The term pronoun covers many words, some of which do not fall easily under the generic description of words that replace nouns. There are several different kinds of pronouns, including:
- Personal pronouns (e.g., he, they)
- Demonstrative pronouns (e.g., this, these)
- Interrogative pronouns (e.g., which, who)
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g., none, several)
- Possessive pronouns (e.g., his, your)
- Reciprocal pronouns (e.g., each other, one another)
- Relative pronouns (e.g., which, where)
- Reflexive pronouns (e.g., itself, himself)
- Intensive pronouns (e.g., itself, himself)
The Different Types of Pronouns
The term pronoun covers many words, some of which do not fall easily under the description given in the section What are Pronouns? There are many different kinds of pronouns. In general, these do not cause difficulties for native English speakers. The list below is mainly for reference purposes.
1) Demonstrative Pronouns
These pronouns are used to demonstrate (or indicate). This, that, these and those are all demonstrative pronouns.
Examples:
- This is the one I left in the car. (In this example, the speaker could be indicating to a mobile phone, in which case, the pronoun this replaces the words mobile phone.)
2) Indefinite Pronouns
Unlike demonstrative pronouns, which point out specific items, indefinite pronouns are used for non-specific things. This is the largest group of pronouns. All, some, any, several, anyone, nobody, each, both, few, either, none, one and no one are the most common.
Example:
- Somebody must have seen the driver leave. (somebody – not a specific person)
3) Interrogative Pronouns
These pronouns are used in questions. Although they are classified as pronouns, it is not easy to see how they replace nouns. Who, which, what, where and how are all interrogative pronouns.
Example:
- Who told you to do that?
- Which dog won the race?
4) Personal Pronouns
The personal pronouns are I, you, he, she, it, we, they, and who. More often than not (but not exclusively), they replace nouns representing people. When most people think of pronouns, it is the personal pronouns that usually spring to mind.
Example:
- We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.
- I bought some batteries, but they weren't included.
5) Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are used to show possession. As they are used as adjectives, they are also known as possessive adjectives. My, your, his, her, its, our and their are all possessive pronouns.
Example:
- Have you seen her book? (In this example, the pronoun her replaces a word like Sarah's.)
6) Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to add more information to a sentence. Which, that, who (including whom and whose) and where are all relative pronouns.
Examples:
- Dr Adam Sissons, who lectured at Cambridge for more than 12 years, should have known the difference. (In this example, the relative pronoun who introduces the clause who studied at Cambridge for 12 years and refers back to Dr Adams Sissons.)
- The man who first saw the comet reported it as a UFO. (In this example, the relative pronoun who introduces the clause who first saw the comet and refers back to the man.)
7) Absolute Possessive Pronouns
These pronouns also show possession. Unlike possessive pronouns (see above), which are adjectives to nouns, these pronouns sit by themselves. Mine, yours, his, hers, ours and theirs are all absolute possessive pronouns.
Examples:
- The tickets are as good as ours.
- Shall we take yours or theirs?
8) Reciprocal Pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns are used for actions or feelings that are reciprocated. The two most common reciprocal pronouns are each other and one another.
Examples:
- They like one another.
- They talk to each other like they're babies.
9) Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun ends …self or …selves and refers to another noun or pronoun in the sentence (usually the subject of the sentence). The reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
Examples:
- The dog bit itself. (In this example, the intensive pronoun itself refers back to the noun the dog.)
10) Intensive (or Emphatic) Pronouns
An intensive pronoun (sometimes called an emphatic pronoun) refers back to another noun or pronoun in the sentence to emphasize it (e.g., to emphasize that it is the thing carrying out the action).
Examples:
- John bakes all the bread himself. (In this example, the intensive pronoun himself refers back to the noun John.)