1- What is a Pronoun
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Usually pronouns are used to avoid the repetition of nouns as is reflected in the following passage.
“Tom is a simple peasant. Tom goes to his fields early in the morning. Tom loves to work hard. Tom ploughs the fields with his mule throughout the day. Tom lives with his family happily.”
This passage contains repetitive use of noun ‘Tom’ which sets the whole passage awkward. In order to avoid the repetition, a suitable pronoun 'He' may be used to attain flow in the passage and to
retain the meaning at the same time.
“Tom is a simple peasant. He goes to his fields early in the morning. He loves to work hard. He ploughs the fields with his mule throughout the day. He lives with his family happily.”
2- TYPES OF PRONOUNS
2.1 PERSONAL PRONOUN
Pronouns that stand for persons are
generally called personal pronouns. They are three in number:
First Person: the person speaking
Second Person: the person spoken to
Third Person: the person spoken of
2.2 POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun which shows the possession
of something in sentence, is known as possessive pronoun.
For example, ‘her’ and ‘their’ are possessive
pronouns in the following sentence.
(1) She sold her gold to buy a
house of their own.
2.3 REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
Reflexive pronouns are used to emphasize
the role of the doer in the execution of an action. They are formed by adding ‘self' or 'selves’ to possessive pronouns. A reflexive pronoun always stands at object position. Furthermore, the subject and the object (reflexive pronoun) always refer to same thing or person.
(1) I did this work myself.
(2) God helps those who help themselves.
2.4 INTENSIVE PRONOUN
Like reflexive pronouns, Intensive pronouns are also used to emphasize the role of the doer in the execution of an action. Similarly, they are also formed by adding 'self' or 'selves' to the possessive pronouns. However, unlike their reflexive counterpart, they do not stand at object position.
(1) The owner delivered the items himself to avoid additional cost.
(2) Maggie did this all herself.
(3) The principal himself presented his resignation.
2.5 DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun which demonstrates a noun
already existing in the same sentence. They are used to avoid the repetition of
same noun in the same sentence.
For example, ‘That’ has been
used in place of ‘climate’ of Murree otherwise ‘climate’ would have
appeared twice. Similarly, ‘One’ has been used in place of ‘Coat’
which already exists in the same sentence.
(1) The
climate of Lahore is hotter than that of Murree.
(2) Your
coat is black, mine is white one.
[‘That’ has been used in place of ‘climate’ of Murree otherwise ‘climate’ would have appeared twice. Similarly, ‘One’ has been used in place of ‘Coat’ which already exists in the same sentence.]
2.6 RELATIVE PRONOUN
A relative pronoun is one which relates to its
preceding noun. Usually, they make a relative clause which qualifies a noun
already existing in the same sentence.
(1) He
met a professor who was the dean of a department.
(2) I
saw a lion that was injured.
2.7 INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun which is used to ask a
question is known as interrogative pronoun. These are usually ‘5-Wh’ words
which refer to some noun hidden behind question tag.
(1) Who
knocks at the door?
(2) Which is your book?
[In fact, there is somebody who comes to knock your door. He is standing on the other side of your door, he knocks and you ask who is there? The answer comes, “It’s Tom here.” It means that you placed Who as an interrogative pronoun in place of noun Tom standing outside.]
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