What is a pronoun?
Look at the word. It is two syllables. 'Pro' and 'noun.' Does that give you a hint?
A
pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun (or noun phrase -- a
groups of words that act as a noun). Look at these two sentences:
1. The tall man sat down.
2. He sat down.
There
is a pronoun in sentence #2. Do you know which word is the pronoun?
That's right! 'He' is the pronoun. It takes the place of the noun phrase
'The tall man".
Both sentences say the same
thing. The first sentence tells you that someone sat down. Who? The man.
The second sentence uses 'he' instead of 'the man.'
Here is another example:
I like Martina.
I like her.
The pronoun in the second sentence is 'her.' It refers to, and takes the place of, 'Martina.'
Personal Pronouns
There
are different types of pronouns (personal, possessive, reflexive,
demonstrative, relative.) The personal pronouns have two forms: Subject
and Object. If the noun (or noun phrase) is in the subject of the
sentence, the pronoun takes the subject form. If the noun is an object
in the sentence, the pronoun takes the object form. Here is a chart that
shows the forms:
| | Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun | Example |
| 1st person singular | male or female | I | me | I like cats.
Cats like me. |
| 2nd person singular | male or female | you | you | You are nice.
I like you. |
| 3rd person singular | male or female or neuter |
it |
it | He is exercising more.
It is good for him.
She fell down.
It hurt her.
It is on the table.
Julia saw it. |
| 1st person plural | male or female | we | us | We got on the train.
The train took us to Boston. |
| 2nd person plural | male or female | you | you | You are all good students.
I will give you a test tomorrow.
|
| 3rd person plural | male or female or neuter | they | them | They like to travel.
Traveling makes them happy. |