Pronoun, Grammar Structure, English, examples, categories, sentences, Structure of English Language

1. Structure of
English
Language
Pronouns

3. The word “pronoun”
comes from the Latin
words “pro” meaning
“for” or “in place of”
and “nomen” meaning
“name.”

4. A pronoun is a word
used in place of a noun. It
is used when one does not
want to repeat a noun in
the same or subsequent
sentence. In other words, it
is a substitute for a noun.

5. The use of pronouns avoids the
monotonous repetition of the
same noun. If pronouns do not
exist, you have to give your full
name every time you refer to
yourself. If you refer to another
person you have to repeat his
name as many times as you refer
to him.

6. Example:

7. The noun to which a pronoun refers
is called its antecedent.
A.Classification of Pronouns
Pronouns can be classified into seven categories:
1.Personal Pronouns
A is a pronoun
that denotes the person speaking ( I,
we ), the person spoken to ( you ) or
the person or thing spoken about (
he, she, they, it ).

8. Person Singular Plural
First
Person
I, me, my, mine we, us, our, ours
Second Person you, your, yours you, your, yours
Third Person he, him, she,
her, it, his,
hers, its
they, them,
their, theirs

9. The person of a pronoun indicates the
relationship of the pronoun to the
speaker.
 First person pronouns refer to the
speaker or to a group to which the speaker
belongs.
 Second person pronoun (you) refers to
the person being addressed.
 Third person pronouns are used to refer
to persons other than the speaker who are
spoken about but are not addressed directly.

10. A. Classification of Pronouns
2. Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is used to introduce a
subordinate clause. The relative pronoun
connects the clause to some other word in the
sentence.
Examples:
a) Michael’s project, which won first place in
the region, will be entered in the National
Science Fair.
b) The essay that he wrote will be published
in the school paper.

11. When the following words are used to introduce
subordinate clauses, they function as relative pronouns:
which, who, whose, that and whom.
Specific uses of relative pronouns:
1. Who – is used when the antecedent is a person.
 Johannah is the student who won the most-coveted prize.
2. That – is used to refer to both persons or things.
 This is the book that I would like you to read.
3. Which – is used to refer to anything other than
persons.
 This bag, which was given by my friend, is very dear
to me.
A. Classification of Pronouns

12. 3. Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is used to ask a question.
Examples:
a) Who are you?
b) Which is Ramina’s daughter?
The following words function as
interrogative pronouns when they stand
alone to introduce a question: who, whose,
what, whom and which.
A. Classification of Pronouns

13. However, when one of these word
modifies a noun, it is not an
interrogative pronoun but a modifier.
Examples:
What do you want? (interrogative pronoun)
What movie do you want to see? (modifier)
Which is her house? (interrogative pronoun)
Which house is her house? (modifier)

14. 4. Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is used to
point out a specific person, place, thing or
idea.
Examples:
This is my son.
That is the book I’ve always wanted to read.
Those are the prettiest eyes I have ever seen.
A. Classification of Pronouns

15. There are only four demonstrative
pronouns: this, that, these and those.
When one of these words is used before a
noun it is an adjective, not a demonstrative
pronoun.
 Examples:
This is my favorite dress. (demonstrative
pronoun)
This dress is my favorite. (adjective)
Have you seen this? (demonstrative pronoun)
Have you seen this movie? (adjective)

16. A. Classification of Pronouns

17. Most indefinite pronouns are
either singular or plural.
Singular indefinite pronouns: anybody,
anyone, each, either, everybody,
everyone, much, neither, nobody, no
one, one, somebody and someone
Plural indefinite pronouns: both, few,
many and others

18. The following indefinite pronouns, however, can
be either singular or plural, depending on how they
are used in a sentence: all, any, most, none and some.
Examples:
All of the food was eaten. (Singular)
All of the students are here. (Plural)
None of the mail has arrived. (Singular)
None of the plants have grown. (Plural)

19. Possessive pronouns show ownership or
possession. They are also called pronominal
adjectives when they modify or precede nouns.
• That is my chair.
• She thought her son was the best in class.
• I used his cottage.

20. Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize the
nouns or pronouns to which they refer. To form the
intensive pronouns, the suffixes “self” (singular) and
“selves” (plural) are added to the root pronouns.
• He did it himself
• We did it ourselves.
The intensive pronouns are: myself,
ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself,
herself, itself and themselves.

21. 1.as subjects
I like bananas.
2.after the verb form “to be”
It is he.
3.as objects of the verb
The manager called me.

22. 4. after prepositions
He talked about you.
5. as indirect object:
The manager gave him a
birthday gift.
6. before nouns to show possession
Example: This is his seat.

23. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number.
When the antecedent is singular, the pronoun used to refer to
it must be singular.
1.Even if the antecedent is followed by a prepositional phrase
containing a plural noun, the antecedent remains singular, and a
singular pronoun is used.
Examples:
a) Each of the students has his own unique personality.
b) Everyone of the girls in my class has her own story.
2.When the antecedent is plural, a plural pronoun is used to refer to
it.
Examples:
a) Several of the boys have submitted their projects.
b) Many of the students have improved their performance
in class.

24. 3. The pronoun all, any, some and none may be either plural or
singular in meaning, depending on the of phrase that follow
them.
Examples:
Some of the students have chosen their research topics.
(plural)
Some of the lot is full of trash, but the rest of it is fine.
(singular)
4. When two or more singular antecedents are joined by and, a
plural pronoun is used to refer to them.
Examples:
Abel and Cain always do their share of the household
chores.
Mayor Ali and his family will spend the weekend at
their mansion in Baguio.

25. 5. When two or more singular antecedents are joined by
or or nor, a singular pronoun is used to refer to them.
Examples:
Either Aber or Amer will bring his camera.
Neither Aisha nor Racma has handed in her report.
6. When two antecedents (one is singular and the other
is plural) are joined by or or nor, the pronoun should
agree with the nearer antecedent.
Examples:
Neither the governor nor the members of the
cabinet could foresee their fate.
Either the students or the teacher would prepare
his speech.

26. References:
Fundamentals of English Grammar by
Justice Isagani A. Cruz and Justice
Camilo D. Quiason. pp 183-209
The New International Webster’s Pocket,
Grammar, Speech and Style Dictionary of
the English Language. pp 86-96
English IV – Part II by HYDN Publishing.
hydn_pub@edsamail.com.ph
Nouns and Pronouns by HYDN Publishing.
hydn_pub@edasmail.com.ph