pronoun
Pronoun: A word used in place of nouns is known as a pronoun.
Ex: I, we, you, she, it, they
Kinds of pronoun: pronoun are divided into eleven kinds:
- Personal pronoun
- Reflexive pronoun
- Emphatic pronoun
- Demonstrative pronoun
- Indefinite pronoun
- Interrogative
- Distributive pronoun
- Reciprocal pronoun
- Relative pronoun
- Relative compound pronoun
- Possessive pronouns
1. PERSONAL PRONOUN
A pronoun used for persons is known as personal pronoun.
- First person: A pronoun used for the person speaking is known as the first person.
Ex: I, we
- Second person: A pronoun used for the person spoken to is known as the second person
Ex: you
- Third person: A pronoun used for the person spoken of is known as the third person
Ex: he, she, it, they
I = Is used for first person singular both for Masculine and Feminine Gender.
Ex: I am a teacher
I went to Abuja last year.
We = Is used for first person plural both for Masculine and Feminine Gender.
Ex: we are Nigerians
We are studying medicine.
Me and Us: are used in the in the objective case for first person for singular and plural for Masculine and Feminine Gender.
Ex: she told Me a story.
He gave me a book.
They taught us music.
She kept us waiting.
You: is used in the second person for singular and plural both for Masculine and Feminine Gender.
Ex: You are a girl.
You were in Abuja last year.
I saw you yesterday.
He and Him: is used for Masculine Gender in third person singular in subjective case and "him" in the objective case.
Ex: He stopped smoking.
He is waiting for you.
I spoke to him last Saturday.
I want to marry him.
She and Her: is used in the third person singular for Feminine Gender in subjective case and her is used in the objective case.
Ex: She is my sister.
She was staying in her aunt's house.
I met her in a theater.
I wrote a letter to her.
They and Them: is used for third person plural for all Genders in the subjective case and them is used in the objective case.
Ex: They are working in a factory.
They were killed in the accident.
They have stayed there for three hours.
I told them my name.
He taught them English.
It: is used for things or animals in the third person singular for subjective and objective case.
Ex: it is a book
It was evening.
It is you whom I love much.
Please show it to me.
Give it to me.
I don't want to talk about it now.
2. REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun with self or selves to reflect the action of the the subject on itself is known as a Reflexive pronoun.
Ex: myself, yourself, yourselves, ourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves.
My + self. = myself
Your + self. = yourself
Your + selves. = yourselves
Our + selves. = ourselves
Him + self. = Himself
Ex: I saw myself in the mirror
We hurt ourselves.
You must know yourself.
He blamed himself for the delay.
3. EMPHATIC PRONOUN
4. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to point out the person or thing we talk about is known a Demonstrative pronoun.
EX: this, that, such, these, those,
Ex: thus is my friend's house.
These are my teacher's books.
Note: these words may be used as Adjective with Nouns and they are known as Demonstrative Adjectives.
EX: This house is mine.
These things are his.
5. INDEFINITE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to talk about a person or thing indefinitely is known as indefinite pronoun.
Ex: one, something, anybody, someone, none, somebody, everybody, anyone, nobody, all, another, anything, nothing, few, both, everyone, some, many, several, everything, other, any, no other, no
One: it is used in the third person with a singular verb.
Ex: one has to be careful about ones [not his] health.
One must know what one [not he] has to do.
One of my sisters is [not are] very beautiful.
None: it means not one, It may be used with a singular or plural verb but singular is commoner.
Ex: None of my parents is [or are] educated.
None of my sisters is [or are] beautiful.
Nobody: it means not one and it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Nobody helped me.
Nobody can be perfect in anything.
Nothing: it means not anything and it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Nothing is as sweat as honey.
Nothing has by been written about his early life.
Nothing can be achieved without a strong desire.
No one: it means not a single person and it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: No one is ready to help
No one can live without money.
Some: it is used with a plural verb.
Ex: some are born great.
Some achieve greatness by hard work.
Some failed in the exam.
Someone: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: someone opened the door.
Someone threw a stone at me.
Something: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: something must be done about it.
Something should be given to the patient.
Somebody: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: somebody escaped from prison.
Somebody took away my vespa.
Any: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Any [one] of you do that.
Anybody: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Anybody can speak in his mother tongue.
Anybody can tell you about my uncle.
Anything: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Have you got anything to teach us?
Have you brought anything for me from Abuja?
Anyone: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Can anyone of you teach me Fulani.
Can anyone of you tell me this address?
All: it is used with a plural verb.
Ex: All are equal in the eyes of law.
All of you can stay with me.
Few: it is used with a plural verb.
Ex: Few escaped from the danger.
Few attended the function.
Many: it is used with a plural verb.
Ex: many of us believe in Allah.
Many of the students are unmarried.
Many of them passed the exam.
Many of my poems are published.
Several: it is used with a plural verb.
Ex: several of the girls are beautiful.
Several of us have faith in God.
Several Nigerians are educated.
6. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to make a question is known as an interrogative pronoun .
Ex: who, whose, which, whom, what
Who: it is used only for person in subjective case.
Ex: Who was the first present of Nigeria?
Who is known as the father of the nation?
Whom: it is used for persons in the objective case.
Ex: whom do you want to see?
Whom do you wish to marry?
Whose: it is used in the possessive case.
Ex: whose are these books?
Whose handwriting is this?
Which: it is used both for animals and things.
Ex: which is the longest river in Nigeria?
Which is the tallest building in Nigeria?
What: it is used for things.
Ex: what do you expect me to do?
What can I give you?
What are you and who are you: ‘what are you’ refers to your profession and ‘who are you’ refers to your name and other particulars.
Ex: what is she? She is a teacher.
Who is she? She is Maryam.
What + be + like: it is used to make a request for a description.
Ex: what is the day like? The day is very hot.
What is she like? She is clever and beautiful with pleasant manner.
What does he/she/it look like: it is used to talk about physical appearance.
Ex: what does your father look like? He looks like a doctor.
What does the sky look like? It looks dark and cloudy.
What + for: it is used in the sense of why.
Ex: What are you doing it for? [It means: why are you doing it?]
Sometimes ‘ever’ is used with interrogative pronouns to express surprise, astonishment, anger, irritation and dismay.
Ex: whoever told you that? (worry)
Whoever spoiled my papers?(irritation)
Whatever are you doing in my room? (irritation)
Note: this type of question always express disapproval on the part of the speaker.
7. DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to talk about each and every person separately is known as a Distributive pronoun.
Ex: each, either, none, both, everyone, every, neither, any,one, everybody, everything
Each: Each refers to every one of a number of persons or things taken separately. Each means each without exception. Each is used in speaking about two or more things and it is used to pay attention to the individuals forming a group. Each is used if the number in the group is limited and definite.
Ex: Each of us has a book.
Each should love his own country.
Every: Every is used only in speaking of more than two and when the number is indefinite.
Ex: Every (one) of the Nigerians is brave.
Every (one) of the citizens should defend his motherland.
Everybody: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Everybody in the house was hungry.
Everybody is interested with this blog.
Everyone: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Everyone love him.
Everyone is the theater clapped with joy.
Everything: it is used with a singular verb.
Ex: Everything was lost in the war.
she lost everything in life.
Either: Either means the one or the other of the two and it is used only in speaking about two persons or things.
Ex: Either of my two sisters is beautiful.
Either of you can answer my question.
Neither: Neither means not the one or the other of the two and it is the negative of the either. it is used to talk about only two persons or things.
Ex: Neither of my parents go there.
Neither of us passed the exam.
None: it is used with a singular verb to talk about more than two persons or things.
Ex: None of the girls is married.
None of my stories was (or were) published.
Note: Technically speaking, the word none is used with a plural verb but a singular verb is preferable. It doesn't matter whether the verb is singular or plural but the sentence must be consistent.
Any: it is used to talk about note than two persons or things.
Ex: Any (one) of the books will tell you about Nigeria.
Any (one) of my sisters can help you.
8. RECIPROCAL PRONOUN
A pronoun used to talk about mutual relationship is known as a Reciprocal pronoun.
Ex: each other, one another
Each other: it is used to talk about two persons.
Ex: The two brothers loved each other.
When I asked for my money, the brothers looked at each other.
One another: it is used to talk about more than two persons or things.
Ex: All the brothers in my uncle's family quarrel with one another.
They love one another.
9. RELATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to combine or relate sentences or clauses together is known as a Relative pronoun.
Ex: who, which, as, whom, what, but, whose, that
Who: it is used as a subject for persons.
Ex: The man who helped you is my brother.
The boy who talked to you is my son.
Whom: it is used for persons as an object.
Ex: The girl whom you wanted to marry is a teacher in a Government College Kaduna
The woman whom you met in the hospital is my mother.
Whose: it is used for the persons in the possessive case.
Ex: The The girl whose father died in an accident is my course mate.
The man whose simplicity and discipline influenced me much is a great social worker.
Which: it is used for things both as subject and object.
Ex: The poems which I wrote were praised by all.
The speech which I heard at the meeting influenced me much.
What: It is used only for things.
Ex: What he told us is not true.
What I like in Charles in his simplicity.
What cannot be cured must be endured.
That: It is used for persons and things.
Ex: This is the girl that I talked about.
The book that you gave me is not interesting.
As: It is used as a Relative pronoun with such or the same.
Ex: Deeni is such a boy as I like.
She gave me such a reply as I expected.
But: it can be used as a Relative pronoun in the sense of who...not and which...not.
Ex: There is no girl but loves jewels. (who doesn't love)
There is no Nigerian but feels proud of his country. (Who doesn't not feel proud)
10. RELATIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun which is compounded with the word ever is known as a Relative Compound Pronoun.
Ex: whoever, whenever, whichever, wherever, whatever, however
Whoever: it means no matter who the person is.
Ex: whoever comes, tell them at the door.
Whoever speaks the best wins the first prize.
Whichever: it means no matter which it is.
Ex: I shall give you whichever book you like.
I have no objection to eat whichever food you give me.
Whatever: It means no matter what it is.
Ex: I don't want to hear whatever explanation you give me.
I want my money back whatever problems you have.
Wherever: It means no matter where it is.
Ex: I shall never forget you wherever I go.
He inspires everybody wherever he woks.
11. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
A pronoun used to express possession or ownership is known as a possessive pronoun.
Ex: mine, his, theirs, ours, yours, hers, its
Note: my, our, your, his, her, its, their are used before Nouns, because, they are possessive Adjective and mine, ours, his, yours, its, hers, theirs, are used after Nouns because they are possessive pronouns.
Possessive Adjectives
This is my book.
This our garden.
Possessive pronouns
This book is mine.
This garden is ours.
THE PRONOUN 'IT' AND ITS USAGE
it: is used to talk about things and animals.
Ex: I have a cat. It is very beautiful.
My uncle presented me a watch. It was made in Nigeria.
it is used for young children whose sex cannot be determined.
Ex: A child cries when it gets hungry.
My sister's baby is very clever. It recognises its mother.
It: is sometimes used to lay stress or emphasis.
Ex: It was Kayode who attended the congress of world Religion in Rigasa.
It was mother theresa who got Nobel peace prize.
The above sentences may be rewritten as:
Kayode attended the congress if world Religion in Rigasa.
Mother theresa got the Nobel peace prize.
It: is used to talk about time, distance, weather, temperature,
Ex: it is raining today.
It was hot yesterday.
It was noisy in the room.
It: is used to refer to a previous statement.
Ex: She loved her. She knew it.
He cheated us. He admitted it.
It: is used as preparatory subject when 'to' infinitive is the subject of a verb. Thus type of structure is commonly used to express various conceptions such as importance, difficulty, possibility, usefulness, frequency, time, mental reactions, truth, convenient and appearance.
Ex: It is nice to talk to you.
It is difficult to locate your house.
Note: It is not possible to write the following sentences like this:
Ex: that she has left her husband is strange.
That he will win in the elections in certain.
But the above sentences must be re-written like this:
It is strange that she has left her husband.
It is certain that he will win the election.
In the same way, it is wrong to write or speak like this:
To speak In English is easy.
To write a story is difficult.
But we must say:
It is easy to speak in English.
It is difficult to write a story.
It: may be used as a preparatory object.
Ex: I feel it unnecessary to go there.
I thought it foolish to think about her.
It: may also be used in other Noun clauses.
Ex: It doesn't surprise me that he passed.
It doesn't matter whether she will marry me.
It is surprise that she hated him.
It: is used as a preparatory subject with Gerund.
Ex: It is very nice flying kites in the sky.
It I crazy watching a cricket match.
It: is used to write sentences with 'as if' and 'as though'.
Ex: it seems as if she were going to marry him.
It looks as if Antonia were alive now.
It appears as though she were talking to me.
It: is used with sentences begins with 'it is time + subject + past'.
Ex: it is high time the Government took some action.
It is high time he realised his mistake.
It: is used in the structure 'for + object + infinitive'.
Ex: it I important for you to talk to your brother.
It is painful for me to think about Authonia's death.
It: is used in the structure 'it + be + adjective + of + Noun/pronoun + to infinitive'.
Ex: it I very kind of you to help me.
It is very clever of you to answer the questions.
|
Name of Gender |
Type of Noun |
pronoun |
|
|
Masculine/ Human |
Boy, Man |
He |
They |
|
Feminine / Human |
Girl, Woman |
She |
They |
|
Neuter / lifeless things |
Things, idea |
it |
They |
|
Common |
Teacher, friend |
He or She |
They |
|
Masculine |
Male, Animals |
He or She |
They |
|
Feminine |
Female, Animals |
She or It |
They |
|
Common |
Children and Animals of either sex baby, child, elephant |
He or She |
They |
|
Neuter |
Collective Nouns, Team, class |
It |
They |
|
|
Uncountable Nouns, Music, poetry |
It |
They |
|
|
Nouns used in plural spectacles scissiors |
No singular |
They |
|
PERSONAL
PRONOUN |
||||
|
Nominative |
Accusative |
Possessive Adjective |
Possessive pronoun |
Reflexive pronoun |
|
I |
ME |
MY |
MINE |
MYSELF |
|
YOU |
YOU |
YOUR |
YOURS |
YOURSELF |
|
HE |
HIM |
HIS |
HIS |
HIMSELF |
|
SHE |
HE |
HER |
HERS |
HERSELF |
|
IT |
IT |
ITS |
ITS |
ITSELF |
|
ONE |
ONE |
ONE’S |
ONE’S |
ONESELF |
|
WE |
US |
OUR |
OURS |
OURSELVES |
|
YOU |
YOU |
YOUR |
YOURS |
YOURSELVES |
|
THEY |
THEM |
THEIR |
THEIRS |
THEMSELVES |
|
WHO |
WHOM |
WHOSE |
WHOSE |
|
|
WHICH |
WHICH |
OF WHICH OR WHOSE |
OF WHICH OR WHOSE |
|
|
THAT |
THAT |
|
OF WHICH |
|
|
WHAT |
WHAT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOUN |
CORRESPONDING PRONOUN |
|
Man/boy/everyone/everybody/every person |
He/him/his/him/himself |
|
Woman/girl/every woman/every girl |
She/her/hers/herself |
|
A thing / an animal |
It/its/itself |
|
one |
One/one’s/oneself |
|
Men/women/people/animal/thing |
They/them/their/theirs/themselves |
|
you |
You/your/yours/yourself |
|
we |
We/us/our/ours/ourselves |
B. GUIDENCE ABOUT
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
The pronoun should agree with the Noun in number, gender and person.
Ex: Isa is my friend. He is in the hospital.
Shamsu is my friend. He loves me much.
My friends are very kind. They helped me much.
When two Nouns connected by and refer to the same person or thing, the pronoun must be singular.
Ex: the writer and editor published his poems.
Buying and selling is his business.
If the Nouns combined by and refer to two different persons or things, a plural pronoun must be used.
Ex: the president and the party chairman had their interview on T.V yesterday.
The teacher and the principal delivered their speeches at the function.
If the Nouns are connected by each and every the pronoun must be singular.
Ex: Either Victoria or Abike has left her handbag.
Neither coroline nor funmi has done her work.
Ameera or Amina aired her views about marriage.
If a singular Noun is combined with a plural Noun by or, nor, either-or, neither-nor, the pronoun must be plural.
Ex: Neither the principal nor the teachers are interested in their duties.
Either kayoed or the other students have helped their teacher.
The correct form of pronoun (subjective and objective case)
Must be used after than or a verb.
Ex: she loves me more than I love her.
She invited my friend and me (not I) to the party.
The correct order of pronouns and their persons must be maintained.
Ex: you and I shall go there.
My mother and I consulted the doctor.
Double possessive may be used correctly.
Ex: Zahraddeen is a friend of mine.
We have a book of yours.
After a preposition the pronoun must be in the objective case.
Ex: Nobody but Vitoria helped me. [not I]
She loves none but me. [not I]
Reflexive pronoun should never be used as subjects or object.
Ex: Tijjani and myself edited a film yesterday. [right]
Myself met the manager. [wrong]
I met the manager. [right]
Yourself broke the chair. [wrong]
You broke the chair. [right]
Reflexive pronouns may be used after prepositions.
Ex: He looked after himself.
They quarreled among themselves.
Relative pronoun
|
Antecedent |
Relative pronoun |
Type of function |
|
person |
Who |
Subject of the verb in Adjective clause |
|
person |
Whom |
Object of the verb in the Adjective clause object of a pre- -position |
|
Person or |
Whose |
Indication of possession of ownership thing |
|
Person or thing |
that |
Subject or object of a verb |
|
things |
which |
Subject or object of a verb object To a preposition |
Relative pronoun
|
form |
subject |
object |
Possessive
case |
|
For person |
Who |
Who/whom |
whose |
|
That |
That |
|
|
|
For things |
Which |
Which |
Whose/of which |
|
|
That |
That |
Whose/of which |
C. RELATIVE PRONOUN
Defining Relative clauses
Who: it is used as a subject for person.
Ex: the woman who invited you to dinner is my aunt.
The film is about a man who wants to destroy the entire mankind.
Whom: it is used for persons as an object and it is sometimes replaced by who or that and on some other occasions, the relative pronoun is omitted.
Ex: the girl with whom you wanted to marry is a teacher in a convent school.
The poet whom you liked very much is my younger brother .
With prepositions:
Ex: the girl with whom you are staying in the hostel is my friend’s sister.
The man from whom I received this letter is a doctor in America.
Whose: it is used for persons in the possessive case.
Ex: the girl with whose father died in the accident wanted to marry me.
The firm star whose husband was a famous doctor was murdered yesterday.
Which: it is used for things both as singular and object.
Ex: this is the book which I liked very much.
The poems which I wrote were praised by all.
Preposition + which:
Ex: the house in which I am staying is very nice.
The bus for which I was waiting was late.
Note: the above sentence may be rewritten with “that” or without a Relative pronoun.
Ex: The house I was staying in …….
The house I was staying in ……..
The bus that I was waiting for ………..
The bus I was waiting for ……….
What: it is used only for things.
Ex: what I like in Hamz is his simplicity.
What attracted me muh in Victoria is her brilliance.
It is/was +
Noun/pronoun + Relative clause.
Ex: it is my mother who encourage me in life.
It was yunus that loved me much.
Note: the above sentence can also be written like this.
My mother encouraged me in life.
I loved yusuf much.
The first/second/last+who: A Relative clause is sometimes replaced by an infinitive.
Ex: wole Soyinka was the first Nigerian writer who received Nobel prize.
I was the second person who spoke at the meeting.
Note: these sentences can be rewritten like this:
Wole Soyinka was the first Nigerian writer to receive novel prize.
I was the second person to speak at the meeting.
Note: A passive construction is sometimes possible.
I have a lot of letters to write / to be written.
She has a lot of work to do / be done.
These sentence can be rewritten like this: I have a lot of letters that / which I must write.
She has a lot of work that / which she must do.
Note: A relative clause is very often replaced by a present participle when the verb is continuous Tense.
People who are applying for permission may consult the doctor.
Girls who are wishing to meet the principal must wait for sometime.
Note: they can be rewritten like this.
People applying for permission may consult the doctor.
Girls wishing to meet the principal must wait for sometime.
Non Defining Relative Clauses
A clause which is placed after a noun which has already been defined and only gives some more information about the noun is known as a Non Defining Clause.
A Non Defining clause is always separated by commas.
Use for persons
Who: it is for subject.
Ex: My Father, who is a doctor in America, wanted to come back to Nigeria.
Mother Theresa, who is reputed as a great social worker , received Nobel prize for her service to the sick and the needy.
Note: the above sentence can be rewritten as:
My father is a doctor in America and he wanted to come back to Nigeria.
Mother Theresa is reputed as a great social worker and she received Novel prize for her service to the sick and the needy.
Note: A Relative clause may sometimes be placed after the object of the main verb.
Ex: Adanna wanted to marry Charles Okoro who is a professor in Lagos University.
I interviewed Rabilu Danibro who is a famous film star.
Whom: it is used as an object.
Ex: Mina, whom I loved as my wife, died three years ago.
My father, whom I always respect, does not try to understand me.
Whom + preposition:
Ex: my mother, for whom I have great love and respect, likes me much.
Amechi, about whom I was always worried, died two years ago.
Note: these sentences may be rewritten like this.
My mother, I have great love and respect for, loves me much,
Amechi, I was always worried about, died three years ago.
Whose: is it used for persons in possessive case.
Ex: Charles Ikeaka, whose novels are very popular, is an indo-Africa writer.
I like munir, whose brother is going to England to study law.
Note: these sentences can be written like this:
Charles Ikeaka is an Indo-African writer and his novels are very popular.
I liked munir and his brother was going to England to study law.
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