Pronoun

 Pronoun

Priya went to college. Priya took her books, laptop, and a bag with her. Priya drank a cup of coffee before Priya went to college. Priya took a bus. Priya studied in her college then Priya went to the canteen to have lunch.

In this paragraph, there are grammatical mistakes. This is because the word 'Priya' is repeated over and over again. Instead of using the word 'Priya', we can use pronouns such as - 'she' and 'her'. 

Now let's have a look at the paragraph in which pronouns have been used.

Priya went to college. She took her books, laptop, and a bag with her. She drank a cup of coffee before she went to college. Priya took a bus. She studied in her college, then, she went to the canteen to have lunch. 

What is a Pronoun?

A Pronoun is a word that is used in a place of a noun or a phrase. They take place of a noun in a sentence. Pronouns help us to stop the repetition of nouns in sentences.

Types of Pronouns

There are mainly eight types of Pronouns. They are as follows :

1) Personal Pronouns

2) Demonstrative Pronouns 

3) Relative Pronouns

4) Reciprocal Pronouns

5) Indefinite Pronouns

6) Interrogative Pronouns 

7) Reflexive Pronouns

8) Intensive Pronouns

Now let's have a look at the use of each type of pronoun and its example.

1) Personal Pronoun

A personal pronoun is a pronoun that is a substitute for a person's name or a thing. There are many personal pronouns. They are - I, You, He, She, We, They, It, Him, Her, Me, Us, Them.

Use of each pronoun in the sentence:

 I, Us, and We pronouns are used as the first person in the sentence.

You is used as second person pronoun.

He, Him, She, Her, It, They, Them are used as the third person pronouns.

Example:

I am 15 years old.

You are looking gorgeous.

He is very tall.

She goes to school every morning.

We are going by bus.

They will go to their classes in the evening.

It is our project.

We gave him a pile of books to keep on the table.

Her dress is kept in the cupboard.

We gave them chocolates.

These pancakes are for all of us.

Are you taking me with you to the library?

2) Demonstrative Pronoun

A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that is used for specific people or things. There are four demonstrative pronouns. They are - This, That, These, Those.

'This' pronoun is used for a singular object near you.

'That' pronoun is used for a singular object away from you.

'These' pronoun is used for a plural object near you.

'Those' pronoun is used for a plural object away from you.

Example: 

This is the book I was searching for.

That girl looks so beautiful.

These are the most aromatic flowers.

Those pencils cost $2 each.

3) Relative Pronouns

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to nouns that were mentioned previously. There are many relative pronouns. They are as follows - That, Which, Who, Whom, Whose, Whoever, Whomever.

Example: 

He said that the students who were selected had to come to the principal's cabin.

The paper which was torn was thrown by me in the dust bin.

The person who robbed the bank was caught.

The lady to whom I gave my phone was very kind.

The man whose watch had fallen on the road was least bothered about it.

Whoever won the lottery ticket was very lucky.

Whomever we saw was busy that day.

4) Reciprocal Pronoun

A reciprocal pronoun shows a relationship. This is when someone or something performs an action on something and receives the same action in return. There are two reciprocal pronouns. They are - 'Each other' and 'One another'.

Example:

Priya and Mira hardly speak with each other.

Nia and Soumya need to understand one another to be friendly.

5) Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun refers to the pronoun that does not refer to person, place, animal, or thing particularly. The indefinite pronouns are - Anyone, Everybody, Someone, Nobody.

Example:

Anyone can participate in this competition.

Everybody agrees with my opinion.

Someone was hiding behind the curtains.

Nobody spoke up.

6) Interrogative Pronoun

An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun that asks questions. There are five interrogative pronouns. They are - Who, Whom, What, Which, Whose.

Example:

Who is the winner?

Whom are you talking to?

What is the date today?

Which book is yours?

Whose tiffin is kept on the desk?

7) Reflexive Pronoun

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that is used for the object of the verb when it is referring to the same noun as the subject of that verb.  The reflexive pronouns are - Myself, Yourself, Himself, Herself, Oneself, Itself, Ourselves, Yourselves and Themselves.

Example:

I was in a great hurry, so I myself cooked my lunch.

Are you yourself going to the mall?

Rohan wanted to impress his teacher, so he himself managed the entire project work.

Priya liked the cake so much, that she tried to bake it herself.

One should be honest with oneself.

The wound itself healed very quickly.

We ourselves should decorate the Christmas tree.

You girls should plan the party yourselves.

Books themselves are the source of knowledge.

8) Intensive Pronoun

An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that emphasizes the preceding noun or another pronoun. The intensive pronouns are - Myself, Yourself, Himself, Herself, Itself, Ourselves, Yourselves and Themselves.

Examples:

I will myself do all the work.

You should yourself go to the head office.

He will himself complete his homework.

She herself does all the house chores.

It is not good to just think all about oneself.

The wound healed itself.

We ourselves can go to school.

Don't put yourselves at such a big risk.

The flowers themselves look so beautiful.