Pronouns
Master the core pronoun types with clear rules, colorful visuals, and practical examples.
What Are Pronouns?
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences smoother. Examples include he, she, it, they, who, and which.
Main Types of Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
I, you, he, she, it, we, they
Me, you, him, her, it, us, them
Possessive Pronouns
Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs
Reflexive Pronouns
Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Interrogative Pronouns
Who, whom, whose, what, which
Demonstrative Pronouns
This, that, these, those
Relative/Indefinite Pronouns
Who, whom, whose, which, that; someone, anyone, everyone, something, nothing, each
Examples in Sentences
She found the book, then gave it to him.
The decision is theirs, not ours.
Who is presenting, and which topic will they start with?
These are mine; those are yours.
I taught myself to code.
Memory Tricks & Tips
Who vs Whom
If you can answer with he or she, use who. If the answer is him or her, use whom (m = him).
Demonstratives Distance
This/These are close; That/Those are far. Think: the letter t in "that" points to the distance.
Reflexive Ending
All reflexives end with "-self" or "-selves"; if not, it's probably not reflexive.
Possessives Have No Apostrophes
Use its (no apostrophe) for possession; it's = it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun, like "it" or "they", to avoid repetition.
What's the difference between "who" and "whom"?
Use "who" for the subject and "whom" for the object. Try substituting "he/she" vs "him/her".
Is "it's" a possessive pronoun?
No. "It's" means "it is" or "it has". The possessive pronoun is "its" without an apostrophe.
What are demonstrative pronouns?
They point to things: "this," "that," "these," "those."
Can a pronoun be ambiguous?
Yes. If it is unclear what a pronoun refers to, rewrite the sentence or repeat the noun.
What are reflexive pronouns used for?
They refer back to the subject: "I taught myself," "She prepared herself."
Are "whoever" and "whichever" pronouns?
Yes. They are compounds often used to refer to an unspecified person or thing.
What's the difference between possessive adjectives and pronouns?
Adjectives come before nouns (my car); pronouns stand alone (the car is mine).
Related Topics
Quick Reference
Pro Tip
Check pronoun-antecedent agreement: number, person, and gender should match.