A PRONOUN is used to substitute for a NOUN.
Many times in your reading or speech, it can become repetitious to use a NOUN throughout.
Look at this example below.
Harry went to the store to buy milk for Janet. When Harry returned, Harry gave the milk to Janet, and then Harry plopped down on the couch to watch some television next to Janet’s cat, Felix.
This sentence sounds repetitious (and silly) since no PRONOUNS were substituted in for the NOUNS.
Let’s look at the sentences again with some PRONOUNS sprinkled in.
Harry went to the store to buy milk for Janet. When he returned, he gave the milk to her, and then he plopped down on the couch to watch some television next to her cat, Felix.
See? much better!
What are the different types of PRONOUNS?
Personal Pronouns – Refers to a specific thing, person, place, or idea
EXAMPLE – I, we, you, he, she, it, they
Personal Compound – Refers to a specific thing, person, place, or idea
EXAMPLE – myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves
Possessive – Shows ownership
EXAMPLE – my, mine, your, yours, our, ours, his, her, hers, its, their, theirs
Demonstrative – Used to point out a specific person, place, thing, or idea
EXAMPLE – this, those, that, these
Indefinite – Refers to a non-specific person, place, thing, or idea. Use this when you are not sure what person, place, thing, or idea.
EXAMPLE – anyone, someone, something, anybody, nobody, anything
Interrogative – Used to introduce questions (interrogative sentences)
EXAMPLE – which, what, whose, who, whom
