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A pronoun generally is a word that replaces a noun in a sentence. Pronouns are used to avoid repeating the same nouns over and over again. For example, “Jeremy ran so fast, you’d think his life was on the line.’’ The pronoun ‘his’ saved us from repeating the name Jeremy again.

Types of Pronouns

Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are used as a substitute for a person’s name. There are two kinds: subjective and objective pronouns. That is, they either act as the subject of the sentence or the object of the sentence.

As the subject of a sentence, they are for example:
They went to the store.
I don’t want to leave.
He runs a great shop in town.
You can’t leave, either.

As the object of the sentence, they are for example:
Please don’t sit beside me.
Go talk to her.
Mary put the gift under it.
Don’t look at them.

Personal pronoun is of three types:
First person personal pronouns: I, we, me, us etc.
Second person personal pronouns: you ect.
Third person personal pronouns: they, them, he, she, him etc.

Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns show ownership or possession of a noun.
For example: {my, our, your, his, her, its (note there is no apostrophe), their}
Is that my book?
No, that’s his book.
That’s its shelf.
I’d like to see their bookshelves.

However, there are also independent possessive pronouns. These pronouns refer to a previously named or understood noun. They stand alone and aren’t followed by any other noun. They are:
For example:(mine, ours, yours, his, hers, its, theirs)
That’s mine.
Wrong. It’s ours.
So, I suppose those clothes are yours?
No, it’s theirs.

Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns don’t point to particular nouns. We use them when an object doesn’t need to be specifically identified. They include: few, everyone, all, some, anything, nobody
For example:
Most wealth is held by a select few.
Everyone is here already.
I don’t have any paper napkins. Can you bring some?
He’s nobody.

Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. We often use them when we need to add more information. They are: who, whom, which, whoever, whomever, whichever, that.
For example:
The driver who ran the stop sign was careless.
I don’t know which pair of shoes you want.
Take whichever you want.
No, not that one.

Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns emphasize, or intensify, nouns and pronouns. Typically, we find them right after the noun they’re intensifying. These pronouns typically end in -self or -selves. They are: myself, himself, herself, themselves, itself, yourself, yourselves, ourselves.
For example:
I myself like to travel.
He himself is his worst critic.
She approved the marriage herself.
We went to hear W.B. Yeats himself speaks.

Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns take the place of a noun that’s already been mentioned. They are used to demonstrate or show something. They can be singular or plural. There are five of them. They include: these, those, this, that, such
For example:
These are ugly.
Those are lovely.
Don’t drink this.
Such was his understanding.

Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns work in sentences that are posing a question. Interrogative pronouns are: who, whom, which, what, whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever
For example:
Who is going to arrive first?
What are you bringing to the party?
Which of these do you like better?
Whatever do you mean?

Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are similar to intensive pronouns. The difference between the two is that intensive pronouns aren’t essential to a sentence’s meaning. Meanwhile, reflexive pronouns are. Also, they’re used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. These pronouns end in -self or -selves. They are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
For example:
I told myself not to spend all my money on new shoes.
You’re going to have to drive yourself to the restaurant today.
We gave ourselves plenty of extra time.
They bought themselves a new car.

​​​​Exercises

A. Answer the following questions.
a. Write the types of personal pronouns and their works. Give examples in sentences.
b. What are the differences between intensive and reflexive pronouns? Give examples to justify.
c. What is the use of interrogative pronouns in a sentence?
d. What is a demonstrative pronoun? How are demonstrative pronouns different from demonstrative adjectives?
e. What is an indefinite pronoun?
f. What is the use of relative pronouns in a sentence?

B. In the following sentences point out the pronouns and say for what each stands.
a. He watched a movie, it was nice.
b. He came with his brother.
c. Birds themselves build their nests.
d. If he is caught, he will be punished.
e. Is that your book?
f. There are so many people who have never read a book.
g. Some of them are here.

C. Replace the nouns with pronouns in the following sentences.
a. Rama took Soma’s book. Rama went on reading.
b. The child went into the park, where the boys saw a snake.
c. It is the time for the bus. The bus would arrive soon.
d. My father is a teacher, my father never did any wrong.