What is a Pronoun? All you Need to Know

Pronouns are used to replace nouns to avoid the repetition of nouns. In English, there are several types of pronouns with different functions: personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, indefinite, indefinite, relational, interrogative.

In addition, pronouns also play the role of subject, preposition, and complement in a sentence.

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Pronoun Definition

A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.

Classification and Usage of Pronouns

A. Personal Pronouns

1. “I, you, it, he, she, we, they” can be the subject of the verb:

– They have lived here for 3 years.

2. “Me, you, him, her, us, them” can be the direct object of the verb.

– These flowers are really nice. Tom likes them

3. “Me, you, him, her, us, them” can be the indirect object of the verb.

– Kate gives some money to me.

4. “Me, you, him, her, us, them” can be the object of a preposition:

– We could do it without them.

B. Indefinite Pronouns

1. Includes:
   • Group associated with some: something, someone, somebody.
   • Groups associated with any: anything, anyone, anybody.
   • Group associated with every: everything, everyone, everybody.
   • Group associated with no: nothing, no one, nobody.
   • Independent group of words: all, one, none, other, another, much, less, (a) few, (a) little, enough, each, either, neither.

2. Some of the pronouns above can also be used as adjectives. They were then called indefinite adjectives. Those are the words any, some, every, no, all, one, none, other, another, much, less, (a) few, (a) little, enough, each, either, neither.

C. Possessive Pronouns

1. Includes: mine, yours, hers, his, its, ours, theirs

2. Possessive pronoun = possessive adjective + noun.

+ This is our room = this is ours.
+ You've got my pen. Where's yours?

D. Reflexive Pronouns

1. Includes: myself, yourself, yourself, yourself, yourself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Attention: ourselves, yourselves, themselves is the plural form.

2. Function:

2.1. As the object of a verb when the subject and object are the same person:

+ Tom and Ann blamed themselves for the accident.

2.2. Used in the above case after verb + preposition:

+ He spoke to himself.

2.3. Used as pronouns to emphasize nouns or pronouns:

+ The King himself gave her the medal.

• They often emphasize the subject of a sentence and are placed after it:

+ Ann herself opened the door.

• When they emphasize other nouns, they are placed immediately after the noun:

+ I saw Tom himself.

2.4. Used as objects after prepositions:

+ I bought it by myself.

E. Relative Pronouns

1. Includes: who, whom, which, that, whose.
2. Function:

2.1. Who, that, which as the subject:

+ The man who robbed has been arrested.

2.2 As the object of the verb:
+ The man whom I met told me to come back today.

2.3. Following a preposition:

+ The ladder on which I was standing began to slip.

However, prepositions can also go to the end of a clause:

+ The ladder which I was standing on began to slip.

2.4. Possessive form (whose + noun):

+ The film is about a spy whose wife betrays him.

Attention:
• when =in/on which
• where = in/at which
• why = for which

+ The day on which they arrived.

F. Demonstrative Pronouns

1. Includes: this, that, these, those

2. Functions:

2.1. The demonstrative adjectives “this, that” and their plural “these, those” are used before a noun to determine its position in relation to the speaker.
When these adjectives are used alone, without a noun, they become demonstrative pronouns.

2.2. In addition to replacing a noun, demonstrative pronouns also give listeners a concept of closer or further away in time or distance.

+ Could you give me that book, please?

G. Interrogative Pronouns

1. Includes: who, whom, whose, what, which

2. Function:
2.1. As a subject:

+ Who keeps the keys

2.2. As the object of the verb

+ Who did you see?

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Pronoun Exercises with Answers

Question 1: She cooks for_______every day.

A. myself

B. herself

C. himself

Question 2: (Sue and Simon) _______ are twins.

A. We

B. They

C. It

Question 3: My mother _______

A. She

B. He

C. It

Question 4: We want to see Peggy and _______ (she) family next winter.

A. their

B. her

C. his

Question 5: My uncle works in a factory. _______ says _______ is a noisy place.

A. he/ him

B. her/ it

C. he/ it

Question 6: You must learn your lesson _______ . Nobody can do it for you.

A. herself

B. himself

C. yourself

Question 7: The teacher said to the class, “When _______ finish your work, please pass _______ up to me.”

A. you/ him

B. you/ it

C. he/ it

Question 8: James goes and hides _______ behind the curtain.

A. herself

B. himself

C. yourself

Question 9: The window _______ .

A. They

B. She

C. It

D. He

Question 10: Please don’t tell _______ about            .

A. her/ me

B. her/ I

C. She/ I

Question 11: _______ books are here. _______ are there.

A. Ours/ Their

B. Their/ Ours

Question 12: They are our pencils. ==>

A. They are theirs.

B. They are ours.

C. They are yours.

Question 13: I don’t like _______ new boyfriend of yours

A. that

B. those

Question 14:            books belong to him.

A. These

B. This

Question 15: We would like to buy a house _______overlooks West lake.

A. who

B. whose

C. where

D. which

Question 16: I don’t believe the story _______ she told me.

A. that

B. who

C. whom

Question 17: Ann, _______father is my teacher, is very beautiful.

A. who

B. whom

C. whose

Question 18: Peter comes from Witney, _______is near Oxford.

A. that

B. which

C. who

Question 19:            color would you like?

A. Why

B. What

C. How

Question 20:            car did you drive here?

A. When

B. Who

C. Whose

D. Why

Answer:

Read more: English Grammar

Download File: Pronoun Exercises with Answers PDF

Conclusion

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