What is That Pronoun?

Introduction

Pronouns are a fundamental part of the English language, serving as a way to refer to people, places, or things without repeating the same noun. Understanding the different types of pronouns and their uses is essential for effective communication. In this article, we will explore the various types of pronouns, their functions, and how to use them correctly.

Types of Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things. They include the first-person, second-person, and third-person pronouns.

First-Person Pronouns

First-person pronouns refer to the speaker or writer. They include:

• I: Used to refer to the speaker or writer.

  • Example: “I went to the store.”

• Me: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “She gave the book to me.”

• My: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is my book.”

• Mine: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “That is mine.”

• We: Used to refer to the speaker and one or more people.

  • Example: “We are going to the park.”

• Us: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “They invited us to the party.”

• Our: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is our house.”

• Ours: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “That is ours.”

Second-Person Pronouns

Second-person pronouns refer to the person being spoken to or written to. They include:

• You: Used to refer to the person being spoken to or written to.

  • Example: “You are welcome.”

• Your: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is your book.”

• Yours: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “That is yours.”

• Yourself: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “She gave the book to yourself.”

• Yourselves: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “They invited yourselves to the party.”

Third-Person Pronouns

Third-person pronouns refer to someone other than the speaker or writer. They include:

• He: Used to refer to a male person.

  • Example: “He went to the store.”

• She: Used to refer to a female person.

  • Example: “She went to the store.”

• It: Used to refer to a thing or an abstract concept.

  • Example: “It is raining.”

• They: Used to refer to a group of people or a group of things.

  • Example: “They went to the store.”

• Him: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “She gave the book to him.”

• Her: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “She gave the book to her.”

• Its: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “The cat is its.”

• Them: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “They invited them to the party.”

• Their: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is their house.”

• Theirs: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “That is theirs.”

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out or indicate something specific. They include:

• This: Used to refer to something close to the speaker or writer.

  • Example: “This is my book.”

• That: Used to refer to something far from the speaker or writer.

  • Example: “That is your book.”

• These: Used to refer to more than one thing close to the speaker or writer.

  • Example: “These are my books.”

• Those: Used to refer to more than one thing far from the speaker or writer.

  • Example: “Those are your books.”

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession. They include:

• My: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is my book.”

• Your: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is your book.”

• His: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is his book.”

• Her: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is her book.”

• Its: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is its book.”

• Our: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is our book.”

• Their: Used to indicate possession.

  • Example: “This is their book.”

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They include:

• Who: Used to ask about the identity of a person.

  • Example: “Who is that?”

• Whom: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “To whom did you give the book?”

• Whose: Used to ask about the owner of something.

  • Example: “Whose book is this?”

• What: Used to ask about the identity of a thing.

  • Example: “What is that?”

• Which: Used to ask about the identity of a thing or to indicate a choice.

  • Example: “Which book do you want?”

• Whose: Used to ask about the owner of something.

  • Example: “Whose book is this?”

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses. They include:

• Who: Used to introduce a relative clause about a person.

  • Example: “The person who helped me is my friend.”

• Whom: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “The person to whom I gave the book is my friend.”

• Whose: Used to introduce a relative clause about the owner of something.

  • Example: “The book whose cover is torn is mine.”

• That: Used to introduce a relative clause about a thing.

  • Example: “The book that I bought is mine.”

• Which: Used to introduce a relative clause about a thing or to indicate a choice.

  • Example: “The book which I bought is mine.”

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is also the object of the verb. They include:

• Myself: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “I helped myself to the book.”

• Himself: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “He helped himself to the book.”

• Herself: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “She helped herself to the book.”

• Itself: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “The cat helped itself to the milk.”

• Themselves: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “They helped themselves to the food.”

• Ourselves: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “We helped ourselves to the food.”

• Yourselves: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: “You helped yourselves to the food.”

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize the subject of the sentence. They include:

• Myself: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “I myself will do it.”

• Himself: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “He himself will do it.”

• Herself: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “She herself will do it.”

• Itself: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “The cat itself will do it.”

• Themselves: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “They themselves will do it.”

• Ourselves: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “We ourselves will do it.”

• Yourselves: Used to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “You yourselves will do it.”

Functions of Pronouns

Pronouns serve several important functions in the English language. They include:

• Substitution: Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition.

  • Example: “John went to the store. He bought some milk.”

• Reference: Pronouns refer to previously mentioned nouns.

  • Example: “She went to the store. She bought some milk.”

• Possession: Pronouns indicate ownership or possession.

  • Example: “This is my book.”

• Emphasis: Pronouns emphasize the subject of the sentence.

  • Example: “I myself will do it.”

• Indirect Object: Pronouns can be used as the indirect object of a verb.

  • Example: “She gave the book to me.”

Common Mistakes with Pronouns

Despite their importance, pronouns can be a source of confusion and mistakes. Some common mistakes include:

• Using “me” instead of “I”: “Me” is used as the object of a verb or preposition, while “I” is used as the subject.

  • Example: Incorrect: “She gave the book to me and her.” Correct: “She gave the book to me and her.”

• Using “who” instead of “whom”: “Who” is used as the subject of a verb or clause, while “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition.

  • Example: Incorrect: “To whom did you give the book?” Correct: “To whom did you give the book?”

• Using “that” instead of “which”: “That” is used to introduce a restrictive relative clause, while “which” is used to introduce a non-restrictive relative clause.

  • Example: Incorrect: “The book that I bought is mine.” Correct: “The book, which I bought, is mine.”

• Using “its” instead of “it’s”: “Its” is used to indicate possession, while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is.”

  • Example: Incorrect: “The cat’s tail is long.” Correct: “The cat’s tail is long.”

Tips for Using Pronouns Correctly

Here are some tips for using pronouns correctly:

• Avoid Repetition: Use pronouns to replace nouns to avoid repetition.

  • Example: “John went to the store. He bought some milk.”

• Use the Correct Form: Use the correct form of the pronoun based on its function.

  • Example: “She gave the book to me.”

• Use the Correct Pronoun for Possession: Use the correct possessive pronoun based on the noun it refers to.

  • Example: “This is my book.”

• Use the Correct Pronoun for Reference: Use the correct pronoun based on the noun it refers to.

  • Example: “She went to the store. She bought some milk.”

• Use the Correct Pronoun for Emphasis: Use the correct intensive pronoun to emphasize the subject.

  • Example: “I myself will do it.”

• Use the Correct Pronoun for Indirect Object: Use the correct pronoun as the indirect object of a verb.

  • Example: “She gave the book to me.”

Conclusion

Pronouns are a fundamental part of the English language, serving as a way to refer to people, places, or things without repeating the same noun. Understanding the different types of pronouns and their uses is essential for effective communication. By following the tips and guidelines provided in this article, you can use pronouns correctly and effectively in your writing and speaking.

FAQ

What is the difference between “who” and “whom”?

“Who” is used as the subject of a verb or clause, while “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition.

What is the difference between “that” and “which”?

“That” is used to introduce a restrictive relative clause, while “which” is used to introduce a non-restrictive relative clause.

What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?

“Its” is used to indicate possession, while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is.”

What is the difference between “me” and “I”?

“Me” is used as the object of a verb or preposition, while “I” is used as the subject.

How do I use possessive pronouns correctly?

Use the correct possessive pronoun based on the noun it refers to. For example, use “my” for first-person singular, “your” for second-person singular, “his” for third-person singular masculine, “her” for third-person singular feminine, “its” for third-person singular neuter, “our” for first-person plural, “their” for third-person plural.

Resources

For further reading on pronouns, consider the following resources:

• “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
• “Wren and Clevenger’s English Grammar” by Wren and Clevenger
• “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation” by Jane Straus

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