This document defines and provides examples of the 8 types of pronouns in English: personal pronouns, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, distributive pronouns, and possessive pronouns. For each type, it gives the definition and 10 examples to illustrate how that pronoun is used in sentences.
1. Pronoun
A pronoun is a word used instead of a common noun or a proper noun. The word
pronoun means for a noun and it called a noun’s deputy.
"Pro" + "noun" typically means "in place, of, instead of" a noun or a noun phrase.
Pronouns, then, replace nouns and can also refer back to nouns .
Examples- I, you, me, his, we, she, he, her, they, it etc. (Take sentences from
examples of each types and make it 10 examples of pronouns.)
Types of Pronoun
1. Personal Pronoun –
Personal Pronouns are those which stand for the names of persons. They take
the place of nouns and are used as the subject of the verb in a sentence.
Examples –
I got a free pass.
My aim is high.
Rosy is the daughter of mine.
He called me yesterday.
He is my father.
We are busy now.
We love our country.
These books are ours.
Teachers like us
Our religion is English
2. REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS –
Reflexive Pronouns are those which are objects and which refer to the same
persons as the subjects of the verbs. They end in self & selves.
ExamplesI washed myself
We organized the party all by ourselves
Be careful not to cut yourself with that knife
You have all enjoyed yourselves
The poor man lives all by himself in an old house
She herself cooked the dinner
2. They have proved themselves to be right
I love myself
You can do it yourself
He cooks himself
3. Demonstrative
Demonstrative Pronouns are those which point out things, as this, these, that
and those. Because they convey a high degree of specificity and
distinctiveness in pointing out ("demonstrating") a referent; They are
showing words.
ExamplesThis is my answer
That was too much for me
These are good mangoes
Hand me those candles, please
Are those the flowers you
picked?
This is my house
That was not good
Those are fruits
This is not right
That was nice
4. Relative Pronoun
Reltive Pronouns are those which relate to some noun going before in the
sentence as who, whose, whom, which, what, that. A relative pronoun does the
work of a conjunction as well as a pronoun.
ExamplesThe man who stole the car has been caught
The man whom you accused is not guilt
The woman whose house I rented is my cous
The house which you see was built long ago
I mean what I say
Take anything that you like
Here the girl whom you wanted to meet
3. The happy laughter that made me smile came from the three-year-old who lives next
door
I know the man who lives here.
This is the boy / girl who works hard
5. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN
Interrogative Pronouns are those which ask questions, as, who, which,
what, whom, whose.
Examples
Who built that house?
Which is your house?
Whose is this book?
Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
Which of the boys saw him?
What is the matter?
Who is he talking to?
Who are those people?
Whom do you want?
Whose is this umbrella?
6. INDEFINITE PRONOUN
Indefinite Pronouns are those which refer to persons or things in a general or
indefinite way.
Examples
All are quite safe
Many were rescused from the flood
Some are born great
Few escaped unhurt
4. None of them was clever
I did not see any of them
Do good to others
One should love one’s neighbour
Much can be said on both sides
7. DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUN
Distributive Pronouns are those which refer to persons or things taken one at
a time, as each, either, neither. For this reason they are always singular and
as such followed by the verb in the singular.
Examples-
We may take either of these two books
Neither of them writes well
Each of these girls deserved a reward
You can either use it
Each of you will be suspend
You can either choose him
He can neither speak
You can either take
Each of them will retain this
Each of one can do
8. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive Pronoun indicates close possession or ownership or relationship of a thing/person
to another thing/person.
ExampleThis book is mine.
That car is hers.
Your book is old. Mine is new.
The pen on the table is mine.
The smallest cup is yours.
The voice is hers.
The car is ours not theirs.
I have lost my camera. May I use yours?
They received your letter. Did you received theirs.
That book was mine.