Explore pronouns usage in this comprehensive guide, ideal for ESL learners and Class 8 students. Understand the types of pronouns with examples, including a detailed list of nine types of pronouns in English. This article covers the pronoun meaning and examples, helping you grasp both proper pronouns and common pronouns. With clear explanations, learners will learn pronouns and their practical application in everyday language.
Pronouns Meaning in English
“A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase. For example, he, it, she, hers, me, them, etc.” – ALD by A S Hornby
1. Who does your project for you?
2. Would you like to work on my projects with me?
3. Who is that person sitting on the bench?
4. He is the new manager. I have asked him who he is
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Kinds of Pronouns
Pronouns are of nine kinds. These are
7. reciprocal pronouns
1. Personal Pronouns
Personal Pronouns of Subjective Form
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | I | We |
| 2nd Person | You | You |
| 3rd Person | He/She/It | They |
Personal Pronouns of Objective Form
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | me | us |
| 2nd Person | You | You |
| 3rd Person | him/her/It | Them |
Usage of the pronoun, ‘it’
‘it’ is used
a) for a thing or an animal.
For example,
- I read the book. It is very interesting.
- The cow is an animal. It gives us milk.
b) for a small child.
For example,
- The baby is crying. Lift it.
c) for people, in a few cases.
For example,
- ‘Who is it on the line?’
- It’s me, Suresh.’
- ‘Is it Suresh over there?’ ‘No, it’s Mohan.”
d) to express time, distance, weather, etc.
For example,
- It’s 5 o’clock by my watch.
- It’s cold today.
- It’s 500 kilometres.
- It’s the fourth of July.
- How far is it to Lucknow?
- It takes five hours to reach Jaipur.
e) to introduce sentences.
For example,
- It’s I who helped you.
- It’s the trains that were late.
- It’s in the morning that she is coming.
- It’s difficult to cross the rivers,
- It’s a pity she fell ill before the examination.
f) to represent something already mentioned.
For example,
- He is always on time and I like it.
Use of they, them, their
The pronouns they and them can be used with neither, either, no one, someone, anyone, or everyone.
For example,
- Who has left their bag on the seat?
- Neither of them has completed their work.
- Everyone can be present, can’t they?
2. Demonstrative pronouns
They help to point at something or someone.
For example,
- This is my pen.
- That is a lost umbrella.
- These are your books.
- Those are students of this school.
3. Possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives
They help to show possession.
For example,
- This pen is mine. (possessive pronoun)
- That is your pen. (possessive adjective)
- Those shoes are hers. (possessive pronoun)
- This is our house. (possessive adjective)
- That problem is theirs. (possessive pronoun)
4. Interrogative pronouns
The pronouns who, what, which, and whom are used to ask questions.
For example,
- What is your problem?
- Who can help you?
- Which is your schoolbag?
- Whom can you help?
5. Reflexive pronouns
When myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves (plural), himself, herself, itself
and themselves are used as objects of a verb and when the subject and the object
are the same person or animal, the pronouns are called reflexive pronouns.
For example,
- He hurt himself.
- You can save yourself.
- We should love ourselves.
- Why does she deceive herself?
- They hid themselves behind a bush.
Reflexive pronouns can also be used after verbs, and prepositions.
For example,
- We should depend on ourselves.
- I spoke to myself.
- Take care of yourselves.
- She hasn’t left anything for herself.
6. Emphatic pronouns
When myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, itself are used to emphasise a noun or pronoun, these self-pronouns are called emphasising pronouns.
For example,
- I myself can do it. OR → I can do it myself.
- He himself wrote the answer. OR → He wrote the answer himself.
Note the difference:
- Mala herself met Virat. (Mala, not anyone else, met Virat.)
- Mala met Virat herself. (Mala met Virat, not anyone else.)
Emphatic pronouns can also be used after nouns, or pronouns.
7. Reciprocal pronouns
These pronouns are used to show that an action or a feeling is reciprocated.
For example,
- They took care of each other.
- The survivors congratulated one another.
8. Indefinite pronouns
The indefinite pronouns are-
| somebody | someone | something |
| anybody | anyone | anything |
| nobody | no one | nothing |
| everybody | everyone | everything |
These pronouns do not refer to any specific person, thing, or amount.
For example,
- Everybody enjoyed the puppet show,
- There was no one in the building when the fire broke out.
9. Relative pronouns (Interrogative)
Form
For persons
| Subject | Object | Possessive |
| who | whom/who | whose |
| that | that |
Form
For things
| Subject | Object | Possessive |
| which | which | whose |
| that | that |
Usage
Relative pronouns are used to introduce a relative clause. Relative clauses give some information about the noun they qualify.
They are of two kinds – defining relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses.
a) Defining relative clauses adds detail about a specific noun that is defined.
For example,
- The boys who were tired slept.
(Only some of the boys were tired and those tired boys slept. But, others who were not tired, kept awake.)
Note: In defining relative clauses, the pronouns who, whom, and which are often replaced by that in spoken English. In non-defining clauses, you cannot use that instead of who, whom, or which.
b) Non-defining relative clauses tell us more about someone or something, but the information in these clauses does not help us to define what or who we are talking about.
For example,
- My friend Shashi, who went to the same school as me, has just written a best-selling novel.
- My sister, who stays in London, has just written a best-selling novel. emphasising pronouns.
Pronouns Worksheets for Practice
Practice pronouns with worksheets designed for ESL and Class 8 learners. Improve your understanding of pronouns through engaging exercises and examples.
Worksheet 1
A. Fill in the blanks with self-pronouns and tell whether they are reflexive or emphasizing pronouns.
1. She will come to you _________________________ .
2. I _________________________ heard the cry.
3. Let’s enjoy _________________________
4. Don’t give _________________________ any trouble.
5. He is sitting all by _________________________
6. You never think of _________________________
7. They are spoiling _________________________
8. I love _________________________ more than anyone else.
9. Sheela can’t express _________________________ clearly.
10. He can do everything _________________________
Worksheet 2
B. Read the following sentences and tell whether the relative clause used in each is a defining or a non-defining relative clause.
1. The story which I heard from her was published in all the dailies.
2. My television, which was in the far corner of the room, toppled over.
3. All the boys, who climbed to the very top of the hill, were rewarded.
4. The attacker, who threatened me with a gun, was arrested by the police.
5. The ball, which I threw, was caught by my dog.
6. The children who could read the story and write their name were admitted to the school.
7. The car, which rammed into a truck last night, was completely smashed.
8. The keys which are hanging on a string are yours.
9. The buyers, who were offered a cash rebate, bought everything in no time.
10. It was your brother that met my son.
Worksheet 3
C. Join the two sentences of each pair with the help of a relative pronoun.
1. The music was turned down. It was too loud.
2. The button came off. It was loose.
3. The boy was feeling sleepy. The teacher asked him to wash his face.
4. My teacher heard the news. She was shocked.
5. The boy is the best athlete. I hung his coat on the hook.
6. The people are always happy. They can handle problems.
7. I found the guard sleeping. I posted him outside the gate.
8. We should be grateful to our teachers. They taught us.
9. The finishing was done easily. It was done by experts.
10. The crowd was waiting for the singers to come on stage. It went crazy on seeing them.
Pronouns Answers of Worksheets
Find the correct answers to pronoun worksheets, helping ESL and Class 8 learners check their understanding. Clear explanations for each answer are included.
Answers (A):
1. She will come to you herself. (Emphasizing)
2. I myself heard the cry. (Emphasizing)
3. Let’s enjoy ourselves. (Reflexive)
4. Don’t give yourself any trouble. (Reflexive)
5. He is sitting all by himself. (Reflexive)
6. You never think of yourself. (Reflexive)
7. They are spoiling themselves. (Reflexive)
8. I love myself more than anyone else. (Reflexive)
9. Sheela can’t express herself clearly. (Reflexive)
10. He can do everything himself. (Emphasizing)
Answers (B) :
1. The story which I heard from her was published in all the dailies.
Defining relative clause (Identifies which specific story is being referred to).
2. My television, which was in the far corner of the room, toppled over.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds extra information about the television).
3. All the boys, who climbed to the very top of the hill, were rewarded.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds additional information about “all the boys”).
4. The attacker, who threatened me with a gun, was arrested by the police.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds extra information about “the attacker”).
5. The ball, which I threw, was caught by my dog.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds extra information about “the ball”).
6. The children who could read the story and write their name were admitted to the school.
Defining relative clause (Identifies which children were admitted).
7. The car, which rammed into a truck last night, was completely smashed.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds additional information about “the car”).
8. The keys which are hanging on a string are yours.
Defining relative clause (Identifies which keys are being referred to).
9. The buyers, who were offered a cash rebate, bought everything in no time.
Non-defining relative clause (Adds extra information about “the buyers”).
10. It was your brother that met my son.
Defining relative clause (Identifies which specific person met my son).
Summary:
- Defining relative clauses: 1, 6, 8, 10.
- Non-defining relative clauses: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9.
Answers (C):
1. The music, which was too loud, was turned down.
2. The button, which was loose, came off.
3. The boy, who was feeling sleepy, was asked by the teacher to wash his face.
4. My teacher was shocked when she heard the news.
5. The boy, whose coat I hung on the hook, is the best athlete.
6. The people, who can handle problems, are always happy.
7. I found the guard, who I had posted outside the gate, sleeping.
8. We should be grateful to our teachers, who taught us.
9. The finishing, which was done by experts, was done easily.
10. The crowd, which was waiting for the singers to come on stage, went crazy on seeing them.
