A pronoun is a word which is used in place of a noun. Examples: Ram and Ravi are best friends. They are best friends. Here, 'Ram' and 'Ravi' are replaced by 'They'. Types of Pronouns Pronouns are of different types.
Personal pronouns stand for persons and things. The personal pronouns are called 'personal' as they stand for three persons- first person, second person and third person. The first person is the person speaking, the second person is the person spoken to and the third person is the person spoken about.
Personal Pronouns are of two types.
Example: The child is crying. It must be hungry.
Examples: It is a fine day. It is easy to advise others.
Pronouns such as I, we, you, he, she, it and they are used at the place of a subject in a sentence. Pronouns such as me, us, you, him, her, it and them are used at the place of an object in a sentence. Examples: She will certainly help me. I am really thankful to her. They scolded him.
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. who, whose, whom, which and what are interrogative pronouns. Examples: What was that noise? Who will be introducing the speaker? With whom are you conversing? Which is your house?
Look at these two sentences: (1) Which is your house? (2) Which house is yours?
In sentence (1), 'which' has been used as an interrogative pronoun. In sentence (2), since 'which' qualifies the noun 'house', so it has been used as an 'interrogative adjective'. Now look at these two sentences: (1) What do you think? (2) What plan have you made?
In sentence (1), 'what' is an interrogative pronoun. In sentence (2), 'what' is an 'interrogative adjective'.
Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out the object or objects they refer to. Examples: This is a big river. These are pretty dresses imported from Japan. That is a terrific idea. Those are the best ones. Demonstrative pronouns such as 'this' and 'that' sometimes refer to what is said in a whole sentence or clause. Examples: A. I had to do my English homework, but this went out of my mind. 'This' refers to 'I had to do my English homework.' B. I went to see the movie, but 'that' was not possible.
Demonstrative Pronoun and Demonstrative Adjective This, that, these and those can act as both demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives.
Demonstrative Pronouns This That These Those Examples:
Look at these two sentences: (1) This is a book. (2) This book is a novel.
In sentence (1), 'this' stands for the noun 'book'; so 'this' is a demonstrative pronoun. In sentence (2), this qualifies the noun 'book'; so this is a demonstrative adjective. Now look at these two sentences: (1) These are geese. (2) These geese are yours.
In sentence (1), 'these' is a 'demonstrative pronoun'. In sentence (2), 'these' is a 'demonstrative adjective'.
Possessive pronouns are used to show possession.
That suit is 'yours'. This coat is 'mine'.
Possessive Pronouns mine yours his hers its ours theirs
Possessive Adjectives my your his her its our their
Examples:
Pronouns like myself, himself, yourself when used as the receiver of an action are called 'reflexive pronouns'.
Words such as itself, myself, yourself and ourselves are the objects of the verb in the sentence. But they refer to the same person as the subject does. The 'self' forms of personal pronouns are called reflexive pronouns. A reflexive pronoun cannot be used as the subject of a sentence. We cannot say Myself want to join the army. A reflexive pronoun can only be used as the object of a verb.
Emphasising pronouns are used with a noun and pronoun to convey emphasis. (i) They themselves damaged their car. (ii) She herself hurt her pet.
The pronouns who, whom, whose, which and that, which join two sentences and refer back to nouns going before them are called 'relative pronouns'. The Noun to which a Relative Pronoun refers or relates is called its antecedent.
Examples: (i) This is the horse. It won the race. This is the horse which won the race.
(ii) I have found the pen. It was lost. I have found the pen which was lost.
(iii) Here is the book. You lent me the book. Here is the book that you lent me.
(Session 2025 - 26)