https://nobi12345.blogspot.com/ Pronouns | Types of Pronouns and Rules

 

 

Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or noun phrase that has already been mentioned in a text or conversation.

PRONOUNS

There are several types of pronouns. Among them are personal, possessive, demonstrative, indefinite, reflexive and relative pronouns.

Personal pronouns stand in for nouns and noun phrases, and usually refer back in a text or conversation to them.

E.g.

•Sakib is going to watch the parade tomorrow.

She plans to leave at 4 pm.

• We are collecting old photographs for our project.

They should still be in good condition.

 

Personal pronouns may be categorised as follows:

PERSON	SINGULAR		PLURAL
	Subject	Object	Subject	Object
First (person speaking)	I	me	we	us
Second (person spoken to)	you	you	you	you
Third (person spoken of)	he, she, it	him, her, it	they	them

 

He refers to a male.

She refers to a female.

It refers to a thing or animal.

 

Positions of Pronouns in Sentences

A pronoun can be the subject of a verb:

E.g.

• I can’t catch the mouse. It moves too quickly.

A pronoun can be the object of a verb:

E.g.

•The flowers look beautiful. Sally arranged them just now.

A pronoun can be the object of a preposition: E.g.

•I’m going to buy some snacks. Make sure you keep a place for me.

 

 

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

 

These refer to the person or animal that is the subject of the verb. The following are reflexive pronouns.

 

PERSON	SINGULAR	PLURAL
First	myself	ourselves
Second	yourself	yourselves
Third	himself, herself, itself	themselves

 

Positions of Reflexive Pronouns in Sentences

 

Reflexive pronouns may be used: As the object of a verb.

E.g.

• Meenara blames herself for the mistake.

As the object of a preposition.

E.g.

• Stop looking at yourself in the mirror.

As the indirect object of a verb.

E.g.

• Beena gave herself a treat.

To emphasise a noun or personal pronoun.

E.g.

• Teena  herself baked this delicious cake.

 

 

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

 

Examples of possessive pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs, its.

Unlike personal pronouns, these usually stand alone and do not have to precede a noun.

E.g.

•           Karen told me that she had lost her phone. That must be hers.

•           They have found their seats. Have you spotted ours?

•           The cat is looking for its master.

Note: The possessive pronoun its is different from it’s.

It’s is a contracted form of it is.

 

 

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

 

The indefinite pronoun is used when referring to no particular person or thing.

Some indefinite pronouns refer to people,

e.g. someone, anyone, everybody, no one, everyone, nobody.

Some indefinite pronouns refer to things,

            something, anything, everything, nothing.

E.g.

•           Someone is at the door.

•           Where is everyone?

•           Has anyone seen the television remote control?

 

 

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

 

A demonstrative pronoun points to a specific thing or things to indicate whether they are close or far, in space and/or time. Like possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns stand alone and do not have to precede a noun.

 

            NEAR IN DISTANCE OR TIME     FAR IN DISTANCE OR TIME

 

E.g.

• Jamuna stopped eating rice for dinner.

This has helped her lose weight quickly.

• That was the last time I saw my colleague Mahamud.

 

 

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

 

Who, whom, whose, which and that function as relative pronouns when they add further information to the things or people mentioned in the sentence.

 

RELATIVE PRONOUN       REFERS TO

who                                   a person or people

whom                               a person or people

which                                a thing or things

whose                                a person, people, a thing or things

that                                       animal(s) or thing(s)

 

The difference between who and whom is that who may be the subject of a verb; it is also often used as an object although this is frowned upon.

 

E.g.

•           Isn’t that Rupa who objected to the proposal?

•           These are candidates whom we interviewed last week.

 

Whom is used only as the object of a verb. Both who and whom can be the object of a preposition but if the preposition comes before the pronoun, you must use whom. This is illustrated in the examples below.

E.g.

•Whom/who did you speak to about this matter?

•To whom did you speak about this matter?

The relative pronoun that can often be used instead of

who, whom and which.

E.g.

• The shirt that Mahamud bought has some stains on it.

 

Note: American English favours the use of that over which while British English still uses both that and which.

 

Now test yourself!

How well do you know your pronouns?

 

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns from the box below.

 

 

Dear Mr Nobab

 

I am writing this letter as a note of appreciation for the good service I received at your restaurant recently. I was at the Basmoti   Restaurant with my family on 20^th June. 1.             were fortunate to experience the great service that 2.                restaurant is well known for.

The dishes were served promptly. More  importantly, Ms Nelu and her team provided excellent service.

3.                     were very attentive and Ms Nelu

4.                     ensured that we were well taken care of.

5.                     was never flustered even when the restaurant became more crowded.

 

The dish 6.           we liked best was the Peking Duck. 7.         is the best I have ever eaten. The duck was succulent and tender. 8.          would give it five stars!

 

My family will definitely dine at the Basmoti Restaurant again. 9.    is a promise I intend to keep! Once again I thank 10.       for the excellent service and food.

 

Yours sincerely Mrs Julakha

ANSWERS

 

1.         We (personal pronoun, refers back to the noun, family)

2.         your (possessive pronoun, refers to the restaurant owned by the reader, Mr Nobab)

3.         They (personal pronoun, refers back to the noun phrase, Ms Nelu and her team)

4.         herself (reflexive pronoun, for emphasis, draws attention to Ms Nelu)

5.         She (personal pronoun, refers back to Ms Nelu)

6.         that (relative pronoun, refers to the noun phrase, the dish)

7.         It (personal pronoun, refers back to the noun phrase, the Peking Duck)

8.  I (personal pronoun, refers to the writer of the letter, Mrs Julakha )

9.This (demonstrative pronoun, used before a singular noun, promise. It also indicates something that will take place soon)

10.       you (personal pronoun, refers to the reader, Mr Nobab)