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Pronouns

Pronouns are words that act on behalf of nouns or replaces nouns to avoid repetition.

Example:  I, We, You, etc.

Pronouns can be classified into the following categories–

i. Personal pronouns: Pronouns that are used to indicate persons.

e.g. I, we,you, she, etc.

ii. Demonstrative pronouns: Pronouns that are used to indicate things.

e.g. This, that, those, etc.

iii. Relative pronouns: Pronouns that are used to join clauses related to a noun or pronoun. There are 5 relative pronouns that we usually use – that, which, who, whose, whom.

e.g. 

Rama is the girl who scored 90 in history.

The bag that I lost in hostel, was given by my mother.

iv. Indefinite pronoun: Pronouns that are used in general, without specifying a noun or pronoun.

e.g. somebody, everybody, all, nobody, none, everyone, someone, much, each, either, neither, another, other, etc.

v. Reflexive pronoun: Pronouns that are used with a personal pronoun and put emphasis on them.

e.g. 

I myself did this.

You can do it yourself.

vi. Reciprocal pronoun: Pronouns that are used to denote mutual relationship.

e.g. each other, one another, etc.

vii. Distributive pronoun: Pronouns that are used to denote any individual or thing one at a time.

e.g. each, every, either, neither, etc.

Either of the two boys is attending the concert.

Neither of my sisters likes coffee.

viii. Interrogative pronouns: Pronouns that are used to question the nouns.

e.g. 

Who is coming?

Whom did you see?

Whose bag is this?

Rules for Pronouns:

Rule 1:

# In the case of singular pronouns, the order of putting the pronouns is – second person, third person, first-person. (2-3-1)
 

e.g. You, Sheela and I will go to the party.

# In case of plural pronouns, while referring to unpleasant actions, the order will be – first person, second person, third person (1-2-3)

e.g. I, you and Sheela will be scolded by the teacher for being late.

Rule 2:

#  Each other, Either, Neither – these pronouns are used to refer to two persons or things.

e.g. 

Hansel and Gretel love each other.

Neither of my phones is working.

#  One another, None, Anyone- these pronouns are used to refer to more than two persons or things.

e.g. 

Anyone of the students did the mischief.

Indians should respect one another.

Rule 3:

#  In the case of using the following verbs, if the subject is the receiver of the act then reflexive pronouns should be used.

Verbs- absent, acquit, adapt, adjust, amuse, avail, avenge, apply, enjoy, exert, reconcile, resign, etc.

e.g. 

We enjoyed ourselves at the farewell party.

You must avail yourself of the opportunities in life.

#  In the case of using the following verbs, reflexive pronouns should not be used.

Verbs: keep, move, hide, turn, rest, and qualify.

e.g. 

I qualified in the third round of the show.

They have moved on from the past.

Rule 4:

#  In order to be used as a subject and/or object, a reflexive pronoun must priorly be accompanied by the concerned noun or pronoun.

e.g. 

I myself made the cake.

He himself broke the camera.

Rule 5:

#  Instead of subjective pronouns, verbs, and prepositions are always followed by objective pronouns.

Verb/preposition + objective pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, them, it)

e.g. 

I will send you and him the invitation list.

Between Guddu and her, the former one is lazy.

Rule 6:

#  In the case of auxiliary verbs, subjective pronouns (I, you, we, he, she, it, they) are followed by such verbs.

Auxiliary verb+ subjective pronoun

e.g. 

Who is she to tell you so many bad things?

 It was I who called you from that number.

Rule 7:

#  Pronoun Both are followed by and only and never used in case of negative action. Neither is used in case of negative uses.

e.g. 

Both Rita and Riya are good in studies.

Neither of the brothers is coming today.

Rule 8:

#  But is used as a relative pronoun to refer - who/which is/are/were not.

e.g.

There is no gain but has some pain. (There is no gain that does not have some pain)

There is no boy in the class but is honest. (There is no boy in the class who is not honest)

Rule 9:

#  In the case of questions, the subject, and the verb should match with each other.

e.g.

He is good in studies, isn’t he?

I gave you the book, didn’t I?

#  In the case of indefinite pronouns, ‘they’ is used in the question.

e.g. 

Somebody joined the office, didn’t they?

Everybody is unique, aren’t they?

Rule 10:

#  The relative pronoun must be according to the verb of the adjective clause.

Who – used as a subject of the verb of the adjective clause.

Whom – used as an object of the verb of the adjective clause.

e.g.

She was calling Rehan, whom she had lent money.

Tanu fed the dog who was feeble.

Rule 11:

# Possessive pronouns are not followed by nouns.

e.g. 

The room is mine.

This is yours dress. (wrong)

This dress is yours. (correct)

Rule 12:

# What is used to denote things and it is used without any antecedent.

e.g. 

I could not make out what our Principal said.

It is amazing what you did.

Rule 13:

# In case of a choice between two or more persons or things, which is used.

e.g. 

Which drama should we pick from the book for the event?

Which is the better singer of the four friends?

Rule 14:

# Same is never used as a pronoun.

Rule 15:

Possessive pronouns

Exercise:  Spot the error

1. She bought/ a new bag/ and using /the same everyday/ no error. (Rule 14)

2. Both Charu/ as well as Haru/ are giving /ISC this year/ no error. (Rule 7)

3. Everybody in the office/ is working/ so hard,/isn’t it?/ no error. (Rule 9)

4. Who is/ the better/ singer of /the lot?/ no error. (Rule 13)

5.  Sima, you and I/ will watch the movie/ tonight at/ my house/no error. (Rule 1)

6. Kajal will arrange/ the accommodation for/ myself and my sister./no error. (Rule 4)

7. You must/ qualify yourself/ for the tournament./no error. (Rule 3)

8. Indians should/ not fight with/ each other./no error. (Rule 2)

9. We all should/ adjust ourselves/ in all circumstances./no error. (Rule 3)

10. Moana was talking /about a girl /who she met /at the market./ no error. (Rule 10)