Pronouns in English Grammar – A Complete Guide

 1. Pronouns in English Grammar –

A Complete Guide The usage of pronouns in English is a fundamental aspect of grammar that plays a crucial role in ensuring clarity and coherence in writing. Understanding the different types of pronouns, such as personal, possessive, demonstrative, and indefinite pronouns, is essential for effective communication. By mastering the rules governing pronoun usage, writers can enhance the quality of their language and convey their intended message with precision and accuracy. 🌟 Pronouns in English Grammar – A Complete Guide

🔤 Mastering Pronouns: Definition, Types, Examples,Rules & Practice

2.Introduction

Hey learners!

Do you sometimes get confused between he, him,his, or wonder what’s the difference between this and that?

Don’t worry—you’re not alone! Pronouns can be tricky at first, but once you understand how they work, they make your English sound natural and fluent.

While learning English grammar, one of the first things we encounter is the concept of pronouns. These are the building blocks of effective communication and help in making our language smooth, elegant, and less repetitive.In this detailed post, we’ll explore what pronouns are, their types, examples in use, common errors to avoid, and lots of practicecontent to master the concept.

3.What is a Pronoun?

 Definition:

A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun to avoid repetition and make sentences shorter and more meaningful.

Pronoun (सर्वनाम) वह शब्द होता है जो किसी noun (संज्ञा) के स्थान पर प्रयोग किया जाता है।

4. Why Do We Use Pronouns?

Imagine writing like this:

Ravi is a good boy. Ravi studies in class 10. Ravi plays football.

Sounds odd, right?

Instead, we can say:

Ravi is a good boy. He studies in class 10. He plays football.

Here, the word “he” is a pronoun that replaces “Ravi”.

 Think of a Pronoun Like a Shortcut

Instead of saying the same noun again and again, a pronoun gives us a quick way to refer to that noun. This makes the sentence easier to read and understand.

4.Why Are Pronouns Important?

Pronouns make our speech and writing:

• Cleaner
• Smoother
• More natural

They’re the secret tool of every fluent speaker. Imagine having to say the same noun over and over—it’s tiring and awkward. Pronouns save us from that!

5. Types of Pronouns with Examples

Let’s break down the different types of pronouns with definitions, Hindi meaning, examples, and usage.

1️.Personal Pronouns (व्यक्तिगत सर्वनाम)

Used to represent specific people or things.

Person	Subject Pronoun	Object Pronoun	Example	Hindi Meaning
First	I, we	me, us	I am ready. / He saw me.	मैं, हम / मुझे, हमें
Second	you	you	You are nice. / I like you.	तुम, आप / तुम्हें
Third	he, she, it, they	him, her, it, them	He is tall. / I know them.	वह, वे / उसे, उन्हें

 Usage Example:

We are going to the park. (subject)

She helped me in my work. (object)

 2️. Possessive Pronouns 

Possessive pronouns show ownership or possession. They tell us who something belongs to.

 In Hindi, these are like मेरा, तुम्हारा, उसका, हमारा, तुम्हारा, उनका, etc.

There are two forms you must understand:

🧾 Type	👀 Example	🔤 Hindi
✅ Possessive Adjectives – come before a noun	This is my book.	मेरी किताब
✅ Possessive Pronouns – stand alone, replace the noun	This book is mine.	यह किताब मेरी है

📚 Full Table:

Subject	Possessive Adjective	Possessive Pronoun	Example 1	Example 2
I	my	mine	This is my pen.	This pen is mine.
You	your	yours	That’s your seat.	That seat is yours.
He	his	his	That’s his shirt.	That shirt is his.
She	her	hers	It’s her bag.	The bag is hers.
It	its	—	The dog hurt its leg.	(No pronoun form)
We	our	ours	Our house is big.	That house is ours.
They	their	theirs	Their room is clean.	That room is theirs.

 Note: “Its” doesn’t have a possessive pronoun form.

 Never write it’s instead of its (that means “it is”).

 More Examples:

Is this your file? No, it’s his.

We lost our match, but they won theirs.

I like my dress. Do you like yours?

 3️⃣Reflexive Pronouns –Referring Back to the Subject

(myself, yourself…)

A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing.

 In Hindi: स्वयं, खुद, अपने आप, etc.

🔄 Structure:

Subject + verb +reflexive pronoun

🧾 Table:

Subject	Reflexive Pronoun	Hindi Meaning	Example
I	myself	स्वयं / खुद	I hurt myself.
You	yourself	स्वयं / खुद	You should trust yourself.
He	himself	स्वयं / खुद	He blamed himself.
She	herself	स्वयं / खुद	She dressed herself.
It	itself	स्वयं (जड़ वस्तु)	The cat cleaned itself.
We	ourselves	स्वयं / खुद	We enjoyed ourselves.
You (plural)	yourselves	स्वयं / खुद	You should behave yourselves.
They	themselves	स्वयं / खुद	They introduced themselves.

 Use reflexive pronouns when:

The subject does something to itself

You want to emphasize the doer of the action

📝 Examples in Use:

I made this cake myself. (emphasis)

She looked at herself in the mirror.

We taught ourselves French.

Don’t hurt yourself with that knife.

The baby can’t feed itself.

✅ Correct:

He talked to himself.

 ❌ Wrong: He talked to him.

 4️.Demonstrative Pronouns –

(This, That, These, Those)

What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to specific people or things. These words help us show what we’re talking about—whether it’s something near or far, singular or plural.

👉 In Hindi, these are

translated as: यह, वह, ये, वे

🔤 The 4 Main Demonstrative Pronouns:

Pronoun	Number	Distance	Hindi Meaning	Example
This	Singular	Near	यह	This is my pen.
That	Singular	Far	वह	That is your house.
These	Plural	Near	ये	These are sweet mangoes.
Those	Plural	Far	वे	Those are his books.

How to Use Them:

Think of demonstrative pronouns as “pointing fingers” in your sentence.

You use them to show something — either physically (like pointing at an

object) or while speaking or writing.

 Real-Life Situations:

 Talking to a friend:

This is my notebook. (holding it in hand)

That is your umbrella. (pointing to a distant corner)

 Talking in a classroom:

These are today’s assignments.

Those were yesterday’s questions.

 Helpful Trick to Remember:

Near You	Far From You
This (1)	That (1)
These (2+)	Those (2+)

 If it’s close, use

“this” or “these”. If it’s far, use “that” or “those”.

❌ Common Mistakes and ✅ Corrections:

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why?
This books are mine.	These books are mine.	“Books” is plural → use “these”
That people are shouting.	Those people are shouting.	“People” is plural → use “those”
These is good.	This is good. (if singular)	“Is” = singular → use “this”

 5️. Interrogative Pronouns – 

What are Interrogative Pronouns?

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They stand in place of the noun we are asking about.

 In Hindi, these are similar to: “कौन, क्या, कौन-सा, किसका” etc.

These pronouns don’t give answers—they ask for them!

 The Main Interrogative Pronouns:

Pronoun	Hindi Meaning	Used for	Example
Who	कौन	Asking about a person (subject)	Who is knocking at the door?
Whom	किसे / किसको	Asking about a person (object)	Whom did you meet yesterday?
Whose	किसका / किसकी	Asking about possession	Whose book is this?
What	क्या	Asking about things, ideas	What is your name?
Which	कौन-सा	Choosing between options	Which color do you prefer?

 Let’s Break Them Down

 1. Who vs. Whom

Pronoun	Function	Example
Who	Subject	Who is calling you? (कौन)
Whom	Object	Whom are you calling? (किसे)

 Tip: Try

answering the question with “he/she” or “him/her”

He is calling → use Who

You are calling him → use Whom

2. Whose

Used to ask about ownership or possession.

  Examples:

Whose shoes are these? (ये जूते किसके हैं?)

Whose idea was this? (यह विचार किसका था?)

3. What

Used to ask about  things, information, or definitions.

  Examples:

What is your name?

What are you doing?

What is the time?

 Don’t confuse What with Which!

 4. Which

Used when there is a choice between options.

 (जब विकल्प हो)

Examples:

Which subject do you like—Math or Science?

Which way should we go?

 Comparison Table: What vs. Which

Context	Use “What”	Use “Which”
Asking freely (no options given)	What is your favorite food?
Choosing from known options		Which do you prefer: tea or coffee?

 Examples of All Interrogative Pronouns in Sentences

Sentence	Meaning in Hindi
Who opened the window?	खिड़की किसने खोली?
Whom are you talking to?	तुम किससे बात कर रहे हो?
Whose phone is ringing?	किसका फोन बज रहा है?
What do you want to eat?	तुम क्या खाना चाहते हो?
Which movie do you want to watch?	तुम कौन-सी फिल्म देखना चाहते हो?

Common Mistakes Learners Make

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct	Why?
Who are you talking to? (OK in casual English)	Whom are you talking to?	“Whom” is object
What of these books is yours?	Which of these books is yours?	“Which” is used for selection
Whose is this pen belongs to?	Whose pen is this?	Avoid double possession

6️. Relative Pronouns (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम)

 What is a Relative Pronoun?

A relative pronoun is a word that connects a dependent clause (extra information) to a noun or pronoun that came earlier in the sentence.

 It relates one part of the sentence to another.

 Common relative

pronouns:       who, whom, whose, which, that

Pronoun	Used For	Example	Hindi Meaning
who	People (subject)	The teacher who helped me is kind.	जो व्यक्ति
whom	People (object)	The girl whom I met was polite.	जिसे
whose	Possession	The boy whose pen I borrowed is absent.	जिसका
which	Things or animals	The book which you gave me is amazing.	जो वस्तु
that	People/things	This is the phone that I lost.	जो

🔍 Focus on “That” and “Which

Both “that” and “which”

are used for things (not people) to add more information about a noun.

In Hindi:

“That” and “Which” can both be translated as:

               👉 जो / जिसे / जो कि /

               जो वाला / जो चीज़ etc., depending on the context.

 

🧱 Basic Difference: “That” vs. “Which”

🔤 Pronoun	💡 Type of Clause	💬 Use	✅ Example	🇮🇳 Hindi
That	Restrictive (necessary)	To give essential information about the noun	The book that I borrowed is amazing.	वह किताब जो मैंने उधार ली
Which	Non-restrictive (extra info)	To give additional, non-essential info	The book, which I borrowed from Ravi, is amazing.	वह किताब, जो मैंने रवि से ली थी

🔍 What’s a Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive Clause?

1. Restrictive Clause (Essential)

Gives important information. Without it, the sentence loses its meaning.

✅ Use “that”

👉 No comma is used.

🧾 Example:

The car that has a dent belongs to me.

                (There are many cars; you are identifying a specific one.)

2. Non-Restrictive Clause

(Non-Essential)

Gives extra information. The sentence is still complete without it.

✅ Use “which”

👉 Always use commas before and after.

🧾 Example:

The car, which is red, belongs to me.

                (The color is extra information—it doesn’t define the car.)

🧪 Side-by-Side Examples:

With “That”	With “Which”
I liked the movie that you recommended. (You recommended many? I liked one specific one.)	I liked the movie, which you recommended, very much. (Just extra info—you recommended it, but I liked it anyway.)
The phone that stopped working is new.	The phone, which I bought yesterday, stopped working.

🚫 Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong Sentence	✅ Correct Sentence	Why?
The book which I lost is mine.	The book that I lost is mine.	“Which” shouldn’t be used in restrictive clauses.
The phone, that is blue, is expensive.	The phone, which is blue, is expensive.	“That” doesn’t go with non-restrictive clauses.

🎯 Quick Rules to Remember

✅ Use “that”:

When the clause is necessary for meaning

No commas are used

Mostly in spoken or informal English

✅ Use “which”:

When the clause gives extra (optional) info

Use commas

Often used in formal writing

💡 Pro Tip:

If removing the clause still leaves a clear sentence—

👉 Use “which”

If removing it changes the meaning or makes it unclear—

👉 Use “that”

7️.  Indefinite Pronouns (अनिश्चयवाचक सर्वनाम)

Indefinite pronouns refer to people or things in a general or non-specific way. We

use them when we don’t name exactly who or what we are talking about.

✨ Why “Indefinite”?

Because they don’t refer to any particular person or object.

📚 Indefinite Pronouns List – with Hindi Meaning & Examples

🔹 A. People – व्यक्तियों के लिए

Pronoun	Hindi Meaning	Example
Someone	कोई (एक व्यक्ति)	Someone is knocking at the door.
Somebody	कोई (व्यक्ति)	Somebody called you.
Anyone	कोई भी	Can anyone help me?
Anybody	कोई भी (व्यक्ति)	Did anybody see my phone?
No one	कोई नहीं	No one came to the party.
Nobody	कोई भी नहीं	Nobody knows the answer.
Everyone	हर कोई	Everyone is present today.
Everybody	सभी लोग	Everybody loves a good story.

🔹 B. Things – वस्तुओं के लिए

Pronoun	Hindi Meaning	Example
Something	कुछ	I need something to drink.
Anything	कुछ भी	Do you want anything from the shop?
Nothing	कुछ नहीं	There is nothing in the box.
Everything	सब कुछ	Everything is ready for the event.

🔹 C. Quantity/Group – समूह या संख्या के लिए

Pronoun	Hindi Meaning	Example
Each	प्रत्येक	Each student received a certificate.
Either	कोई एक (दो में से)	You can choose either option.
Neither	कोई नहीं (दो में से)	Neither of the answers is correct.
Both	दोनों	Both were equally responsible.
Many	कई	Many were invited to the function.
Few	कुछ (कम)	Few understood the lesson clearly.
Several	अनेक	Several students passed with honors.
All	सभी	All are welcome here.
Some	कुछ	Some of the books are missing.
None	कोई नहीं	None of the food was wasted.

✅ Subject-Verb Agreement (Singular or Plural?)

Pronoun Type	Usually Singular	Usually Plural	Depends on Context
People/Things	someone, anyone, nobody, each, everything	many, few, several, both	all, some, none

📌 Examples:

Everyone is happy today. ✅ (singular verb)

Few are coming to the

party. ✅ (plural verb)

None of the milk is left. ✅ (milk =uncountable)

None of the students are present. ✅ (students =plural)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why?
Everyone are present.	Everyone is present.	“Everyone” is singular.
Somebody have taken your phone.	Somebody has taken your phone.	“Somebody” = singular.
None of the apples is ripe.	None of the apples are ripe.	“Apples” is plural.
Many of the book is missing.	Many of the books are missing.	“Many” + plural noun.

8️.Reciprocal Pronouns (पारस्परिक सर्वनाम)

(each other, one another)

Reciprocal pronouns are used when two or more people do the same action to each

other—they share or exchange the action.

📖 Hindi meaning: एक-दूसरे / एक-दूसरे से / एक-दूसरे को

✅ Only Two Reciprocal Pronouns in English:

Pronoun	When to Use
Each other	When referring to two people or things
One another	When referring to more than two

📌 Note: In modern usage, both are often used interchangeably.

🔁 Examples:

Sentence	Hindi Translation
Ravi and Mohan help each other.	रवि और मोहन एक-दूसरे की मदद करते हैं।
The two sisters love each other.	दोनों बहनें एक-दूसरे को प्यार करती हैं।
The students shared notes with one another.	छात्रों ने एक-दूसरे से नोट्स बाँटे।
We must support one another in difficult times.	हमें मुश्किल समय में एक-दूसरे का साथ देना चाहिए।

🧠 Tip for Learners:

If there are only two people, prefer using each other.

For more than two, use one another—especially in formal writing.

✅ These pronouns make your writing sound natural and fluent, especially when showing    mutual actions or feelings.

9️. Distributive Pronouns (विभाजक सर्वनाम)

Refer to individual members in a group.

Pronoun	Example
each	Each of the students passed.
either	Either of the roads leads home.
neither	Neither of them was present.

🚫 Common Errors with Pronouns

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Explanation
Me went to school.	I went to school.	“Me” cannot be used as a subject.
This book is your’s.	This book is yours.	No apostrophe in possessive pronouns.
He enjoyed the party by him.	He enjoyed the party by himself.	Use reflexive pronoun.
Who do you love?	Whom do you love?	“Whom” is used as the object.

🔟 Emphatic Pronouns –

(myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself,ourselves, yourselves, themselves)

Emphatic pronouns are used to emphasize the subject of the sentence. They look exactly like reflexive pronouns, but their function is different.

वाक्य के subject पर जोर देने के लिए Emphatic pronouns का उपयोग किया जाता है। वे  बिल्कुल Reflexive pronouns की तरह,  लेकिन उनका कार्य अलग है।

🧠 Key Point:

Reflexive pronouns reflect the action back to the subject.

Reflexive pronouns  subject पर वापस कार्रवाई को दर्शाते हैं।

Emphatic pronouns just add emphasis—they are not necessary for the sentence to make sense.

Emphatic pronouns  सिर्फ जोर देते हैं – वे वाक्य को समझने के लिए आवश्यक नहीं हैं।

✅ Structure:

Subject + Verb + Emphatic Pronoun

(Emphatic pronoun often comes right after the subject or at the end of the sentence.)

🔁 Examples:

Sentence	Meaning (Hindi)
I myself baked the cake.	केक मैंने खुद बेक किया।
She herself opened the door.	दरवाज़ा उसने खुद खोला।
The principal himself gave me a prize.	इनाम खुद प्रिंसिपल ने दिया।
We will complete the work ourselves.	हम खुद काम पूरा करेंगे।
They themselves admitted the mistake.	उन्होंने खुद गलती मानी।

❗ Difference: Reflexive vs Emphatic

Type	Sentence	Use
Reflexive	She hurt herself.	Action reflects back
Emphatic	She herself cooked dinner.	Emphasizing “she” did it

In short:

Reflexive = Necessary for meaning

Emphatic = Optional, used for stress/emphasis

🧠 Tip for Learners

If you remove an emphatic pronoun, the sentence still makes sense. But if you remove a reflexive pronoun, the meaning might change or become unclear.

🔚 Conclusion

Pronouns are a vital part of English grammar. Whether you’re speaking or writing, using pronouns correctly helps you avoid repetition, express clearly, and sound more natural. With practice, you’ll be able to recognize and use all types of pronouns with ease.

📥 Download this lesson as PDF ( www.niyans.com)

🧩 Next Topic: Adjectives – Learn the Describing Words

 

Practice Time – Fill in the blanks:

1. ______ is my best friend. (pointing to someone standing near)
2. ______ are expensive shoes. (pointing to nearby shoes)
3. ______ is our school. (pointing to a school far away)
4. ______ are the kids we saw yesterday. (pointingto kids across the road)

✅ Answers:

1. This
2. These
3. That
4. Those

 Fill in the blank with “that” or “which”:

1. The laptop ______ I bought yesterday is not working.
2. This painting, ______ was created in 1890, is very famous.
3. The movie ______ we watched last night was amazing.
4. My phone, ______ has a cracked screen, still work fine.

✅ Answers:

1. that
2. which
3. that
4. which

🔹 A. Fill in the blanks:

1. ___ am your teacher.
2. This pen is ___.
3. He blamed ___.
4. I saw a man ___ was crying.
5. ___ is knocking at the door?

👉 Answers:

1. I
2. mine
3. himself
4. who
5. Who

🔹 B. Identify the type of pronoun:

1. These are sweet.
2. He made it himself.
3. Everyone was shocked.
4. This is her car.
5. Each of them got a gift.

👉 Answers:

1. Demonstrative
2. Reflexive
3. Indefinite
4. Possessive
5. Distributive

Fill in the blanks using correct indefinite pronouns:

1. ______ is calling you.
2. Did you see ______ in the garden?
3. ______ wants to speak to you.
4. ______ of these shirts fits me.
5. ______ came to help, but it was too late.
6. ______ is possible if you try.

(Answers: Someone, anyone, Everybody, None, Nobody, Everything)