pronoun

Everyday

1. A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun, so we don't have to repeat it, like «he», «she», «it», «they», «we», «you» and «I». tree →
2. Possessive pronouns show who something belongs to: «mine», «yours», «hers», «ours», «theirs». tree →
3. Relative pronouns like «who», «which» and «that» join extra information to a noun: «the girl who won». tree →

In the lessons

In English grammar lessons pupils replace nouns with pronouns to avoid repetition, and make sure it is clear who the pronoun means. Phrases: «personal pronoun», «possessive pronoun», «relative pronoun», «reflexive pronoun» («myself», «themselves»). In everyday life some people tell others which pronouns to use for them, such as «she/her», «he/him» or «they/them», and it is kind to use them.

Examples

• «She» is a pronoun in «She is my sister». tree →
• Replace «the dog» with a pronoun: «It barked». tree →
• «Mine» is a possessive pronoun. tree →
• «Who» is a relative pronoun in «the boy who laughed». tree →
• «Myself» is a reflexive pronoun. tree →
• Too many pronouns can confuse the reader about who is who. tree →
• «They» can be used for one person whose gender you don't know. tree →

Note

Plural «pronouns». Traps: «its» (no apostrophe) is the possessive; «it's» means «it is». Use «I» as a subject and «me» as an object: «Sam and I went», «he gave it to Sam and me». «Their», «there» and «they're» sound the same but mean different things.

In Jewish tradition

In English grammar lessons pupils replace nouns with pronouns to avoid repetition, and make sure it is clear who the pronoun means. Phrases: «personal pronoun», «possessive pronoun», «relative pronoun», «reflexive pronoun» («myself», «themselves»). In everyday life some people tell others which pronouns to use for them, such as «she/her», «he/him» or «they/them», and it is kind to use them.

Note

Plural «pronouns». Traps: «its» (no apostrophe) is the possessive; «it's» means «it is». Use «I» as a subject and «me» as an object: «Sam and I went», «he gave it to Sam and me». «Their», «there» and «they're» sound the same but mean different things.