Pronouns

What are pronouns?

Pronouns are like shortcuts in language. Instead of repeating names, we use pronouns to make sentences smoother and avoid sounding repetitive. Let’s explore the different types of pronouns:

• Personal Pronouns: These replace people’s names. For example, instead of saying “John is tired,” we can say “He is tired.” The personal pronouns include “he,” “she,” “they,” and “we.”

• Subject Pronouns: These start sentences or act as the subject of a sentence. Examples are “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” Like, “She loves to read.”

• Object Pronouns: These receive actions. Think of them as the ones being acted upon. Examples are “me,” “you,” “him,” “her,” “it,” “us,” and “them.” For instance, “They gave it to him.”

• Possessive Pronouns: These show ownership. Instead of saying “That is Jane’s book,” we can say “That book is hers.” Examples include “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.”

• Reflexive Pronouns: These reflect back to the subject. They are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same. Examples are “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves.” Like, “I taught myself to swim.”

• Demonstrative Pronouns: These point to things. Examples are “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” Like, “This is my favourite toy.”

• Interrogative Pronouns: These ask questions. Examples include “who,” “what,” “which,” and “whose.” For instance, “Who is coming to the party?”

• Indefinite Pronouns: These refer to unspecified things or people. Examples are “someone,” “anything,” and “everyone.” Like, “Everyone enjoyed the film.”

• Relative Pronouns: These connect sentences and provide more information. Examples include “who,” “which,” and “that.” For example, “The book that I’m reading is interesting.”

• Possessive Adjectives: These show ownership, like “my,” “your,” “his,” and so on. For instance, “Her dog is so cute.”

Using the correct pronouns helps us communicate clearly and efficiently. They make sentences flow better and keep our conversations interesting!

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns.

1.  Peter and I are brothers. ________ share a bedroom together.

2. Sue isn’t well. Dad is taking ________ to see a doctor.

3. My brother is a teacher. ________ teaches English.

4. All his students like ________ very much.

5. Children, ________ are making too much noise!

6. Who are those people? Where are ________ from?

7. Mom is a doctor. ________ works in a hospital.

8. The sky is getting dark. ________ is going to rain.

9. John, we are all waiting for________. Are you coming with ________? 

10. May ________ borrow your pen?

11. Yes, of course. When can you return ________ to ________? 

12. What are ________ reading, Jenny?

Fill in the blanks with one of these reflexive pronouns: yourselves, himself, themselves, yourself, itself, myself, herself, ourselves.

1. No one can help us. We have to help ________.

2. Jane always makes the bed by ________.

3. They painted the wall all by ________.

4. I hurt ________ in the playground yesterday.

5. John, you must behave ________ before your friends.

6. Children, you must do the homework ________.

7. Tom defended ________ against the bullies.

8. The dog is scratching ________.

Write the correct interrogative pronouns in the blanks to complete the sentences.

1. ________ is the matter with you? 

2. ________ invented the computer?

3. ________ of the twins is older?

4. ________ do you wish to speak to?

5. ________ is this car in front of our house?

6. ________ knows the answer?

7. ________ came first, the chicken or the egg?

8. ________ would you like to drink?

9. ________ of them do you think will win the race?

1. ________ is the word for a stamp collector?

Answers

Fill in the blanks with the correct pronouns.

1.  Peter and I are brothers. We share a bedroom together.

2. Sue isn’t well. Dad is taking her to see a doctor.

3. My brother is a teacher. He teaches English.

4. All his students like him very much.

5. Children, you are making too much noise!

6. Who are those people? Where are they from?

7. Mom is a doctor. She works in a hospital.

8. The sky is getting dark. It is going to rain.

9. John, we are all waiting for Ann. Are you coming with her? 

10. May I borrow your pen?

11. Yes, of course. When can you return it to me? 

12. What are you reading, Jenny?

Fill in the blanks with one of these reflexive pronouns: yourselves, himself, themselves, yourself, itself, myself, herself, ourselves.

1. No one can help us. We have to help ourselves.

2. Jane always makes the bed by herself.

3. They painted the wall all by themselves.

4. I hurt myself in the playground yesterday.

5. John, you must behave yourself before your friends.

6. Children, you must do the homework yourselves.

7. Tom defended himself against the bullies.

8. The dog is scratching itself.

Write the correct interrogative pronouns in the blanks to complete the sentences.

1. What is the matter with you? 

2. Who invented the computer?

3. Which of the twins is older?

4. Who do you wish to speak to?

5. Whose is this car in front of our house?

6. Who knows the answer?

7. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

8. What would you like to drink?

9. Which one of them do you think will win the race?

10. What is the word for a stamp collector?

Printable worksheets