This document discusses different types of pronouns in English: subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns. It provides examples for each type and notes the differences between similar pronouns like subject and object pronouns. The document also includes a short exercise asking the reader to identify the correct pronoun or possessive adjective in various sentences.
2. Subject Pronouns
• Subject pronouns (I, you, we, they, he, she, it)
occur in the subject position of a sentence or after
the verb be. NOTE: also use the subject pronoun
after than, as, and that.
Examples:
I am going to the store.
It was she who called you. (after the verb be)
We students are going to have a party.
NOTE: we, you, and us can be followed directly by a
noun. In the above sentences we students makes it
more clear exactly who we refers to.
3. Object Pronouns
• Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it,
us, them) occur in the complement
position, whether they complement a verb
or a preposition. NOTE: You and It are the
same for subject of object position. The
others are different.
Examples:
They called us on the telephone.
The policeman was looking for him.
To us, it seems like a good bargain.
Mary is going to class with me.
4. • NOTE: remember that many prepositions can
also function as other parts of speech, like
adverbs or conjunctions.
Example:
Janet will make her presentation after him
Preposition object pronoun
Janet will make her presentation after
Preposition
he finishes his speech.
Subject pronoun
A clause contains a subject and a verb . In the clause above, he is the
subject and finishes is the verb.)
5. Possessive Adjectives
• Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its,
our, their) are not the same as possessive
pronouns. These simply modify, rather than
replace nouns. Possessive forms indicate
ownership. NOTE: Possessive adjectives are
used to refer to parts of a body.
Examples:
John is eating his dinner.
This is not my book.
The cat has injured its foot.
NOTE: Its is not the same as It’s. It’s means it is or
it has
6. Possessive Pronouns
• These pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs)
cannot precede a noun. They are pronouns and thus replace the
noun.
NOTE: mine = my + noun; my book
yours= your + noun; your pen
Examples:
This is my book. This is mine.
Your teacher is the same as his teacher. Your
teacher is the same as his.
Her dress is green and my dress is red. Her dress
is green and mine is red.
NOTE: His and its are the same whether they
precede a noun or not.
7. Reflexive Pronouns
• These pronouns (myself, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself,
itself, ourselves, themselves) usually follow the verb and
indicate that the subject is both giving and receiving the action.
NOTE: John bought him a new car. (him = another person)
John bought himself a new car. (himself = John)
Examples:
I washed myself.
We hurt ourselves playing football.
You yourself must do this homework.
She prepared the nine-course meal herself.
John washed the dishes by himself = John washed
the dishes alone
8. Circle the correct form of the pronoun or possessive
adjective in the following sentences.
1. I go to school with (he/him) everyday.
2. I see (she/her/herself) at the Union every Friday.
3. She speaks to (we/us/ourselves) every morning.
4. Isn’t (she/her) a nice person?
5. (He/Him) is going to New York on vacation.
6. (She/Her) and John gave the money to the boy.
7. (Yours/Your) record is scratched and (my/mine) is too.
8. I hurt (my/mine/the) leg.
9. John bought (himself/herself/ hisself) a new car.
10. (We/Us) girls are going camping over the weekend.
9. 11. Mr. Jones cut (hisself/himself) shaving.
12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.
13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.
14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.
15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if
you are not careful.
16. Marry and (I/me) would rather go to the
movies.
17. Just between you and (I/me), I don’t like this
food.
18. Monday is a holiday for (we/us) teachers.
19. Everyone has to do (tier/his) own research.
20. (Her/hers) car does not go as fast as
(our/ours).
10. 11. Mr. Jones cut (hisself/himself) shaving.
12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.
13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.
14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.
15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if
you are not careful.
16. Marry and (I/me) would rather go to the
movies.
17. Just between you and (I/me), I don’t like this
food.
18. Monday is a holiday for (we/us) teachers.
19. Everyone has to do (tier/his) own research.
20. (Her/hers) car does not go as fast as
(our/ours).