Pronouns - Classification

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 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. 

Types of Pronouns with examples :

Pronouns may be classified into different types based on their functions. Given below we discuss the various types of pronouns with examples. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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? 

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.

 

 

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. 

 

 

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.

 

 

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. 

 

 

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. 

Pronoun 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