1. PRONOUNS Pronoun takes the place of a noun
It performs a similar function to the noun
We use pronouns to avoid repetition
Joan plays the piano. She practises it daily.
In the sentence, she stands in place of Joan and it stands in place of the piano.
Pronouns will change depending on their usage either as a subject or an object.
He likes to help others, but won’t allow others to help him

2. PERSON
PERSONAL PRONOUN
Subject Object
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES
Singular
1st person I Me
mine My
2nd person
you
You
yours
Your
3rd person He
Him
his
His
She
Her
hers
her it
its
Plural
1st person We Us
Ours
our
2nd person
You
yours
your
3rd person
they
them
theirs
their

3. 1. PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns refer to people or things
Personal pronouns are often twinned with possessive adjectives:
I do my work. You do your work. She does her work. He does his work. They do their work
2. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Possessive pronouns indicate ownership.
This is hers, not yours
This house was mine, but now it is ours
In the sentence. ‘This is my house’, the my is an adjective and not a possessive pronoun
3. REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Reflexive nouns reflect back to the noun or the pronoun.
They usually end in self or selves.
Mary (she) sees herself in the mirror.
Jack (he) cut himself with razor
4. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
Interrogative pronouns interrogate or ask questions.
Who (which person) came to tea?
Whose (which person’s) does this belong?
What (action) are you doing?
Which (one) is the hotel that you recommend?

4. 5. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
Demonstrative pronouns point out a specific person or thing.
They are indicated by the words this, that, these or those.
This is not the way we do things
That has to go!
If a demonstrative pronoun is followed by a noun, it becomes an adjective.
That picture has to go! (That is an adjective – it describes the picture.)
6. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns refer to people or things in a general way , rather than specifically .
They are indefinite in number: you ,one they, someone, anyone, no-one, everyone
One must remember to apply sunscreen
Everyone came to the party
7. RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Relative pronouns perform the functions of the conjunctions by joining or connecting one part of a sentence to another.
There are six relative pronouns in common usage:
who, whom, whose – refer to people
that, which, what – refer to animals or inanimate objects
b Relative pronouns usually replace nouns or pronouns.
This is my sister. She is visiting today
This is my sister who is visiting today
(Note, the she has been dropped.)

5. This is my sister. I am visiting her today
This is my sister. I am visiting her today. This is my sister whom I am visiting today. (whom is used if it replaces an object e.g. her) I felt proud of the girl. Her results were excellent. I felt proud of the girl whose results were excellent (whose replaces the possessive pronoun her) I like the boy. I like his honesty. What I like about the boy is his honesty (what allows us to join the two sentences and avoid the repetition of the word like)

6. c. Relative pronouns are placed close to the nouns to which they refer
c. Relative pronouns are placed close to the nouns to which they refer. If not, the sense of what is being said or written is lost. I have a ring in my jewellery box that sparkles. x (What sparkles – the ring or the box ?) I have a ring that sparkles in my jewellery box. d. When using the relative pronoun which, a preposition very often has to precede it. This is done to avoid ending a sentence on a preposition. This is the house I was born in. x This is the house in which I was born. This is the story we spoke of. x This is the story of which we spoke

7. COMMON ERRORS 1. The pronouns I and me
The use of the pronouns I and me often causes difficulty.
In order to decide whether to use I or me, leave out the ‘other person’ and read it as if you are alone in the sentence
John and I/me are going to the movies
I am going to the movies.
Me am going to the movies x
Therefore, John and I are going to the movies.
Father gave the tickets to John and me.
The pronoun me always follows the preposition between.
Between you and me, we shall achieve our goals
The prize will be shared between you and me1.

8. 2. The possessive adjectives its and abbreviation it’s
These two similar looking and similar sounding words are often confused:
Its – possessive adjective
The bird is sitting on eggs in its nest. (The of it – possessive adjective)
it’s – it is
It’s getting colder and wetter by the day. (it is)