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 Pronouns:  Pronoun  Pronouns, Who needs them?  
 Pronoun Types   
 Special Pronoun Page: 
 More on Pronouns: personal, demonstrative,
       interrogative, indefinite, relative, reflexive, and the intensive pronoun.  

 

 

Pronoun Types:    

 

personal pronouns can act in a sentence as subjects, objects, possessives, or as explained below. 
                                      Personal Pronouns are used to refer to the person speaking, the person spoken to, 
                                       or the person, thing, or idea spoken about.

 

Subject Pronouns act as the subjects of verbs. 

 

                             It is a dreary day.

                             She always remembers her children’s birthdays.

 

Object Pronouns act as the objects of verbs or of prepositions.

 

 

                             Jeff loves Coca-Cola.  He drinks it for breakfast.

                             My sister tossed the car keys to me. 

 

Possessive Pronouns show that something is owned, or possessed. 

 

                             If Lucille needs a sweater, she can borrow mine. 

                             The barn lost most of its roof during the tornado.

 

Relative Pronouns usually refer to someone or something already mentioned in the sentence.    

                                                  They start a word group that gives extra information about that person or thing.

                               Relative pronouns include: who, whose, whom, which, and that.  

 

                                                The potatoes that were boiled can now be mashed.

                             The customer who is waiting in your office seems very angry.

 

Interrogative Pronouns  are used to ask questions.  Common interrogative pronouns include

                            who, whose, whom, which, and what. 

 

                                                Who are you?

Which is the correct answer?

 

Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out particular persons or things.  The

                            demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those.

 

                                                This cough syrup tastes terrible.

 

Reflexive Pronouns are those that end in –self or –selves.  A reflexive pronoun is used as the

                        object of a verb when it is the same as the subject of that verb or as the object of a   

                         preposition when it is the same as the subject of a verb .

 

                             Mary cut herself.

                             Jack sent a card to himself.

 

Intensive Pronouns have  exactly the same form as reflexive pronouns.  The difference is how

                      they are used.  Intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis.

 

                             I myself will need to read the contract.

 

Indefinite Pronouns do not refer to a particular person or thing.  Most indefinite pronouns are

                       singular.

 

                             Each of the puppies is cute in his own way.

 

Word Choices:  Not all problems involve grammar.  A sentence may be unclear because of poor

                             word choices.  Slang, cliches, and wordiness can all be problems in this area.

                             Sometime a Thesaurus will help you find a useful alternative word.

                     Slang is not usually appropriate in formal writing. 

                             Fresh wording is usually better than an overused expression.

Only use as many words as you need.