Pronouns

Pronoun is a basic knowledge to learn grammar in English. It is defined as a word or phrase used as a substitution for a noun or noun phrase. In other words, pronouns are words that can represent the nouns in the sentences. Besides, it also stands for certain adjectives, other pronouns, and adverbs.

Pronouns  can be an as subject, direct or indirect object, and many more. Without pronouns, you will repeat the nouns constantly, so it makes the repetitive words that cause a boring paragraph or speech. That is why pronouns help the sentences to be more interesting.

Definite and Indefinite Pronouns

There are many types of pronouns, and some of them are called definite and indefinite pronouns. Do you know the differences between those pronouns? Let’s find out how you differentiate between the two types of pronouns below.

Definite

A definite pronoun is also known as a personal pronoun because it is a substitution for people or things. To use this type of pronoun, you should indicate whether the world replaced is singular or plural. Definite pronouns are often used to replace proper non or collective groups, so it is always specific.

In definite pronouns, there are three categories of pronouns you should know. Those are first, second, and third-person categories. Then, each category also has singular and plural pronouns used.

In the first-person category, you will find I and me in the singular pronouns, and we and us in the plural. Meanwhile, in the second person, there is you for singular and plural pronouns. For the third person, there are she, he, her, him, and it for the singular category, while they and them are for the plural pronoun.

Indefinite

When you talk about definite pronouns, cannot be separated from indefinite pronouns. Different from a definite pronoun that is specific, the indefinite pronoun is used for unspecific nouns. In addition, this pronoun can be both singular and plural.

Singular pronouns commonly used are anything, anyone, anybody, either, each, everyone, everybody, nobody, neither, nothing, someone, something, and somebody. Some pronouns are:  few, many, several, and both. All, some, any, most, and none are pronouns used for both singular and plural nouns or noun phrases.

Examples of Definite and Indefinite Pronouns in the Sentences

To help you understand how you use these pronouns in your sentences, below are several sentences for definite and indefinite pronouns.

• Definite Pronouns

Sentence: James and Duke are friends. They sing together in class.

Explanation: The pronoun used here is “they” which refers to James and Duke. The use of “they” will make you don’t need to mention “James and Duke” many times.

• Indefinite Pronouns

Sentence: Someone stands in front of your house.

Explanation: The underlined word is the indefinite pronoun that refers to a man or a woman you don’t know.

Demonstrative pronouns

Such

That

These

This

Those

Interrogative pronouns

What

Whatever

Which

Whichever

Who

Whoever

Whom

Whose

Possessive Pronouns

And

Hers

His

Mine

Ours

Plural

Singular

Yours

Reflexive Pronouns

Herself

Himself

Itself

Myself

Ourselves

Themselves

Yourself

Yourselves

Realtive Pronouns

That

What

Whatever

Which

Whichever

Who

Whoever

Whom

Whose

🎓 English Test – Pronouns in English

Conclusion

When you want to differentiate definite and indefinite pronouns, it is easy. When you see pronouns referring to something specific, they must be definite pronouns. Meanwhile, the indefinite pronouns are for the unspecific thing you don’t know.