Pronouns (Personal, Reflexive, Interrogative and Demonstrative pronouns)

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a common noun or a proper noun. There are different kinds of pronouns.

Personal Pronouns

The words I, you, he, she, it, we and they are called personal pronouns. They take the place of nouns and are used as the subject of the verb in a sentence.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* The subject of a sentence is the person, animal, place or thing that does the action show by the verb.

The words me, you, him, her, it, us and them are also personal pronouns. They also take the place of nouns. These pronouns are used as the object of the verb in a sentence.

• I am standing on my head. Look at me.
• My mother is kind. Everybody likes her.
• Lisa, I told you to tidy your bed!
• Sharon and Jenny! Dad is waiting for you!
• Lucky and I are playing in the park. Dad is watching us.
• You must not play with the knife. Give it to me.
• Pick up your toys and put them away.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* The object of a sentence is the person, animal, place or thing that receives the action shown by the verb.

There are three groups of pronouns: first person, second person and third person.

• The person speaking is called the first person. The first-person pronouns are I or me (in both singular and plural).
• The person spoken to is called the second person. The second-person pronoun is you (in both singular and plural)
• The person (or animal, or thing) spoken about is called the third person. The third-person pronouns are he or him, she or her, and it (in the singular), and they or them (in the plural).

The word I is always spelled with a capital letter. The pronoun he is used for men and boys, she for women and girls, and it for things and animals.

Here is a table to help you.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Reflexive Pronouns

The words myself, yourself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves are called reflexive pronouns.

They refer to the person or animal that is the subject of the verb.

• I made this cake myself.
• Be careful with the knife. You'll cut yourself.
• Michel is looking at himself in the mirror.
• Susan has hurt herself.
• Our cat washes itself after each meal.
• We organized the party all by ourselves.
• Come in, children, and find yourselves a seat.
• Baby birds are too young to look after themselves.

Here is a table to remind you about reflexive pronouns.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Interrogative Pronouns

The words who, whom, whose, what and which are called interrogative pronouns.

These pronouns are used to ask questions.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• Who can be used as the object of a verb as well as the subject.
• Whom is used only as the object. For example, you can say:
• Who are you playing with? or Whom are you playing with?

Demonstrative Pronouns

The words this, these, that and those are called demonstrative pronouns. They are showing words.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• You use this and these when you point to things near you.
• You use that and those when you point to things farther away.

Demonstrative pronouns can be singular or plural:

Exercise1

Draw a line to join each of the subject pronouns to the object pronoun that matches.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 3 
Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive pronouns from the box.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 4
Write the correct interrogative pronouns in the blanks to complete the sentences:

1. ... is the matter?
2. ... invented the computer?
3. ... of the twins is older?
4. ... do you wish to speak to?
5. ... is this car in front of our house?
6. ... knows the answer?
7. ... came first, the chicken or the egg?
8. ... would you like to drink?
9. ... of them do you think will win the race?
10. ... is the word for a stamp collector?