Tips on Using Pronouns

1
8 TIPS on USING PRONOUNS

• Grammar Rules and Tips for using Pronouns

2
What is a Pronoun?

• A pronoun is defined as a word or phrase that is
  used as substitute for a noun or noun phrase in a
  sentence. It also helps to avoid repetition of
  noun in a sentence.
• Example
• Radhika is a singer and Radhika announced that
  Radhikas music album will be released soon.
  (repetition of the noun Radhika makes the
  sentence cumbersome)
• Radhika is a singer and she announced that her
  music album will be released soon.
• Basic concepts related to Pronouns
• Subject Pronoun replaces nouns that are the
  subject of their clause and can be used to begin
  sentences. Example We did a great job.
• Object Pronouns are used to replace nouns that
  are the direct or indirect objects of a clause.
  Example Give the book to me.
• Antecedent is a word or phrase that a pronoun
  refers to. A pronoun must agree in number
  (singular/plural) with its antecedent. Example
  Jatin threw the ball to Nitish, and Nitish threw
  them it back. ("the ball" is the antecedent of
  "it.")

3
Forms of Pronouns

• Pronouns are formed based on the following three
  categories
• Person Who is speaking? I? He? She? They?
• Number Is the speaker/subject is Singular or
  Plural? I or We? He or They?
• Gender Is the speaker/subject Masculine,
  Feminine or Neuter? He? She? It?

Case of pronoun Subject pronoun Object pronoun Possessive adjective Possessive pronoun Reflexive pronoun
1st person singular I me my mine myself
1st person plural we us our ours ourselves
2nd person singular you you your yours yourself
2nd person plural you you your yours yourselves
3rd person singular He/she/it Him/her/it His/hers/its His/hers Himself/herself/itself
3rd person plural they them their theirs themselves
4
Types of Pronouns

• Personal pronouns  words that refer to certain
  person, thing, or group I, We, He, Him, She,
  Her, It, They etc.
• Indefinite pronouns  words that refer to one or
  more vague, unspecified objects, beings, or
  places Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, Several,
  Each, Either etc.
• Reflexive pronouns  forms of Personal pronoun
  ending in self or selves Myself, Yourselves,
  Themselves, Himself, Herself, Yourself etc.
• Demonstrative pronouns  words used to point to
  something specific within a sentence This, That,
  These, Those etc.
• Possessive pronouns  words that indicate
  possession or ownership Her, His, Ours, Yours,
  Its etc.
• Relative pronouns  words that refer to nouns
  mentioned previously, acting to introduce an
  adjective (relative) clause Who, Which, Whose,
  Whom, That etc.
• Interrogative pronouns  words used to ask a
  question Who, What, Which, Whose etc.
• Reciprocal pronouns  words to express mutual
  actions or relationship One another, One another
  etc.
• Distributive pronouns  words for individuals and
  objects referring to them one at a time Either,
  Each, Every, None, Anyone etc.

5
Tips on using Pronouns
6
Tip 1 When to use a Reflexive Pronoun
Tip 2 Subject Pronoun Agreement

• Reflexive Pronouns are used after verbs when
  subject of the verb is receiver of the action.
  Avenge, Revenge, Acquit, Adjust, Adapt, Avail etc
  are some of the verbs that are used reflexively.
• He resigned from the post of CEO. (no reflexive
  pronoun required )
• He resigned himself to his fate. (here the act of
  resignation reflects on the subject he )
• Reflexive Pronouns are preceded by a noun or
  pronoun when acting as subject of a verb.
• I myself supervised the event. (I is precedes
  myself)
• Reflexive Pronouns are NOT used after verbs like
  Keep, Stop, Move, Qualify, Rest, Hide etc.
• He hid himself under the table.

As well as, Together with, Along with, In
addition to, Except, No less than When two
subjects in a sentence are joined by these words,
the Possessive Pronoun is in accordance with the
first subject. The teacher as well as the
students returned to his classroom. Either-or,
Neither-nor, Not only-But also, None-but When
two subjects in a sentence is joined by these
words, the Possessive Pronoun is in accordance
with the nearest subject. Not only the teacher
but also the students returned to their
classroom. Possessive Pronouns are NOT used
after nouns like Leave, Excuse, Mention, Report,
Sight etc The thief fled at his sight at the
sight of him.
7
Tip 3 Usage of Apostrophe
Tip 4 Subject-Object Singular-Plural
Subjective Case of Pronoun is used when pronoun
follows the verb to be It is me I who have
called your mother. Objective Case of Pronoun
is used when pronoun follows and Verb or
Preposition. They are briefing Rajiv and she
her. Order of using Singular Pronouns is second
person, third person and first person (231) in a
sentence. You, he and I will go out for dinner
tonight. Order of using Plural Pronouns is
first person ,second person and third person
(123) in a sentence, specifically for unpleasant
acts. We and they will both be punished.

• Apostrophe Mark Possessive pronouns do not need
  apostrophes to show ownership.
• This book is hers hers. This is their car.
  (here their is possessive adjective appearing
  before the noun car)
• This car is theirs.  (here theirs is possessive
  pronoun )
• One When one is used as subject of a sentence,
  the Possessive pronoun should be Ones.
• One should do his ones duty properly.
• Every one should do ones his duty properly.

8
Tip 5 Either, Neither, Anyone, None
Tip 6 Pronouns in Interrogative Sentences

• Either, Neither, Anyone, Many a, Each, Every
  when these are used as subject in a sentence, the
  Possessive Pronoun will be in Third Person
  Singular.
• Neither of the two sisters brought their her
  bags.
• Either, Neither, Each other are used to refer to
  two persons or things.
• None Neither of his legs was injured in the
  accident. (used neither in place of none to
  refer to either one of the two legs)
• Anyone, None, One another are used to refer to
  more than two persons or things.
• Students should not fight with each other one
  another. (used one another because there are
  more than two students)

The pronoun in the question tag should be in
agreement with subject in the main
sentence. Samaira is intelligent, isnt it she?
(note that she is used in place of it as
per the subject Samaira and if the main
sentence is in affirmative, the following
question tag is in negative) Hardly, Seldom,
Barely, Scarcely, Few, Little if these words are
used to make a negative sentence, then the
following question tag will be affirmative. She
is seldom late, isnt is she? Everyone,
Everyone, Somebody, Someone, Anybody, None etc
for these Indefinite Pronouns, they is used in
the question tag. Everyone can succeed, cant
they?
9
Tip 8 Who, Which, Whom, What
Tip 7 Both, Same
Which is used to make a choice between more
than two persons or things. Of the three sisters
who which is the better singer? Who as a
Relative Pronoun is used as a Subject of a verb
in the adjective clause. He is a kind of person
who, everybody knows, is generous. Whom as a
Relative Pronoun is used as an Object of a verb
in the adjective clause. A man, whom I have
never seen before, was asking about you. What
as a Pronoun is used without antecedent and is
used to refer to things only. It is incredible
what she saw.The movie what that she saw was
incredible.

• Both is not used in negative sense and is
  followed by and in place of as well as
• Both you as well as and your brother are going to
  high school next year.
• Both of them are not going to high school.
  (incorrect)
• Neither of them is going to high school.
  (correct)
• Same is not to be used as a pronoun.
• He bought a house and living in the same it.

10
Spot the Errors
11
Spot the Error

• He has himself qualified for the job.
• They enjoyed during the winter vacation.
• It will be her who will help you in the kitchen.
• Yourself chose this path.
• She has brought sweets for you and I.

12
Spot the Error

• He has himself qualified for the job.
• He has himself qualified for the job.
• They enjoyed during the winter vacation.
• They enjoyed themselves during the winter
  vacation.
• It will be her who will help you in the kitchen.
• It will be she who will help you in the kitchen.
• Yourself chose this path.
• You yourself chose this path.
• She has brought sweets for you and I.
• She has brought sweets for you and me.

13
Spot the Error

• Neither the players nor the coach was playing in
  their uniform.
• She did your mention during the speech.
• I and you will go to market tomorrow.
• My brother along with his friends is launching
  their new store next month.
• They and we will not be traveling together.

14
Spot the Error

• Neither the players nor the coach was playing in
  their uniform.
• Neither the players nor the coach was playing in
  his uniform.
• She did your mention during the speech.
• She did make mention of you during the speech.
• I and you will go to market tomorrow.
• You and I will go to market tomorrow.
• My brother along with his friends is launching
  their new store next month.
• My brother along with his friends is launching
  his new store next month.
• They and we will not be traveling together.
• We and they will not be traveling together.

15
Spot the Error

• Either of the four tires must be damaged.
• Each one of us should count our bags properly
  before boarding.
• Few men are participating in the blood donation
  camp, isnt he?
• They did not go to Goa for vacations, isnt it?
• Both Reena as well as Sejal are appearing for
  exams next year.

16
Spot the Error

• Either of the four tires must be damaged.
• Anyone of the four tires must be damaged.
• Each one of us should count our bags properly
  before boarding.
• Each one of us should count his/her bags properly
  before boarding.
• Few men are participating in the blood donation
  camp, isnt he?
• Few men are participating in the blood donation
  camp, are they?
• They did not go to Goa for vacations, isnt it?
• They did not go to Goa for vacations, did they?
• Both Reena as well as Sejal are appearing for
  exams next year.
• Both Reena and Sejal are appearing for exams next
  year.

17
Spot the Error

• I dont believe in the words what he said.
• I dont believe in which he said.
• Please mail it to I.
• Every policeman and every fireman was in their
  place.
• The horse fell and broke her leg.

18
Spot the Error

• I dont believe in the words what he said.
• I dont believe in the words which/that he said.
• I dont believe in which he said.
• I dont believe in what he said.
• Please mail it to I.
• Please mail it to me.
• Every policeman and every fireman was in their
  place.
• Every policeman and every fireman was in his
  place.
• The horse fell and broke her leg.
• The horse fell and broke its leg.

19
About Us

• LearningPundits helps Job Seekers make great CVs,
  master English Grammar and Vocabulary , ace
  Aptitude Tests , speak fluently in a Group
  Discussion and perform well in Interviews.
• We also conduct weekly online contests on
  Aptitude and English. Job Seekers can also apply
  for jobs on LearningPundits.
• You can read more about Tips on Using Pronouns.