to persons or things.

Demonstrative pronouns point out.  They are: this, that, these, those.
This is the book.

Reciprocal pronouns: each other, one another.
The two neighbors helped each other.
The three neighbors helped one another.

Reflexive pronouns - self pronouns used as objects.
He reminded himself of the appontment

Intensive pronouns - self pronouns used for emphasis.
He himself was to blame.

Table of Contents | Adjectives >