Lesson 2: The Pronoun

Definition

A pronoun is a word that is used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns.

Explanation

Think of pronouns as shortcuts! Instead of repeating a noun over and over, you can swap in a pronoun to make your sentences flow better. The noun that the pronoun replaces is called its antecedent. You must be able to identify the antecedent to understand what the pronoun is referring to.

Examples

• David messaged Sarah. He invited her to a movie. [He stands for David. Her stands for Sarah.]
• The cat curled up on the rug where it had slept. [The pronoun it stands for the noun cat, so cat is the antecedent of it.]

Definition

A personal pronoun stands for the one speaking (first person), the one spoken to (second person), or the one spoken about (third person).

Explanation

Personal pronouns change based on the point of view.

First-person pronouns (I, we) are about the speaker.

Second-person (you) is for the person being spoken to.

Definition

A reflexive pronoun refers to the subject of the sentence and is required in order for the sentence to make sense. An intensive pronoun stresses its antecedent and is not required in order for the sentence to make sense.

Explanation

Both types of pronouns end in -self or -selves, but they have different jobs. A reflexive pronoun reflects the action back to the subject and is essential to the sentence's meaning. An intensive pronoun just adds emphasis and can be removed without changing the core meaning. Remember this trick: if you can take it out and the sentence still makes sense, it's an intensive pronoun!

Examples

• Reflexive Pronoun: The chef taught himself to bake bread. [Without himself, the sentence 'The chef taught' is incomplete.]
• Intensive Pronoun: The chef himself baked the bread. [Himself just adds emphasis to 'chef'. The sentence 'The chef baked the bread' still makes perfect sense.]

Definition

A demonstrative pronoun points out a person, a place, a thing, or an idea.

Explanation

Demonstrative pronouns—this, that, these, and those—are like pointing your finger. They single something out. Be careful, as these same words can also be adjectives. It's a pronoun if it takes the place of a noun, but it's an adjective if it describes a noun that comes right after it.

Examples

• These are the winners of the competition. [These points out and stands for the winners.]
• His car is faster than that. [That is a demonstrative pronoun because it stands for a specific car.]
• His car is faster than that vehicle. [That is a demonstrative adjective because it tells which vehicle.]

Definition

An interrogative pronoun introduces a question.

Explanation

These are your question-starting words! The five interrogative pronouns are who, whom, which, what, and whose. Whenever you see one of these at or near the beginning of a question, you've found an interrogative pronoun. Their sole purpose is to ask something.

Examples

• Whose is the winning lottery ticket?
• What are you planning for the weekend?
• To whom did you give the final report?

Definition

A relative pronoun introduces a subordinate clause.

Explanation

The main relative pronouns are that, which, who, whom, and whose. Their job is to link a descriptive phrase (a subordinate clause) to a noun in the main sentence. Remember, a subordinate clause has a subject and verb, but it can't be a sentence on its own; it depends on the main clause to make sense.

Examples

• The museum has a fossil, which is millions of years old. [Which introduces the clause and relates it to 'fossil'.]
• The engineer, who designed the bridge, won an award. [Who introduces the clause and relates it to 'engineer'.]
• The song that she wrote became a huge hit. [That introduces the clause and relates it to 'song'.]

Definition

An indefinite pronoun refers to one or more persons, places, things, or ideas that may or may not be specifically named in a sentence.

Explanation

These pronouns are intentionally vague or 'indefinite.' Words like everyone, something, several, and any don't point to a specific person or thing. Although they are not specific, they function just like other nouns or pronouns in a sentence—as subjects, objects, or in other roles.

Examples

• Many of the students attended the concert.
• Somebody left a message on the machine.
• Everyone on the team wanted to win. [Used as a subject]