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1.     Subjective personal pronouns:

It indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the sentence. The subjective Personal pronouns are “I”, “you”, “she”, “he”, “it”, “we”, “you”, “they”.

 

Example:

• You are surely the strangest child I have ever met.

You and I acts as a subject in the above sentence and hence are called subjective personal Pronouns

 

2.     Objective personal pronouns:

It indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object of a verb, compound verb, preposition, or infinitive phrase. The objective personal pronouns are: "me", "you", "her", "him", "I", "us", "you" and "them".

 

Example:

• After reading the novel, Akash threw it into the garbage can.

The pronoun "it" is the direct object of the verb "threw".

• Give the list to me.

Here the objective personal pronoun "me" is the object of the preposition "to".

 

3.     Possessive Personal Pronouns:

It indicates that the pronoun is acting as a marker of possession and defines who owns a particular object or person. The possessive personal pronouns are "mine", "yours", "hers", "his", "its", "ours" and "theirs".

Note that possessive personal pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives like "my", "her" and "their."

 

Example:

• This is yours.

The possessive pronoun "yours" functions as a subject complement.

 

4.     Demonstrative Pronouns:

It points to and identifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these" refer to things that are nearby either in space or in time, while "that" and "those" refer to things that are farther away in space or time.

 

Example:

• Three customers wanted these.

Here "these" is the direct object of the verb "wanted."

 

5. Interrogative Pronouns:

It is used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns are "who", "whom", "which", "what" and the compounds formed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever", "whomever", "whichever" and "whatever"). Note that either "which" or "what" can also be used as an interrogative adjective, and that "who," "whom," or "which" can also be used as a relative pronoun. Who and whom are used to refer people while which and what are user to refer things and animals. Who acts as the subject of a verb, while whom acts as the object of a verb, preposition.

 

 

Example:

• Who wrote the novel Rockbound?

“who” is the subject of the sentence and an interrogative pronoun.

 

6.     Relative Pronouns:

These are used to link one phrase or clause to another phrase or clause. The relative pronouns are "who", "whom", "that", and "which". The compounds "whoever", "whomever" and "whichever" are also used as relative pronouns.

who and whoever refers to the subject of a clause or sentence, and whom and whomever refers to the objects of a verb, a verbal or a preposition.

 

Example:

• The cricketer who scores the highest runs is not always elected 'man of the match'.

 

The relative pronoun who is the subject of the verb "scores" and introduces the

Subordinate clause "who scores the highest runs". This subordinate clause acts as an adjective modifying "cricketer".

 

Whoever broke the window will have to replace it. Here "whoever" functions as the subject of the verb "broke."

 

7.     Indefinite Pronouns:

This pronoun refers to an identifiable but not specified person or thing. An indefinite pronoun conveys the idea of all, any, none, or some. The most common indefinite pronouns are "all", "another", "any", "anybody", "anyone", "anything", "each", "everybody", "everyone", "everything", "few", "many", "nobody", "none", "one", "several", "some", "somebody" and "someone".

 

Example:

• Many were invited to the lunch but only twelve showed up.

Here "many" acts as the subject of the compound verb "were invited.

 

8.     Reflexive Pronouns:

It refers back to the subject of the clause or sentence. The reflexive pronouns are "myself, "yourself", "herself", "himself", "itself", "ourselves", "yourselves" and "themselves."

Note each of these can also act as an intensive pronoun.

 

Example:

Diabetics give themselves insulin shots several times a day.

Here themselves act a reflexive pronoun.

 

9.     Intensive Pronouns:

It is a pronoun used to emphasize its antecedent. Intensive pronouns are identical in the form to reflexive pronouns.

 

Example:

• I myself believe that god does not exist.

The Prime Minister himself said that he would increase job opportunities.

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