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9 types of Pronouns with examples

What are Pronouns?

Definition: A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun. Therefore, they act as substitutes for the nouns that they replace. Pronouns save you from having to repeat a noun over and over again. Some of the most common pronouns are: he, she, they, you, it, and we.

It is important to note that because pronouns replace nouns, they are used the same way the nouns are used in a sentence. You would use them as subjects or objects in a sentence.

Before we move forward, following is a graphics showing relationship between nouns, pronouns and adjectives.

Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives
Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives

Let's consider the following examples:

1. Sam is a good singer. He is good with drums.

Here, in the second sentence we have replaced the noun, Sam, with the pronoun, he.

2. John and Paul are going for a picnic tomorrow. They will leave early in the morning.

In this sentence, we have replaced the nouns John and Paul with the pronoun they.

Types Of Pronouns:

Types of Pronouns

1. Personal Pronouns:

Personal pronoun replaces a particular person, thing or group. There are two types of personal pronouns:

1.1 Subject Pronouns:

Subject pronoun pronouns can only be used as the subject of the verb, in a sentence. Subject pronouns perform the action in the sentence. The following are some examples of subject pronouns:

  • I will eat pizza today.

  • You are very friendly.

  • He helps the poor.

  • She is a singer.

  • It is hot today.

  • We went to the market.

  • They will meet their friends.

1.2 Object Pronouns:

When a pronoun is used as the object of a verb in the sentence, it is called object pronoun. Object pronoun receives the action. The following are some examples of object pronouns.

  • I am going to buy a gift for them.

  • I saw him yesterday.

  • I will meet you tomorrow.

  • She gave us some sweets.

  • He does not like me.

  • I will call her tomorrow.

  • You should eat it.

Subject Pronoun Object Pronoun
1st person singular I Me
1st person plural We Us
2nd person You You
3rd person singular (male) He Him
3rd person singular (female) She Her
3rd person (thing) It It
3rd person plural They Them

2. Possessive Pronouns:

Possessive pronoun tells us about close relationship, possession, or ownership of a thing / person to another thing / person. The following are some examples of possessive pronouns.

  • This pen is mine.

  • That key is hers.

  • This dog is yours.

  • Ours is a better choice.

  • These clothes are theirs.

3. Reflexive Pronouns:

Reflexive pronouns always act as an object, not subject. They require an interaction between the subject and the object. The following are some examples of reflexive pronouns.

  • She looked herself in the mirror.

  • I did it myself.

  • He injured himself.

  • We will do it ourselves.

  • You should buy yourself a new car.

Possessive Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun
mine myself
yours yourself
his himself
hers herself
ours ourselves
theirs themselves

4. Relative Pronouns:

Relative pronoun is a pronoun which joins relative clause and relative sentences. The following are some examples of relative pronouns.

  • This is the girl who got the first prize.

  • We had pizza, which is my favourite food.

  • The boy who is playing polo is my best friend.

  • This is Lily, whom you met at our party.

  • I have a friend whose house is very big.

5. Demonstrative Pronouns:

Demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that points to a place, person or thing. The following are some examples of demonstrative pronouns.

  • This is light.

  • That is old.

  • These are very tasty.

  • Those are mine.

6. Interrogative Pronouns:

These pronouns are found in questions. Interrogative pronouns often begin interrogative sentences. The following are some examples of interrogative pronouns.

  • Who stole the book?

  • Whose is this coat?

  • What do you want?

  • Whom did you meet?

7. Indefinite Pronouns:

These pronouns do not refer to a specific person, place, or things. The following are some examples of indefinite pronouns.

  • All were late to the school.

  • Anyone can do this work.

  • Somebody ate my crisp.

  • Many have gone already.

  • All have reached.

Note: An indefinite pronoun refers to a non-specific person or thing, but an indefinite adjective modifies nouns or pronouns.

Indefinite Pronouns List:

  • all

  • anyone

  • everyone

  • everybody

  • nobody

  • many

  • somebody

  • few

  • most

  • some

  • anything

8. Reciprocal Pronouns:

These pronouns are used when two or more than two people or things are doing and feeling the same action. The following are some examples of reciprocal pronouns.

  • Max and his brother respect each other.

  • They are helping one another.

  • Peter and Nimmy were talking to each other.

9. Intensive Pronouns:

These pronouns are used to emphasize noun or pronoun in the sentence. Intensive pronouns are not required in the sentence, but they are added for emphasis. Therefore, if you remove the pronoun from the sentence, and the sentence still makes sense, then it is an intensive pronoun.

The following are some examples of intensive pronouns:

  • I myself did this work.

  • She made this cake herself.

  • They made these drawings themselves.

  • I heard the noise myself.

Intensive Pronouns List:

  • myself

  • herself

  • themselves

  • himself

  • yourself

  • ourselves

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See Also:

English Grammar:

Physics:

Biology:

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