Pronoun

Related Topics:
Pronouncing :: Pronouns

In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun phrase. The replaced phrase is normally the antecedent of the pronoun. For example, consider the sentence "John gave the coat to Alice." Any of the three nouns in the sentence can be replaced by personal pronouns to give: "He gave it to her." If the coat, John, and Alice have been previously mentioned, the listener can deduce to what the pronouns he, it and her refer and understand the meaning of the sentence.

A pronoun can also be precedent, as "He" is in the sentence: "He gave it to her, John did."

The use of pronouns is particularly welcome when it prevents repetitions. For example "John bought the coat. Then John gave the coat to Alice." can be expressed more effectively by "John took the coat. Then he gave it to Alice."

When the subject and object are the same, many languages (including English) require the use of a reflexive pronoun: "She saw herself in the mirror."

Examples

Demonstrative pronouns

They say that this hamburger is tastier than that one.
It doesn't get any better than this.

Interrogative pronouns

What kind of drinks do you like?
I don't know who stole my bicycle.

Personal pronouns

You just don't get it, do you?

Relative pronouns

Jane did all the work that I was supposed to do.
He is the man who stole my bicycle.

Common misconceptions

As can be seen by the examples, pronouns are not restricted to personal pronouns.

Also, note that in the sentence

If you think your car is expensive, you should see mine

the word "your" is a possessive adjective, not a pronoun. In fact, in that context, "your" stands for a determiner phrase, and not a noun phrase, and so its lexical category is determiner. However, some call possessive adjectives determinative possessive pronouns.

Similarly, in the sentence

They say that this hamburger is tastier than that one

the word "this" is not a pronoun, but a demonstrative adjective, also called determinative demonstrative.