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1. 8 TIPS on USING PRONOUNS
Grammar Rules and Tips for using Pronouns

2. What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun is defined as a word or phrase that is used as substitute for a noun or noun
phrase in a sentence. It also helps to avoid repetition of noun in a sentence.
Example:
Radhika is a singer and Radhika announced that Radhika’s music album will be
released soon. (repetition of the noun ‘Radhika’ makes the sentence cumbersome)
Radhika is a singer and she announced that her music album will be released soon.
Basic concepts related to Pronouns:
1. Subject Pronoun replaces nouns that are the subject of their clause and can be
used to begin sentences. Example: We did a great job.
2. Object Pronouns are used to replace nouns that are the direct or indirect objects
of a clause. Example: Give the book to me.
3. Antecedent is a word or phrase that a pronoun refers to. A pronoun must agree in
number (singular/plural) with its antecedent. Example: Jatin threw the ball to
Nitish, and Nitish threw them it back. ("the ball" is the antecedent of "it.")

3. Forms of Pronouns
Pronouns are formed based on the following three categories:
•Person: Who is speaking? I? He? She? They?
•Number: Is the speaker/subject is Singular or Plural? I or We? He or They?
•Gender: Is the speaker/subject Masculine, Feminine or Neuter? He? She? It?
Case of
pronoun
Subject
pronoun
Object
pronoun
Possessive
adjective
Possessive
pronoun
Reflexive
pronoun
1st person
singular
I me my mine myself
1st person
plural
we us our ours ourselves
2nd person
singular
you you your yours yourself
2nd person
plural
you you your yours yourselves
3rd person
singular
He/she/it Him/her/it His/hers/its His/hers Himself/her
self/itself
3rd person
plural
they them their theirs themselves

4. Types of Pronouns
1. Personal pronouns – words that refer to certain person, thing, or group; I, We,
He, Him, She, Her, It, They etc.
2. Indefinite pronouns – words that refer to one or more vague, unspecified
objects, beings, or places; Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, Several, Each, Either
etc.
3. Reflexive pronouns – forms of Personal pronoun ending in –self or –selves;
Myself, Yourselves, Themselves, Himself, Herself, Yourself etc.
4. Demonstrative pronouns – words used to point to something specific within a
sentence; This, That, These, Those etc.
5. Possessive pronouns – words that indicate possession or ownership; Her, His,
Ours, Yours, Its etc.
6. Relative pronouns – words that refer to nouns mentioned previously, acting to
introduce an adjective (relative) clause; Who, Which, Whose, Whom, That etc.
7. Interrogative pronouns – words used to ask a question; Who, What, Which,
Whose etc.
8. Reciprocal pronouns – words to express mutual actions or relationship; One
another, One another etc.
9. Distributive pronouns – words for individuals and objects referring to them one at
a time; Either, Each, Every, None, Anyone etc.

5. Tips on using Pronouns

6. Reflexive Pronouns are used after verbs
when subject of the verb is receiver of the
action. Avenge, Revenge, Acquit, Adjust,
Adapt, Avail etc are some of the verbs that
are used reflexively.
He resigned from the post of CEO. (no
reflexive pronoun required )
He resigned himself to his fate. (here the act
of resignation reflects on the subject ‘he’ )
Reflexive Pronouns are preceded by a noun
or pronoun when acting as subject of a verb.
I myself supervised the event. (‘I’ is precedes
‘myself’)
Reflexive Pronouns are NOT used after verbs
like Keep, Stop, Move, Qualify, Rest, Hide etc.
He hid himself under the table.
Tip # 1: When to use a
Reflexive Pronoun
As well as, Together with, Along with, In
addition to, Except, No less than: When two
subjects in a sentence are joined by these
words, the Possessive Pronoun is in accordance
with the first subject.
The teacher as well as the students returned to
his classroom.
Either-or, Neither-nor, Not only-But also,
None-but: When two subjects in a sentence is
joined by these words, the Possessive Pronoun
is in accordance with the nearest subject.
Not only the teacher but also the students
returned to their classroom.
Possessive Pronouns are NOT used after nouns
like Leave, Excuse, Mention, Report, Sight etc
The thief fled at his sight at the sight of him.
Tip #2: Subject Pronoun
Agreement

7. Apostrophe Mark: Possessive pronouns do
not need apostrophes to show ownership.
This book is her’s hers.
This is their car. (here ‘their’ is possessive
adjective appearing before the noun ‘car’)
This car is theirs. (here ‘theirs’ is possessive
pronoun )
One: When ‘one’ is used as subject of a
sentence, the Possessive pronoun should be
One’s.
One should do his one’s duty properly.
Every one should do one’s his duty properly.
Tip #3: Usage of
Apostrophe
Tip #4: Subject-Object
Singular-Plural
Subjective Case of Pronoun: is used when
pronoun follows the verb ‘to be’
It is me I who have called your mother.
Objective Case of Pronoun: is used when
pronoun follows and Verb or Preposition.
They are briefing Rajiv and she her.
Order of using Singular Pronouns: is
second person, third person and first
person (231) in a sentence.
You, he and I will go out for dinner tonight.
Order of using Plural Pronouns: is first
person ,second person and third person
(123) in a sentence, specifically for
unpleasant acts.
We and they will both be punished.

8. Either, Neither, Anyone, Many a, Each, Every:
when these are used as subject in a
sentence, the Possessive Pronoun will be in
Third Person Singular.
Neither of the two sisters brought their her
bags.
Either, Neither, Each other: are used to refer
to two persons or things.
None Neither of his legs was injured in the
accident. (used ‘neither’ in place of ‘none’ to
refer to either one of the two legs)
Anyone, None, One another: are used to
refer to more than two persons or things.
Students should not fight with each other
one another. (used ‘one another’ because
there are more than two students)
Tip #5: Either, Neither,
Anyone, None
The pronoun in the question tag should be in
agreement with subject in the main
sentence.
Samaira is intelligent, isn’t it she? (note that
‘she’ is used in place of ‘it’ as per the subject
‘Samaira’ and if the main sentence is in
affirmative, the following question tag is in
negative)
Hardly, Seldom, Barely, Scarcely, Few, Little:
if these words are used to make a negative
sentence, then the following question tag will
be affirmative.
She is seldom late, isn’t is she?
Everyone, Everyone, Somebody, Someone,
Anybody, None etc: for these Indefinite
Pronouns, ‘they’ is used in the question tag.
Everyone can succeed, can’t they?
Tip #6: Pronouns in
Interrogative Sentences

9. Both: is not used in negative sense and is
followed by ‘and’ in place of ‘as well as’
Both you as well as and your brother are
going to high school next year.
Both of them are not going to high school.
(incorrect)
Neither of them is going to high school.
(correct)
Same: is not to be used as a pronoun.
He bought a house and living in the same it.
Tip #7: Both, Same
Tip #8: Who, Which,
Whom, What
Which: is used to make a choice between
more than two persons or things.
Of the three sisters who which is the better
singer?
Who: as a Relative Pronoun is used as a
Subject of a verb in the adjective clause.
He is a kind of person who, everybody knows,
is generous.
Whom: as a Relative Pronoun is used as an
Object of a verb in the adjective clause.
A man, whom I have never seen before, was
asking about you.
What: as a Pronoun is used without
antecedent and is used to refer to things only.
It is incredible what she saw.
The movie what that she saw was incredible.

10. Spot the Errors

11. Spot the Error
He has himself qualified for the job.
They enjoyed during the winter vacation.
It will be her who will help you in the kitchen.
Yourself chose this path.
She has brought sweets for you and I.

12. He has himself qualified for the job.
He has himself qualified for the job.
They enjoyed during the winter vacation.
They enjoyed themselves during the winter vacation.
It will be her who will help you in the kitchen.
It will be she who will help you in the kitchen.
Yourself chose this path.
You yourself chose this path.
She has brought sweets for you and I.
She has brought sweets for you and me.
Spot the Error

13. Spot the Error
Neither the players nor the coach was playing in their uniform.
She did your mention during the speech.
I and you will go to market tomorrow.
My brother along with his friends is launching their new store next month.
They and we will not be traveling together.

14. Neither the players nor the coach was playing in their uniform.
Neither the players nor the coach was playing in his uniform.
She did your mention during the speech.
She did make mention of you during the speech.
I and you will go to market tomorrow.
You and I will go to market tomorrow.
My brother along with his friends is launching their new store next month.
My brother along with his friends is launching his new store next month.
They and we will not be traveling together.
We and they will not be traveling together.
Spot the Error

15. Either of the four tires must be damaged.
Each one of us should count our bags properly before boarding.
Few men are participating in the blood donation camp, isn’t he?
They did not go to Goa for vacations, isn’t it?
Both Reena as well as Sejal are appearing for exams next year.
Spot the Error

16. Either of the four tires must be damaged.
Anyone of the four tires must be damaged.
Each one of us should count our bags properly before boarding.
Each one of us should count his/her bags properly before boarding.
Few men are participating in the blood donation camp, isn’t he?
Few men are participating in the blood donation camp, are they?
They did not go to Goa for vacations, isn’t it?
They did not go to Goa for vacations, did they?
Both Reena as well as Sejal are appearing for exams next year.
Both Reena and Sejal are appearing for exams next year.
Spot the Error

17. I don’t believe in the words what he said.
I don’t believe in which he said.
Please mail it to I.
Every policeman and every fireman was in their place.
The horse fell and broke her leg.
Spot the Error

18. I don’t believe in the words what he said.
I don’t believe in the words which/that he said.
I don’t believe in which he said.
I don’t believe in what he said.
Please mail it to I.
Please mail it to me.
Every policeman and every fireman was in their place.
Every policeman and every fireman was in his place.
The horse fell and broke her leg.
The horse fell and broke its leg.
Spot the Error

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master English Grammar and Vocabulary , ace
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and perform well in Interviews.
We also conduct weekly online contests on
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