Pronouns: There are five forms of pronouns in English: Subject pronouns, Object pronouns, Possessive Pronouns, Reflexive pronouns, and Relative pronouns. Possessive adjective will also be included in this lesson, though they are not pronouns.
Note:
It is important to know the five forms of pronouns and the possessive adjective that are often confused with them. Errors may include the use of one type or form of pronouns in place of another.
SUBJECT PRONOUNS:
I / YOU / WE / THEY / SHE / HE / IT
The Usage:
1.When it is the subject of a verb: They live south of the equator.
2. when the subject of two clauses are compared: They are more protected against the cold than we(are)
3. After the verb to be: It is he with the egg.
4. After as and than : She is not as tired as he (is)
OBJECT PRONOUNS:
me / you / us / them / her / him / it
The Usage:
1. when it is the direct object: She gives him the egg.
2. Afetr prepositions: when she returns, she takes over the egg from him.
Note:
Note:
But when the preposition introduces a new clause, the subject pronoun must be used because
the pronouns is now the subject of the new clause: He leaves after she returns.
the pronouns is now the subject of the new clause: He leaves after she returns.
3. when the object of two clauses are compared: It is easier for them than us.
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE:
my / your / our / their / her / his / its
The Usage:
1. To modify a noun and show ownership: They lay their egg about fifty miles from the coast.
2. To refer to parts of the body: The male penguin rolls the egg on on the top of his feet.
3. To modify a gerund: We are surprised by their nesting in such harsh conditions.
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:
myself / yourself / yourselves / ourselves / themselves / herself / himself / itself
The Usage:
1. To emphasize the subject noun or pronoun it refers to and to emphasize the fact that the subject did the action alone: He takes care of the egg himself. Or He himself takes care of the egg.
2. As the subject of verb when the subject and object are the same: They stand together to protect themselves from the cold.
3. As the subject of the preposition by when the subject did the action alone: The penguine chick is unable to get food by itself.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS:
who / whom / whose / which / that
The Usage:
who: refers to people and househhold animals.
whom: refers to people and household animals. It is used in the object position in formal
written English or with who plus a preposition in spoken English.
Whose: refers to people, animals, and things. It shows possession.
Which: refers to things, collective nouns, and animals.
That: refers to people, animals, and things.
Above are the Grammar review for Pronouns in English.
