Pronouns : Definition, Types, Examples and FAQs

As of the last article, you must have understood that with or without the nouns, the pronouns maintain the flow of speech. When nouns are unclear or become repetitious, pronouns are used to avoid this. They play a significant role in the English language portions. 
In numerous competitive examinations, there are several pronoun-related questions. For better understanding, you must be completely familiar with the topic. You will find the rest of the pronouns, types of pronouns, and rules, in this article.

What is a Pronoun?

In order to avoid the repetition of the noun in a paragraph or in a writing, we use pronouns in place of the noun. Pronouns have two forms – singular form and plural form. Pronouns are classified into three main kinds which is described below in the box. 

Person	Singular person	Plural person
First person	I, Me	We, Us
Second person	You, Your	You
Third person	He, She, It, Him, Her	They, Them, Their

Definition of a Pronoun

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a pronoun as “a word that is used instead of a noun or a noun phrase.” “Any of a small set of words (such as I, she, he, you, it, we, or they) in a language that are used as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and whose referents are named or understood in the context” is how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines pronouns. A pronoun is a word you use to refer to someone or something when you do not need to use a noun, usually because the person or object has already been stated, according to the Collins Dictionary. The terms “it,” “she,” “something,” and “myself” are examples.  

Types of Pronouns with examples

1. Personal pronouns

Pronouns used in place of nouns referring to persons or proper names are called personal pronouns. 

Examples:

I, we, you, she, he, it etc.

Examples in sentences : 

1. Ram is a good boy. He reads in class ten. 

2. Possessive pronouns

The pronouns that are used to show possession are called possessive pronouns. 

Examples:

Mine, yours, hers, theirs, its etc.

Examples in sentences : 

This is mine. 

The stage is yours. 

3. Demonstrative pronouns

The words that are used for nouns to point out specific objects are known as Demonstrative pronouns. 

Examples:

This, that, these, those etc. 

Examples in sentences : 

This is my pen. 

That is her pen. 

4. Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used for nouns to ask questions. 

Examples:

Who, what, which, whose, whom etc.

Examples in sentences : 

Who took his mobile? 

Whom did Rohit meet? 

Whose pen is this? 

5. Reflexive pronouns

It is used to emphasis the personal pronouns. 

Examples:

Myself, ourselves, himself, themselves, yourself etc. 

Examples in sentences : 

I can do it myself. 

He killed himself.

6. Indefinite Pronouns

These pronouns are used to refer to things or people in a general way. They don’t point towards anyone specific. 

Examples

Some, few, all, many, one, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, either, neither etc.

Examples in sentences : 
i. Some says that he is trustworthy. 
ii. Many of them were badly injured in an accident. 
iii. One must obey to one’s parents. 

7. Distributive Pronouns

These are used to indicate all the members of a group separately. These pronouns refer to individual members one at a time. 

Examples:

Each, every, none, anyone, either,  neither etc. 

They are always singular and always take a singular verb with them.

Examples in sentences

Each: This pronoun is used to refer to every single person/thing in a group. 
Example: Each of the girls is obedient. 

Either: This pronoun is used when we refer to one or the other of two things/persons. 
Example: Either of the answers given by you is correct. 

Neither: This pronoun is used as a negative of ‘either’. 
Example: Neither of the keys is a right fit for the door.

8. Reciprocal Pronouns

We use this pronoun when two people are carrying out or have carried out an action and both have benefitted from it or have experienced the same consequences. 

Examples:

Each other and one another etc.

Each other is normally used when we refer to two people and one another is used when more than two people are involved in an activity. 

Examples in sentences : 
i. Ram and Sita love each other. 
ii. North Indians should not fight one another. 

9. Relative Pronouns

We use relative pronouns when we want to join a noun/pronoun with a clause or phrase.

Examples:  

Who, which, that, whose, whom etc.

Examples in sentences : 
i. Where did you buy the shoes that you wore yesterday? 
ii. The boy who won the marathon race is my brother. 

Pronouns Chart

Person	Subject Pronoun	Object Pronoun	Possessive   adjectives	Possessive             pronouns	Reflexive pronoun
1st (singular )	I	Me	My	Mine	Myself
2nd(singular)	You	You	Your	Yours	Yourself
3rd ( singular)	He, she, it	Him, her, it	His, her, its	His, hers	Himself, herself, itself
1st (plural)	We	Us	Our	Ours	Ourselves
2nd ( plural)	You	You	Your	Yours	Yourselves
3rd ( plural)	They	Them	Their	Theirs	Themselves

Pronouns Exercises

Fill the blanks given below with the correct pronouns. 

1. It is   _________ (me / I) who can do it. 

2. Let  ________ ( she / her ) go. 

3. Teacher advises me that I should avail _______ ( myself / me) of every chance in life. 

4. Rohit bought some oranges and put _________ ( it / them ) in a bag. 

5. The man has qualified ___________ ( himself / themselves) for the post. 

6. She can dance better than ________ ( me / I ). 

7. I saw _________ ( a man / him ) who is a police. 

8. I saw ________ ( a man / him ) whom you met. 

9. Ram and Sita love __________ ( one another / each other ). 

10.  Four sisters quarrel  ________ ( one another/ each other ). 

Answer : 

1. I 

2. Her 

3. Myself 

4. Them 

5. Himself 

6. I 

7. A man 

8. Him 

9. Each other 

10. One another 

Pronoun in English Grammar-FAQs

Q1. What is a Pronoun? 

Ans : The word that is used in place of a noun or a noun phrase is known as pronoun. A pronoun is used in place of a noun to avoid the repetition of the noun. 

In order to avoid the repetition of the noun in a paragraph or in a writing, we use pronoun in place of the noun. Pronouns have two forms – singular form and plural form. 

Q2. What is demonstrative pronouns? 

Ans : The words that are used for nouns to point out specific objects are known as Demonstrative pronouns.

Examples: This, that, these, those etc. 

Q3. How many types of pronouns are there? 

Ans : Pronouns may be classified into mainly eight types. 

1. Personal pronouns ( including possessive pronouns) 

2. Demonstrative pronouns

3. Relative pronouns 

4. Interrogative pronouns

5. Distributive pronouns 

6. Reflexive pronouns 

7. Indefinite pronouns

8. Reciprocal pronouns

Q4. Give some examples of pronouns. 

Ans : This, that, these, those, each, every, none, anyone, either,  neither, which, whom, who, myself, himself, each other, one another etc. 

1. You can take either hotel. 

2. Both the sisters quarrel each other. 

3. Neither of them is present. 

4. You can talk to each boy. 

5. Whose book is this? 

6. Who took my pen? 

7. This is my mobile. 

8. That is your book. 

9. They enjoyed themselves during summer vacation. 

10. He resigned himself to his failure.