English pronouns

What are pronouns?

Pronouns are words that are used as substitutes for noun or noun phrases to avoid repetition and refer to an already known subject.

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List of English pronouns:

1. Personal pronouns
2. Impersonal pronouns
3. Object pronouns                             
4. Possessive pronouns                    
5. Reflexive pronouns                       
6. Reciprocal pronouns
7. Demonstrative pronouns                            
8. Relative pronouns                                              
9. Indefinite pronouns                      
10. Interrogative pronouns 

1. Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns replace the nouns that function as the subject in a sentence hence why they could also be referred to as subject pronouns. 

Examples:

• I am a business management student.
• You must be new to this country.
• They will be here shortly. 

2. Impersonal pronouns

Impersonal pronouns are used as the subject of the sentence to talk about people in a general manner and allow for generic interpretation. There are four types of impersonal pronouns: it, there, one, they.

Examples:

• It is getting warmer by the day. 
• There's nothing wrong with that.
• One should never be mean.
• They drive on the right side in Romania.

3. Object pronouns                             

Object pronouns are used to substitute an object or to indicate towards whom the action is directed. They can be direct and indirect.

Examples:

• It was delivered to me last night.
• I am doing my best to help you.
• The decision belonged to her. 

4. Possessive pronouns    

Possessive pronouns indicate a possession of the noun that is discussed in the sentence. As they fully replace the noun it is vital that the reader or listener is aware of the context. 

Examples:

• The responsibility for the event is mine. 
• Yours have yet to arrive home.
• This equipment is ours.     

5. Reflexive pronouns       

Reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject and put an emphasis on what or who is performing the action. 

Examples:

• She tried it herself and succeeded.
• I challenge myself to be better every day.
• We introduced ourselves and that was how it all started.

6. Reciprocal pronouns

Reciprocal pronouns are used to explain a reciprocated action between two or more people at the same time. The two pronouns are each other and one another. 

Examples:

• We bumped into each other at the cinema.
• The team has always helped one another no matter what.
• Jessica and I will always love each other.

7. Demonstrative pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to something and determine their location in time and space (distance). The pronouns are: this, that, these, those.       

Examples:

• This is amazing.
• These are my new ropes. What do you think?
• I don't think those will fit your style.
• I want to try that in the future. 

 8. Relative pronouns         

Relative pronouns are used to join two sentences and provide supplementary information about what one is talking about. 

Examples:

• This is the flight that you need to get on.
• I am not the one who made this mess.
• She is looking for someone whom can tutor her tomorrow.

9. Indefinite pronouns        

Indefinite pronouns as the name suggest do not refer to a specific place, thing, person nor quantity. 

Examples:

• Does anyone know where the restroom is?
• Do you need help with something?
• Everybody wants to be like him. 
• No one is allowed to enter this room.

10. Interrogative pronouns 

Interrogative pronouns are utilized only in the form of a question to collect a supplementary or unknown information.

Examples:

• What is the best attraction in this city?
• Which one of these is yours?
• Whose mug is this?