3rd Class English Pronouns Kinds of Pronoun

     Kinds of Pronoun

There are eight kinds of pronoun.

•  Personal Pronoun
•  Demonstrative Pronoun
•  Interrogative Pronoun
•  Reflexive Pronoun
•  Possessive Pronoun
•  Distributive Pronoun
•  Indefinite Pronoun
•  Emphatic or Emphasizing Pronoun  

      Personal Pronoun

The pronoun that is used for a person or thing is called personal pronoun.  

•  He went to market yesterday.
•  We are going to school.
•  You have done this work.
•  They will come here on Sunday.
•  It is costly.  

     Analysis

In the above given sentences he, we, you, they and it are used for either person or things. So, these are personal pronouns.

Personal pronouns are of three kinds:  

Look at the following sentences carefully written in three groups:

(A)             1. I went to the market yesterday.

2. We get up everyday at 5:30 a.m.

3. Richard helped me.

4. The teacher gave us prizes.  

In group 'A' the pronouns I, we, me and us refer to the person speaking. So these are called the pronoun of the first person.

(B)             1. You are very intelligent.

2. This is your copy.

3. Pollard will meet you on Monday.  

In group 'B' the pronouns you and your refer to the person spoken to. So these are called the pronouns of the second person.

(C)            1. He played well in the final match.

2. She DISCUSSED THE MATTER.

3. This is a pen. It is new.

4. They were planting trees.  

In group 'C' the pronouns he, she, it and they refer to the person or thing spoken about. So these are called the pronouns of the third person.  

      Demonstrative

Pronouns The pronoun that is used to point out the object we talk about is called demonstrative pronoun. There are four demonstrative pronouns. They are this, that, these, those.  

•  This is pencil.
•  That is cat.
•  These are buffaloes.
•  Those are teachers.  

     Analysis

In the above given sentences this, that, these and those indicate thing, animal or person. So, these are demonstrative pronouns.  

NOTE: 'This' and 'these' refer to nouns that are nearby in time or space. 'That' and 'those' refer to nouns that are further away in time or space. 'This' and 'that prefer to singular nouns. 'These' and 'those' refer to plural nouns.  

      Interrogative Pronoun

The pronoun which is used to ask a question is called interrogative pronoun.  

Example

•  Who is in the classroom?
•  What does James like?
•  Which is your copy?
•  Whom do you praise?
•  Whose is this pencil?  

      Analysis

In the above given sentences who, what, whom and whose are used for asking questions. So, these are interrogative pronoun.  

      Reflexive Pronoun

A reflexive pronoun is used to show the effect of the action done by the subject on itself.  

•  I hurt myself.
•  He talks to himself.
•  She looked at herself in the mirror.
•  You praise yourself.
•  They were enjoying themselves.  

     Analysis

In the above given sentences myself, himself, herself, yourself and themselves are used to indicate the subject of the sentence only, nothing else. In other words in these sentences, the doer and the receiver of the action is the same person or thing.  

     Possessive Pronoun

The pronoun which shows possession is called possessive pronoun.  

•  This pen is mine.
•  This playground is ours.
•  That pen is his.
•  This house is yours.
•  These copies are hers.  

       Analysis

In the above given sentences mine, ours, his, yours and hers are used to show possession. So, these are possessive pronoun.  

        Distributive Pronoun

The pronoun which is used as distributer of a person or a thing is called distributive pronoun.

•  Either of the roads goes to the village.
•  Each of the boys got a prize.
•  Neither of the stories is true.  

     Analysis

In the above given sentences either, each and neither are used as distributer of person, place / thing (all nouns). So, these are distributive pronouns.  

      Indefinite Pronoun

Indefinite pronoun refers to something that is not definite or specific or exact, indefinite pronouns are: all, anyone, anybody, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, nobody, none, somebody, someone, some, any, several, few, many.  

•  Someone has stolen my watch.
•  Nobody will go there.
•  Everybody will support him.
•  All roads lead to railway station.   

     Analysis

In the above given sentences someone, nobody, everybody and all referto something that are not definite or specific. So, these are indefinite pronouns.  

      Emphatic or Emphasizing Pronoun

The pronoun that is used to emphasize a noun or a pronoun is called emphatic or emphasizing pronoun.

•  I will do it myself.
•  You yourself can best explain.
•  She herself called me.
•  They themselves admitted their mistake.  

     Analysis

In the above given sentences myself, yourself, herself and themselves have been used to emphasize either person or thing. So, are emphatic or emphasizing pronoun.