The 9 Sorts of English Pronouns (With Examples and Charts)
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English sentence construction could seem sophisticated, nevertheless it’s actually only a sample of grammar guidelines. Studying the elements of speech, together with the several types of English pronouns, can assist you present clear communication in sentences which might be straightforward to learn.
There are 9 sorts of English pronouns that you simply’ll see in on a regular basis writing and use to talk clearly. Be taught all of the pronouns in English, when it is best to use every one, and the best way to use them in a sentence with these useful pronoun charts.
What’s a pronoun?
A pronoun replaces a noun (an individual, place, or factor) in a sentence. Like Spanish pronouns and pronouns in different languages, the noun it replaces is called an antecedent.
For instance, within the sentence Matthew went to highschool, Matthew is the antecedent, which means the noun that’s getting changed. You may substitute Matthew with the pronoun he to type the sentence He went to highschool.
We use several types of pronouns to make clear ourselves and to keep away from utilizing the identical noun again and again.
- My mom likes chocolate.
- She likes chocolate.
- Kelsey and Susan are my associates.
- They are my associates.
- My automobile gained’t begin.
- It gained’t begin.
Some pronouns are brief phrases, reminiscent of he or me, whereas others like whomever or one another are longer. Which one you utilize is determined by what’s occurring in a sentence. Then you definitely’ll know which sort of pronoun to make use of from the record included right here.
1. English private pronouns
You don’t need to repeat your self while you discuss a selected noun, which is why private pronouns are so useful. For instance, you would say:
- Simon discovered a toy and Simon performed with the toy.
It’s somewhat complicated and repetitive. As a substitute, you should utilize pronouns to interchange some nouns within the sentence, like this:
- Simon discovered a toy and he performed with it.
The English pronoun he replaces the topic noun Simon, and it replaces the thing noun toy.
Topic private pronouns
Even throughout the private pronouns, there are two varieties to learn about. Topic private pronouns substitute nouns that carry out the motion in a sentence.
- Maya wrote her title. = She wrote her title.
The topic noun Maya turns into the topic pronoun she within the instance above. Right here’s a chart of English private pronouns and the way they can be utilized in a sentence.
Private Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
I | ahy | I play the piano. |
You | yoo | You play the piano. |
He/She/It | hee/shee/it | He/She/It performs the piano. |
We | wee | We play the piano. |
They | they | They play the piano. |
In some instances, reminiscent of with I and you, the pronoun doesn’t substitute a noun in any respect. However more often than not, topic pronouns substitute one other noun.
Object private pronouns
Object private pronouns substitute the thing noun in a sentence. That noun often comes after the verb, and it receives the motion.
- Louis lives with Hector, Carl, and Manny.
- Louis lives with them.
You may substitute the pal names with the pronoun them to create a sentence that’s simpler to learn.
Object Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
Me | mee | The instructor talked to me. |
You | yoo | The instructor talked to you. |
Him/Her/It | him/hur/it | The instructor talked to him/her/it. |
Us | uhs | The instructor talked to us. |
Them | them | The instructor talked to them. |
2. English possessive pronouns
Possessive pronouns in English substitute a possessive noun, which exhibits that one thing belongs to somebody. For instance:
- That sofa is Martin’s. = That sofa is his.
The sofa belongs to Martin, so when the possessive pronoun his replaces Martin’s, it means the identical factor.
Possessive Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
mine | mahyn | The automobile is mine. |
yours | yoorz | The automobile is yours. |
his/hers/its | hiz/hurz/its | The automobile is his/hers/its. |
ours | ouuhrz | The automobile is ours. |
theirs | thairz | The automobile is theirs. |
Some possessive pronouns are difficult, even for English audio system! Its is a possessive pronoun meaning one thing belongs to it, however solely when there is no such thing as a apostrophe (‘). It’s is a contraction meaning it’s, and it doesn’t present possession.
- The canine ate its meals.
- It’s time to go.
3. English indefinite pronouns

Generally you don’t know precisely who you’re speaking about in a sentence. That’s while you want indefinite pronouns, which don’t seek advice from anybody or something particularly.
For instance, the sentence The people who find themselves within the job can apply has a complete phrase that may be changed with one indefinite pronoun like anyone or anybody or any individual.
- Anyone can apply.
- Everybody can apply.
- Someone can apply.
You don’t know who’s within the job, so indefinite pronouns like anyone, everybody, and any individual all make sense to make use of on this sentence.
Singular indefinite pronouns substitute singular nouns, which discuss just one individual, place or factor, or collective group of individuals, locations or issues. The indefinite pronouns starting with any-, often seem in questions or with unfavorable verbs. Relying on which pronoun you select, your sentence could have a special which means.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
anyone | EN-ee-bod-ee | Anyone is welcome. |
anybody | EN-ee-wuhn | Anybody can come. |
something | EN-ee-thing | Carry something you need. |
anyplace | EN-ee-wair | I’m not going anyplace. |
every | eech | Every individual wants a ticket. |
all people | EV-ree-bod-ee | Everyone will likely be there. |
everybody | EV-ree-wuhn | Everyone seems to be invited. |
all the things | EV-ee-thing | Every little thing you do is great. |
in all places | EV-ree-wair | You will discover these in all places. |
little | LIT-l | We all know little about it. |
a lot | muhch | A lot has occurred. |
no person | NOH-bod-ee | No one is right here. |
nobody | NOH wuhn | Nobody understands. |
nothing | NUHTH-ing | Nothing is identical. |
nowhere | NOH-wair | They’re nowhere within the room. |
one | wuhn | One can ask questions right here. |
any individual | SUHM-bod-ee | Someone is on the door. |
somebody | SUHM-wuhn | Somebody referred to as my telephone. |
one thing | SUHM-thing | One thing smells good. |
someplace | SUHM-wair | Let’s go someplace. |
Plural indefinite pronouns substitute plural nouns, which present a couple of factor. Some plural indefinite pronouns point out that there are numerous nouns (many), whereas others present much less (few and fewer). A pronoun like each signifies that there are two nouns you’re referring to.
Plural Indefinite Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
each | bohth | Each look stunning. |
few | fyoo | Few will attend the occasion. |
fewer | FYOO-er | Fewer know the reply. |
many | MEN-ee | Many take pleasure in residing right here. |
others | UHTH-erz | Others say that the ebook is excellent. |
4. English interrogative pronouns
The phrase interrogative means “to ask questions.” You employ interrogative pronouns while you’re asking about what motion occurred by the noun or topic of the sentence. Interrogative pronouns often come firstly of the query. For instance:
- Who ordered this espresso? = Laura ordered this espresso.
The interrogative pronoun who changed Laura within the query. Once you put Laura again within the sentence, you get the reply to the query!
Interrogative Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
no matter | wuht-EV-er | No matter occurred to John? |
which | wich | Which works greatest for you? |
whichever | wich-EV-er | Whichever will you select? |
who | hoo | Who ate the final cookie? (when the thing is he/she) |
whoever | hoo-EV-er | Whoever advised you that secret? |
whom | hoom | Whom did you inform? (when the thing is him/her) |
whomever | hoom-EV-er | Whomever did you marry? |
whose | hooz | Whose are these? |
5. English relative pronouns
The record of English relative pronouns is nearly the identical because the interrogative pronouns, however they’re used in a different way. Whereas interrogative pronouns ask a query, relative pronouns present extra details about the topic. This helps you give extra context about an individual or object while you’re telling a pal about them.
- The boy referred to as me. = The boy who I met on the dance referred to as me.
Once you add the relative pronoun who and extra particulars after it, you’re giving extra details about the boy.
Relative Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
no matter | wuht-EV-er | No matter you do is ok with me. |
which | wich | My automobile, which works nicely, is on the market. |
whichever | wich-EV-er | Whichever prices much less is your best option. |
who | hoo | The canine who ate the cake is over there. |
whoever | hoo-EV-er | Whoever owns this automobile ought to transfer it. |
whom | hoom | My instructor, whom I respect, gave me this ebook. |
whomever | hoom-EV-er | Whomever my pal invitations may have a good time. |
whose | hooz | My neighbor, whose canine barks all night time, lives subsequent door. |
6. English reflexive pronouns
Reflexive nouns finish in -self or -selves. They present that the topic and object in a sentence are the identical noun. For instance:
- Lily purchased the headscarf for Lily. = Lily purchased herself the headscarf.
- Lily purchased the headscarf for Lily. = Lily purchased the headscarf for herself.
Saying Lily purchased the headscarf for Lily is repetitive. Change the second Lily to herself, and also you’ll present that the one who purchased the headscarf and the one who acquired the headscarf are the identical individual.
Reflexive Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
herself | her-SELF | She made herself a cake. |
himself | him-SELF | He made himself a cake. |
itself | it-SELF | It made itself a cake. |
myself | mahy-SELF | I made myself a cake. |
ourselves | ahr-SELVZ | We made ourselves a cake. |
themselves | thuhm-SELVZ | They made themselves a cake. |
your self | yoor-SELF | You made your self a cake. |
yourselves | yoor-SELVZ | You made yourselves a cake. |
7. English intensive pronouns

Intensive pronouns finish in -self or -selves, simply the identical as reflexive pronouns. They put further consideration on a noun within the sentence. You may put it proper after the noun or on the finish of the sentence. For instance:
- The artist painted the wall. = The artist himself painted the wall.
- The artist painted the wall. = The artist painted the wall himself.
Once you add the pronoun himself, you’re emphasizing that the artist is the one who painted the wall. In case you take away himself, the sentence nonetheless is smart. A lot of these English pronouns aren’t used as steadily as most different pronouns since they will really feel repetitive.
Intensive Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
herself | her-SELF | Hannah herself made this cake. |
himself | him-SELF | Boris himself wrote three books. |
itself | it-SELF | The home itself is 100 years outdated. |
myself | mahy-SELF | I actually have studied Greek. |
ourselves | ahr-SELVZ | We constructed this treehouse ourselves. |
themselves | thuhm-SELVZ | My lecturers themselves don’t know the reply. |
your self | yoor-SELF | You your self know this metropolis greatest. |
yourselves | yoor-SELVZ | You yourselves can discover the best way. |
8. English demonstrative pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun factors at a noun in a sentence. For instance The pasta tastes good could be mentioned in these two methods:
- This tastes good.
- That tastes good.
In case you substitute the pasta with the pronoun this, you’re speaking about pasta that’s near you or that you simply’re particularly consuming proper now. Once you say that, you’re speaking about pasta that’s not essentially yours or not close by.
Demonstrative Pronouns | Pronunciation | Instance |
both | EE-thuhr | Both will do. |
neither | NEE-thuhr | Neither is my favourite. |
none | nuhn | None feels proper to me. |
that | that | That’s great. |
this | this | This appears scrumptious. |
these | theez | These are too costly. |
these | thohz | These are from France. |
such | suhch | Such is life. |
9. English reciprocal pronouns
The final sort of English pronouns are reciprocal pronouns. There are solely two reciprocal pronouns, and so they present that two topics or objects have the identical relationship.
- Tim respects Harvey, and Harvey respects Tim.
- Tim and Harvey respect one another.
In case you say Harvey and Tim respect one another, it signifies that Harvey respects Tim, and Tim respects Harvey. Their relationship is reciprocal or mutual.
Reciprocal Pronouns | Sentence |
one another | Mike and I like one another. |
each other | Mike and I like each other. |
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