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CAT 2009 Online Preparation

Learning The Nine Types of Pronouns Part I

Author: MayMay

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Learning The Nine Types of Pronouns Part I

Understanding and using pronouns correctly can be a challenge because of their many categories, functions, and confusing names, but success is possible, so read on!

A pronoun is a word such as we, them, or anyone that replaces a noun or another pronoun. Pronouns must match the number and gender of the noun they stand for and be in a case (form) that matches its function.

Pronouns have the same functions as nouns: They may act as subjects and subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.

Here is the Part One explanation of the nine types of pronouns:

A. PERSONAL PRONOUNS: Personal pronouns refer to specific persons, places, or things.

1. Subjective Case: A personal pronoun should be in the subjective case (form) if the pronoun functions as a subject or subject complement. A subject pronoun usually comes before the verb; a subject complement pronoun follows a linking verb.

	Singular	Plural	Examples
First Person:	I	We	We are successful. (Subject)
Second Person:	You	You	They like pizza. (Subject)
Third Person:	He/She/It	They	The winners were Kim and I. (Subject Complement)

2. Objective case: If a pronoun stands for any other noun than a subject or subject complement, use the objective case. Object pronouns can be direct objects (DO), indirect objects (IO), or objects of prepositions (OP). Notice that you and it are in both lists.

	Singular	Plural	Examples
First Person:	Me	Us	The secretary notified us today. (DO)
Second Person:	You	You	My aunt wrote me a letter. (IO)
Third Person:	Him/Her/It	Them	For her, I would do anything. (OP)

B. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS: Possessive pronouns act as adjectives that show ownership.

1. These possessive pronouns act as adjectives showing ownership:

	Singular	Plural	Examples
First Person:	My	Our	My friend found his dog.
Second Person:	Your	Your	You are the apple of my eye.
Third Person:	His/Her/Its	Their	Their cat sharpened its claws.

Note: Do not confuse the pronoun its with the contraction itâ€™s, which means it is.

2. These possessive pronouns stand for an adjective possessive pronoun plus a noun:

	Singular	Plural	Examples
First Person:	Mine	Ours	That backpack is mine.
Second Person:	Yours	Yours	The decision is yours to make.
Third Person:	His/Hers	Theirs	They are returning to their homeland.