Language ArtsA pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun, a noun phrase, or a nominative (some other part of speech acting like a noun or noun phrase). There are different pronouns to fit different sentence contexts, and this article explains how they work.

Different pronouns to fit different sentence contexts. Following is some information about personal, possessive, and reflexive pronouns, as well as interrogatory pronouns and relative pronouns.

In English, pronouns match the words they refer to various ways: in person, in number, and/or in gender. Person refers to whether the pronoun replaces items that are in first person, second person, or third person. Number refers to whether the pronoun replaces an item that is singular or plural. Gender refers to whether the pronoun replaces an item that is masculine, feminine, or neuter or unknown.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns include both subject and object pronouns. The personal pronouns that are used as the subject of the sentence are called the subject pronouns. Note that when one is speaking or writing in first or second person, the element being replaced will not always be obvious, because we don't speak of ourselves by name, and often address our audience simply as you.

            Subject Pronouns:

The personal subjective pronouns are:

First person singular: I

First person plural: we

Second person singular and plural: you

Third person singular: he, she, it

Third person plural: they

Notice that only the third person singular pronouns are marked for gender: the rest are only indicative of person and number.

These pronouns may be used in sentences like this:

The child ate a hummus wrap. He/She had baby carrots on the side.

The children ate turkey sandwiches. They had cucumber slices to go with.

I had tuna with chopped pickle and onion on pita.

You enjoyed a portabella mushroom sandwich on a roll.

We all drank lemonade.

Sally's dog watched patiently. It got to eat some leftovers.

            Object Pronouns:

The object pronouns can function both as direct objects and indirect objects. The personal objective pronouns are:

First person singular: me

First person plural: us

Second person singular and plural: you

Third person singular: him, her, it

Third person plural: them

Notice again that only the third person singular pronouns are marked for gender: the rest are only indicative of person and number.

These pronouns may be used in sentences like this:

Janna invited me to play catch.

I gave her a choice of a softball or a tennis ball.

She considered them.

Then she chose the softball and threw it to me.

Josh was across the road, and we called to him to join us.

We would like to invite you to play, too.

Choosing Subject or Object Pronouns

When there are two pronouns or a pronoun and a noun in a compound structure, it is sometimes easier to figure out the pronoun case if you temporarily remove one pronoun or the noun. Here's how it works:

Bob and I/me went to the bank.

Drop Bob, and consider the choices:

I went to the bank.

Me went to the bank.

Clearly, the sentence should be:

Bob and I went to the bank.

Here's another example:

Mom gave the cupcakes to Jake and I/me.

Drop Jake and consider the choices:

Mom gave the cupcakes to I.

Mom gave the cupcakes to me.

Clearly, the sentence should be:

Mom gave the cupcakes to Jake and me.

If the sentence has a comparison with as or than, it likely has an ellipses. Filling in the missing words can help in this case. Here's how it works:

Charlie is hungrier than I/me.

Fill in like this:

Charlie is hungrier than I am hungry.

Charlie is hungrier than me am hungry.

Clearly, the sentence should be.

Charlie is hungrier than I am hungry.

Another thing you should know is that one of the things that distinguishes colloquial language from formal language is a bit more freedom with pronouns, allowing - for example - the answer “It's me!” to the question “Who's there?” when technically, “It is I!” is correct. So you should consider the advice about distinguishing as it fits the context of the communication.

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