PRONOUN (part-9)

                  

               

Pronoun

Definition

A word that is used in the place of a noun, called a pronoun.

1. Zaid is a student of arts, he is my friend.

2. Zaid and Saleem are friends, They are studying in the same class.

Note-

In the first sentence ‘he’ has been used for ‘Zaid’ while in the second sentence ‘They’ has been used for ‘Zaid and Saleem’ to avoid the repetition of nouns.

  Types of Pronoun

1. Personal pronoun:- Pronouns that are used for three persons.

I, me, we, us, you, he, him, she, her, they, them, it.

2. Possessive pronoun:- Pronouns that show possession.

Mine, yours, ours, his, hers, theirs, its.

3. Reciprocal pronoun:- Pronouns that show mutual relations.

Each other, one another.

4.Reflexive pronoun:- Myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, themselves, itself.

5. Relative pronouns:- Words that are used for nouns to describe function relating to.

Who, whom, that, which, whose.

6. Indefinite pronouns:- Words that are used for nouns in vague or general meaning.

Everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody, everyone, someone, no one, anyone, something, nothing, anything, everything, all, some, both, another.

7. Interrogative pronouns:- Words that are used to ask questions.

Who, whom, whose, which, what.

8. Emphatic pronouns:- All reflexive pronouns become emphatic pronouns when they are used to emphasize the subject.

Myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, themselves, itself.

9. Demonstrative pronouns:- Pronouns that are used to point out soothing /somebody.

This, that, these, those, Such, the same.

10. Distributive pronouns:- Words that are used for individuals and objects referring to persons or things, one at a time.

Each, Everyone, Either, Neither.

Cases of personal pronouns and their uses.

 

Rule 1. Possessive adjective always  requires a noun to complete its meaning. 

Examples

1. This pen is your. (incorrect)

2. This is your pen. (correct)

3. These books are my. (incorrect)

4. These are my books. (correct)

Rule 2. Possessive pronoun does not require any noun to complete its meaning.

Examples

1. This is yours pen. (incorrect)

2. This pen is yours. (correct)

3. These are mine books. (incorrect)

4. These books are mine. (correct)

Rule 3. Always use subjective case of a pronoun in the place of subject.

Examples

1. Saleem and me are preparing for SSC and Bank. (Incorrect)

2. Saleem and I are preparing for SSC and Bank. (Correct)

3. Saleem and myself are preparing for SSC and Bank. (Incorrect)

4. Saleem and I are preparing for SSC and Bank. (Correct)

Rule 4. Always use objective case of a pronoun in the place of object.

Examples

1. I came across John and she on the road yesterday. (Incorrect)

2. I came across John and her on the road yesterday. (Correct)

3. She called John and I at her home last night. (Incorrect)

4. She called John and me at her home last night. (Correct)

Note:- 

" They" is the plural of "it, he, and she".

Examples

1. There is a chair in the room but their legs are broken. (Incorrect)

2. There is a chair in the room but its legs are broken. (Correct)

3. There are many chairs in the room but its legs are broken. (Incorrect)

4.  There are many chairs in the room but their legs are broken. (Correct)

Rule 5. Possessive adjective of one is one’s. (not once, ones, his, her)

Example

1. One should do his duty honestly. (Incorect)

2. One should do one's duty honestly. (Correct)

 

                       

                         123               

123 means- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, person pronouns

Rule 1. While using all three personal pronouns in the positive sense at the same time in a sentence we follow 231(23,21,31) order.

Examples

1. I, you and she went to picnic. (use- you, she and I, 231)

2. She and you have applied for the post. (use- you and she, 23)

Rule 2. When all three pronouns are used in a sentence for admitting a mistake or in the negative sense, we follow 123(12,23,13) order.

Examples

1. You, she and I are accountable for the loss. (use- I, you and she,123)

2. He and you have been found guilty. (use- you and he. 23)

Rule 3. When all three pronouns come in a sentence in their plural forms , we follow only 123 order.

Examples

1. We, you and they must do our best to achieve the goal. (Correct)

2. We, you and they are responsible for this brutal crime.(correct)

Note-

 Use of possessive case with the above pronouns.

Pronouns             Possessive case

You, she and I               Our

You and I                        Our

You and she                   Your

We, you and they         Our

Examples

1. You and he have posted their letters. (Incorrect)

2. You and he have posted your letters. (Correct)

3. You and she have completed our work. (Incorrect)

4. You and she have completed your work. (Correct)

5. Have you, she and I taken your lunch? (Incorrect)

6. Have you, she and I taken our lunch? ( Correct)

Rule 4. The verb ‘Be’ and its forms should always be followed by the subjective case of a pronoun.

Be (is, am, are was, were has been, have been)

Examples

1. It is me who stood by you through thick and thin. (Incorrect)

2. It is I who stood by you through thick and thin. (Correct)

3. Was it her who wanted to spend the rest of her life with you? (Incorrect)

4. Was it she who wanted to spend the rest of her life with you? (Correct)

5. It will be them who will buy a new car next month. (Incorrect)

3. It will be they who will buy a new car next month. (Correct)

Rule 5. Always use objective case of a pronoun after

Let, but, except and all prepositions

Examples

1. Between you and I this matter can be solved. (Incorrect)

2. Between you and me this matter can be solved. (Correct)

3. Nobody will come to rescue you except he. (Incorrect)

4. Nobody will come to rescue you except him. (Correct)

3. She love sweets but her mother does not let she have very often. (Incorrect)

3. She love sweets but her mother does not let her have very often. (Correct)

4. Everybody was present in the meeting but he. (Incorrect)

4. Everybody was present in the meeting but him. (Correct)

              

                   As and than

Rule 5. After as and than we use both subjective and objective case of a pronoun according to the need.

Examples

1. Fatima is as beautiful as her. (use- she)

2. Fatima is more beautiful than her. (use- she)

Note-

 In the above two sentences, comparison is with Fatima that is a subjective case, therefore subjective case pronoun has been used.

More examples

3. She likes me more than him. (comparison between me and him)

4. She likes me more he. ( means She likes me more than he likes me)

5.My father gave me as much money as her, (comparison between me and her)

6. My father gave me as much money as she. (means my father gave me as much money as she gave me)

Rule 6. A noun or pronoun should not be in the possessive case with these words.

Separation, leave, excuse, mention, report, pardon, sight, favour.

Examples

1. John’s separation was very painful to her. (use- separation from John)

2. You helped me a lot and I need your favour once more. (use-favour of/from you) 

3. He did make your mention many times in his speech. (use- mention of you)

4. At his sight the thieves ran away. (use- at the sight of him)

Rule 7. There are some verbs that are transitive and they take reflexive pronoun if there is no object after them.

Acquit, absent, avail, reconcile, amuse, resign, avenge, revenge, enjoy, exert, apply, adapt, adjust, pride.

Examples

1. We availed ourselves of the opportunity.

2. I enjoyed myself a lot at the party last night.

3. I enjoyed the party a lot last night. ( correct because party is object here) 

4. He acquitted himself with dignity. ( here acquit means behave) 

5. They absented themselves from the class.

6. I pride myself being able to write this book for you.

Rule 8. Don’t use reflexive pronoun with these verbs.

Keep, bathe, stop, steal, feed, hide, gather, turn, qualify, move, rest.

Examples

1. you should keep yourself away from this petty politics. (drop yourself)

2. She hid herself behind the wall and started crying. (drop herself)

3. She hid her face under the collar of her jacket and started to cry. (correct)