WHAT IS A PRONOUN
Pronouns are important in linguistics and grammar because they prevent repetition of nouns in sentences. Without the pronouns, sentences would be cumbersome and repetitive. Pronouns are divided into several groups, which include the personal, relative, demonstrative, indefinite, reflexive, intensive, interrogative, and possessive pronouns. Each of the pronoun categories serves a different purpose in a sentence.
Personal pronouns are words used in representing people or things in sentences. While selecting a personal pronoun to use in a sentence, it is important to consider the number (plural or singular), person (first, second, or third person), gender, and case of the noun to be replaced (Shrives, 2014). Personal pronouns are further classified into subjective personal pronouns and objective personal pronouns. Subjective personal pronouns are used to represent a verb’s subject, while the objective personal pronouns are used when indicating objects in a sentence. The object may be either direct objects, indirect objects or objects of preposition. Examples of personal pronouns in sentences include:
You are sad. (“You” is a subjective personal pronoun)
Clarence knows him. (“Him” is a direct object in the sentence)
Smith gave them the money. (“Them” is an indirect object in the sentence)
Patrick went with her. (“Her” is an object of preposition in the sentence)
Relative pronouns are used to refer to individuals or items that had been previously mentioned, and they connect one clause or phrase with another clause or phrase. Examples of relative pronouns include that, which, what, who, and whom. When the relative pronouns “who” or “whoever” is used in a sentence, it refers to the subject in a sentence or clause whereas “whom” or “whomever” refers to the objects in a verb. Examples of relative pronouns in sentences include:
I will watch whichever movie I find. (“Whichever” is used to modify the noun “movie”).
Wherever I go, I meet them. (“Wherever” acts as the subject of the verb “go”)
Demonstrative pronouns identify and point to a pronoun or noun. Only four demonstrative pronouns exist (this, that, these, those), and they differentiate their targets through various indications of position. Examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentence include:
This is marvelous.
Four students wanted these.
Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to identifiable but unspecified individuals or items (MacFadyen, 2014). Indefinite pronouns suggest the idea of some, none, any, or all, and the most common examples of indefinite pronouns include somebody, one, many, nobody, few, and each among others. Examples of indefinite pronouns in sentences include:
Many applied for the job, but only one was selected.
Fire burned the house, and everything was destroyed.
Reflexive pronouns are used in referring back to subjects of sentences or clauses. Reflexive pronouns are also used when objects act on themselves. Reflexive pronouns reflect back to previous nouns or pronouns (Walston, 2001). Examples of reflexive pronouns in sentences include:
Tim burnt himself with hot tea.
I photocopied the document myself because the secretary was busy.
Intensive pronouns are used in emphasizing on antecedents. However, it is important to correctly match the pronouns and their antecedents (Kipnis, 2013). Examples of intensive pronouns in sentences include:
They themselves requested to be allowed to swim although they knew the river was dangerous. (“Themselves” is in plural form and it is correctly matched with “they”)
I myself feel that ruling against the convict was too harsh.
Interrogative pronouns are used in asking questions, or when enquiring which thing or person is meant. Examples of interrogative pronouns include “what,” “which,” “whom,” “who,” and the suffix “ever” is used to form compound interrogative pronouns. Examples of interrogative pronouns in sentences include:
Who wrote the 48 laws of power?
To whom do you wish to sing?
Possessive pronouns
Possessive pronouns indicate owners of particular objects, and examples of possessive pronouns include “theirs,” “his,” “mine,” and “yours” among others. Examples of possessive pronouns in sentences include:
That is mine.
Theirs was delivered yesterday.
Assignment
Underline and describe the type of pronoun underlined in the questions below:
- Timothy himself is responsible for the accident.
- History has produced many inventors but none as gifted as Leonardo da Vinci.
- The terrorists have vowed to capture whichever foreigner they meet in their territories.
- Preston wishes that the new Lamborghini car were his.
- George is used to cutting himself with razor blades.
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