Page 29 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

Study Section 5: Pronouns Basics

5.1 Connect

Pronouns take the place of a noun, normally a person mentioned in a previous sentence of the
same sentence. They can take the place of an item. There are various kinds of pronouns as we
will see in this lesson.

5.2 Pronoun Basics

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Pronouns usually refer to something that was
already mentioned. An antecedent is the noun that a pronoun represents.

Without pronouns:
• Moses is my neighbor. Moses says that Moses likes to tend Moses's sheep.

With pronouns:
• Moses is my neighbor. He says that he likes to tend his sheep.

Kinds of Pronouns

Personal used to refer to the speaker... I, me, we, us, my, mine, our,
(called 1 person pronouns) ours
st

used to refer to the person spoken to... you, your, yours
(called 2 person pronouns)
nd
he, she, it, they, him, her,
used to refer to the person spoken about... them, his, hers, its, their,
(called 3 person pronouns) theirs
rd
Interrogative used to ask a question who, whom, whose, which,
what

Demonstrative used to point out the person or thing referred to this, that, these, those

Relative used to introduce dependent clauses who, whom, whose, which,
that

Indefinite do not definitely point out persons or things; do not See list below.
usually have antecedents

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