Pronoun
A Pronoun is a word which is used instead of Noun
For E.g.: - Robin is absent because Robin is sick.
In order to avoid repetition of the word Robin, we use pronoun.
Robin is absent because he is sick
Pronouns are divided into various types
- Personal Pronouns
- Reflexive Pronouns
- Emphatic Pronouns
- Demonstrative Pronouns
- Indefinite Pronouns
- Distributive Pronouns
- Relative Pronouns
- Interrogative Pronouns
- Personal Pronouns denote three persons; the person speaking; the person spoken to; the person spoken of. The following are the forms
- First person – I, we
- Second person – Thou, you
- Third person – He, she, it, they
For E.g.: - I am good. Or. We are Good
Thou art good. Or. You are good.
He/ She/It is good. Or. They are good.
- Reflective Pronouns denote the pronouns used when the action done by a subject reflects upon the subject.
For E.g.: - I hurt myself.
We hurt ourselves.
You will hurt yourselves/yourself.
He/ She/It hurts himself/herself/itself.
They hurt themselves.
- Emphatic Pronouns are the pronouns used for the sake of emphasis.
For E.g.: - I will draw it myself.
We would see to it ourselves.
She herself spoke to them
They themselves accepted the mistake.
- Demonstrative Pronouns denote to point out or to show clearly the objects referred.
For E.g.: - This/That pen is mine.
These/Those books are yours.
- Indefinite Pronouns denote the pronouns which refer to persons in a general way but doesn’t point out individually.
For E.g.: - Some are born great.
None of his poems were published.
Do good to others.
Did you ask anybody to come?
- Distributive Pronouns are those which refer to persons or things at one time. They always signify singular noun following singular verb.
For E.g.: - Each of the boys gets a prize
Either of you can go.
Neither of the statements is true.
- Relative Pronouns are those which refers or relates to the noun which was mentioned before.
For E.g.: - I met John. John had just returned.
I met John who had just returned.
Here is the book. You were asking for the book.
Here is the book which you were asking for.
The child is sick. The child came here yesterday.
The child that came here yesterday is sick.
- Interrogative Pronouns are used to ask questions or make an enquiry. It may be direct questions or indirect questions.
For E.g.: - Who are you?
What do you want?
Which book do you prefer?
Whom does she refer to?
I asked who was speaking.
I don’t know who is there.
Following are few solved examples
Fill in the blanks with appropriate pronouns.
- You and I must work together.
- They enjoyed themselves.
- I myself heard the loud noise.
- The rivers of America are larger than those of Europe.
- Somebody has stolen my watch.
- These men received each a reward.
- I know the house that he lives in.
- Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?