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Repeating a noun within a piece of writing becomes monotonous. Pronouns can be used to relieve this lack of variation.
Repeating a noun within a piece of writing becomes monotonous. Pronouns can be used to relieve this lack of variation.
Pronoun - a part of speech that can replace a noun phrase that the reader is familiar with.
Introduction
Introduction
A pronoun is a "shortcut" that we can use to avoid repeating a noun phrase too many times.
There are many different types of pronouns in the English language, and their usage can reflect changing social attitudes.
Using Pronouns
Using Pronouns
In English, repeating a noun too many times results in awkward phrasing.
Examples
Peter knew that Peter's phone battery would run out if Peter didn't charge it soon.
The houses were still standing because the houses were constructed of strong materials by the houses' builders.
Although these sentences are grammatically correct, they can be improved by the use of pronouns.
Examples
Peter knew that his phone battery would run out if he didn't charge it soon.
The houses were still standing because they were constructed of strong materials by their builders.
Personal Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns can be used in place of one or more people or things that the reader is familiar with.
These pronouns change depending on whether they are referring to the subject or object in a sentence.
Subject pronouns
I
she
he
they
we
you
it
Noun phrase & pronoun
My name is Ricky. I will be your guide for the tour.
Anna had trained for months. She was ready for the race.
George is the manager. He has an office over there.
The team trained every afternoon. They were determined to win.
Our family loves camping. We visit a new park each summer.
Nice to see you again, Angus. You haven't changed a bit.
This is my new car. It goes faster because its red.
Object pronouns
me
her
him
them
us
you
it
Noun phrase & pronoun
I'm Harold Preston. You can call me Harry.
Donna called the waiter. He promptly brought her the bill.
Chris is in charge of marketing. You can find him down the hall.
I love the Houston Rockets. I can't wait to see them play.
Our company loves feedback. You can contact us on social media.
Hello Darlene. I'm pleased to meet you.
Here is your present. I hope you like it.
When using any pronoun, it must be clear who or what this pronoun is referring to. If this meaning is not clear, the sentence should be rewritten.
Awkward
The New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls because they didn't have Michael Jordan.
Does the 'they' in this sentence refer to the New York Knicks or the Chicago Bulls?
Improved
Because the Chicago Bulls didn't have Michael Jordan, they lost to the New York Knicks.
Possessive personal pronouns
Possessive personal pronouns
A possessive personal pronoun indicates the ownership of someone or something.
Possessive personal pronouns
mine
yours
his
hers
ours
theirs
Examples
I accept that the mess is mine. [my mess]
My soup was lovely. How was yours? [your soup]
It's not my book, it's his. [his book]
The winning entry? I believe it's hers. [her winning entry]
This land is ours. [our land]
That problem is theirs. [their problem]
Note that we generally don't use its as a possessive personal pronoun.
Note also that we don't use an apostrophe with a possessive personal pronoun.
Incorrect
This jacket is her's.
That base will be our's.
Correct
This jacket is hers.
That base will be ours.
Relative Pronouns
Relative Pronouns
When we would like to provide additional information about a person, place or thing, and we need to make clear to the reader who or what we are referring to, we can use a relative pronoun.
Relative pronouns
who
whom
that
which
Examples
The woman who ordered a coffee is waiting outside.
The man to whom you are referring is the regional manager.
All the games that were sold last week contain bugs.
The project, which was very expensive, is failing.
Traditionally, that referred to essential information while which referred to nonessential information. Increasingly, however, the decision to use either relative clause is a matter of style.
Knowing whether to use the relative pronoun who or whom can be a little trickier.
Grammatically, who is used to refer to the subject of a sentence while whom is used for the object. In practice, however, it is easier to simply remember that who usually goes at the beginning of a sentence, while whom usually comes after a preposition such as for, to or by.
Who
Who are you looking for?
Who are you referring to?
Who is this club run by?
Whom
For whom are you looking?
To whom are you referring?
By whom is this club run?
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is used to refer to one or more nouns that are either nearby or far away.
The distance to which a demonstrative pronoun refers can be physical, metaphorical or chronological.
Demonstrative pronouns
this
that
these
those
Examples
I've been cooking for hours. This is the result.
See the green table? That would be perfect for our house.
If these are the only options available to us then we're in trouble.
Our first attempts at painting? Those are best forgotten.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns
We can use indefinite pronouns when the person or thing to which we are referring does not need to be specifically identified.
Some common indefinite pronouns are one, other, none, some, anybody, everybody and no one.
Examples
Some of you need to improve your punctuality.
Anybody seen wearing pajama pants on a Zoom call will be in big trouble.
No one can stop me.
While it can be tempting to treat indefinite pronouns as plural, they are usually treated as singular nouns if they are the subject of a sentence.
That said, there are some exceptions to this were plurality is obvious.
Examples
Everybody is welcome at the Guest House Paradiso.
Nobody was able to fill her shoes after she left.
Exceptions
Many are unprepared for the task ahead.
Some were able to escape.
Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns
When a verb applies to both a subject and object within a sentence we can use a reflexive pronoun. These pronouns end in -self or -selves.
Reflexive pronouns in English are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, oneself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
Examples
I bought myself a treat when the project was finished.
Mike knocked himself out when he fell off the ladder.
You should all give yourselves a pat on the back.
Interrogative pronouns
Interrogative pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are used in questions (as in, to interrogate).
The five interrogative pronouns are what, which, who, whom and whose.
Interrogative pronouns
what
which
who
whom
whose
Direct questions
What time is it?
Which jacket do you like?
Who is that?
To whom are you speaking?
Whose bag was left behind?
Interrogative pronouns can also end in -ever or -soever when specificity is not required. Some of these forms are archaic and rarely used, however.
Examples
Whatever will we do now?
Whomsoever shall you follow?
Reciprocal pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns can be used to refer to two or more people who are both the subject of a sentence.
There are two reciprocal pronouns in English: each other and one another.
Examples
Hiroki and Aana are our two best writers. They're going to compete against each other for the promotion.
We are going to experience a tough year, so we need to help one another out.
Distributive pronouns
Distributive pronouns
If we need to refer to one or more persons or things within a larger group we can use a distributive pronoun.
Common distributive pronouns are either, each, neither, any and none.
Examples
If either of us win, we should split the prize.
Neither of us wants to do the dishes.
None of the products worked properly.
Note that distributive pronouns are considered singular, not plural.
Incorrect
Each of us are different.
Neither of them were going to win.
Whom
Each of us is different.
Neither of them was going to win.
Editor's Notes
Editor's Notes
In English, male pronouns were traditionally used to refer to generic human beings.
Everyone must do his duty.
In addition, gendered pronouns were used to refer to professions that traditionally favoured one sex.
A flight attendant must always wear her makeup.
However, as society has become more inclusive, gendered pronouns have fallen out of favour and it is now common to use neutral personal pronouns such as they or their.
The cook has done a fantastic job. They must have taken great care with their spices.
We can also use he or she or he/she, although this can be less elegant.
The pilot is going to have a rough time in this weather. I hope he or she is ready.
Pronoun usage has also changed with the shift away from binary expectations of gender and sexuality. To help navigate this space, the website pronouns.org explains how and why we should take care when using different pronouns to refer to people.
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