In this article I will explain the parts of speech, in this article focusing on pronouns.

Pronouns

A word used to refer to a PERSON or THING not by its actual name, but by another word that stands for it.  The word you use to stand for a noun is called a pronoun (which means for a noun).  The other types of pronouns commonly used in the English language are:

Personal pronouns (I, you, him etc),

Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, and itself), these are called reflexive because they reflect (look back like in a mirror) back to an earlier noun or pronoun.

Relative pronouns (who, whose, which, that, what and whom), these pronouns help to connect or relate one part of a sentence to another.  Interrogative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which and what) these pronouns help to ask questions or interrogate.

Demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those, and these point out a person or thing specifically (in detail).

Indefinite pronouns words like any, each, several, same, and many more.  These refer to people or things generally rather than specifically.

More pronoun exercises

Example of using a pronoun:

Jack plays his guitar every evening.

He is learning very fast.

He is a pronoun, and in this sentence it stands for Jack.

Other examples are: SHE, THEM, OR HIM.

Exercise to show use of pronouns:

When John stoked the cat and listened to it purring softly, he felt calm and peaceful.

Without pronouns the sentence would be like this:

When John stroked the cat and listened to the cat purring softly, John felt calm and peaceful

Find the Pronouns:

She went out to find them.                                    Answers:            She, them

We asked him if he was feeling better.                                           We, him, he

“I think this is yours,” she said.                                                        I, this, yours, she

You should ask her if she wants to join us.                                   You, her, she, us

It isn’t yours it’s mine!                                                                         It, yours, it mine

They took me home with them.                                                        They, me, them

We use pronouns so that we do not have to repeat the same nouns over and over again. They make speaking and writing much quicker and clearer.

Remember that “I” is the only pronoun that is always spelt with a capital letter.

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