Definition :
A pronoun is used in place of a noun or nouns. Common pronouns
include he, her, him, I, it, me, she, them, they, us, and we.Here
are some examples:
INSTEAD OF: Fauzi is a
good athlete.
he is a good athlete. (The pronoun she replaces Fauzi.)
INSTEAD OF: The beans
and tomatoes are fresh-picked.
They are fresh-picked. (The pronoun they replaces the
beans and tomatoes.)
Often a pronoun takes the place of a particular noun. This noun
is known as the antecedent. A pronoun "refers to," or directs your
thoughts toward, its antecedent.
Let's call Fauzi and
ask him to join the team. (Him is a
pronoun; Fauzi is its antecedent.)
To find a pronoun's antecedent, ask yourself what that pronoun
refers to. What does him refer to in the sentence above—that
is, who is the him? The him in the sentence
is Fauzi; therefore, Fauzi is the antecedent.
· Subjective Pronouns
A subjective pronoun acts as the subject of a sentence—it
performs the action of the verb. The subjective pronouns are he, I, it,
she, they, we, and you.
He spends ages looking out the window.
After lunch, she and I went
to the planetarium.
· Objective Pronouns
An objective pronoun acts as the object of a sentence—it
receives the action of the verb. The objective pronouns are her, him,
it, me, them, us, and you.
Cousin Eldred gave me a trombone.
Take a picture
of him, not us!
· Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun tells you who owns something. The
possessive pronouns are hers, his, its, mine, ours, theirs, and yours.
The red basket
is mine.
Yours is on the coffee table.
· Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points out a noun. The demonstrative
pronouns are that, these, this, and those.
That is a good idea.
These are hilarious cartoons.
A demonstrative pronoun may look like a demonstrative adjective,
but it is used differently in a sentence: it acts as a pronoun, taking the
place of a noun.
· Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is used in a question. It helps to ask
about something. The interrogative pronouns are what, which, who, whom, and
compound words ending in "ever," such as whatever, whichever,
whoever, and whomever.
What on earth is that?
Who ate the last Fig Newton?
An interrogative pronoun may look like an interrogative
adjective, but it is used differently in a sentence: it acts as a pronoun,
taking the place of a noun.
· Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun refers to an indefinite, or general,
person or thing. Indefinite pronouns include all, any, both, each,
everyone, few, many, neither, none, nothing, several, some, and somebody.
Something smells good.
Many like salsa with their chips.
An indefinite pronoun may look like an indefinite adjective, but
it is used differently in a sentence: it acts as a pronoun, taking the place of
a noun.
· Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun introduces a clause, or part of a sentence,
that describes a noun. The relative pronouns are that, which, who,and whom.
You should bring the
book that you love most.
That introduces
"you love most," which describes the book.
Hector is a
photographer who does great work.
Who introduces
"does great work," which describes Hector.
· Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a sentence.
The reflexive pronouns are herself, himself, itself, myself, ourselves,
themselves, and yourselves. Each of these words can
also act as an intensive pronoun (see below).
I learned a lot
about myself at summer camp. (Myself refers back
to I.)
They should divide the
berries among themselves. (Themselves refers back
to they.)
· Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent (the noun that
comes before it). The intensive pronouns are herself, himself, itself,
myself, ourselves, themselves, and yourselves. Each
of these words can also act as a reflective pronoun (see above).
I myself don't
like eggs.
The queen herself visited our class.
Reference
: http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0885483.html
