7 Types of Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are pivotal in simplifying and enhancing how we express ourselves. These small but powerful words are essential tools for clarity and conciseness in our conversations and written texts. In this article, we will explore the various types that enable us to navigate the intricacies of language easily.

Read also: Definition and Types of English Verbs 

7 types of personal pronoun

A personal pronoun represents specific people, objects, or things, often without repeating their names or nouns. There are 7 types of personal pronouns, as follows:

1. Subject Pronouns

The words I, you, he, she, it, we, and they are called personal pronouns. These pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence, indicating who is acting. They are used to avoid repetition or when a name is unknown.

Group of Pronouns	Subject
First-person singular	I
Second person singular	You
Third person singular	He
Third person singular	She
Third person singular	It
First-person plural	We
Second person plural	You
Third person plural	They

2. Object Pronouns

The words me, you, him, her, it, us, and them are also personal pronouns. They also take the place of nouns. These pronouns are used as the object of the verb in the sentence.

The object of a sentence is the person, animal, place, or thing that receives the action shown by the verb.

Group of Pronouns	Object
First-person singular	Me
Second person singular	You
Third person singular	Him
Third person singular	Her
Third person singular	It
First-person plural	Our
Second person plural	You
Third person plural	Them

3. Possessive Pronouns

These pronouns indicate ownership or possession and replace nouns to show that something belongs to a particular person or thing.

Group of Pronouns	Possessive
First-person singular	My
Second person singular	Your
Third person singular	His
Third person singular	Her
Third person singular	Its
First-person plural	Our
Second person plural	Your
Third person plural	Their

4. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns show that the subject of a verb is the same as its object. They end in “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural). The words myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves are reflexive pronouns.

Group of Pronouns	Reflexive Pronouns
First-person singular	Myself
Second person singular	Yourself
Third person singular	Himself
Third person singular	Herself
Third person singular	Itself
First-person plural	Ourselves
Second person plural	Yourselves
Third person plural	Themselves

5. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as anyone, someone, and everyone, refer to a person or object or a group of people or things without explaining who or what they are.

• Someone and somebody refer to an unspecified person in a positive statement or question.
• Anyone and anybody refer to an unspecified person in a question or negative statement.
• Everyone refers to a whole group of people.
• No one means no person in a group.
• No one and nobody goes in with positive statements and questions.
• Anyone and anybody go in negative statements and questions.
• Something and anything refer to an unspecified or unnamed object or thing. Something can only be used in questions and positive statements, whereas anything can be used in negative statements, questions, and positive statements.
• Nothing means that there are no available objects or things.
• Everything means all the possible objects or things are available.

Where nothing is used in a positive statement, anything can be used in a negative statement with the same meaning.

6. Interrogative Pronouns

The words who, whom, whose, what, and which are called interrogative pronouns. These pronouns are used to ask questions.

7. Demonstrative Pronouns

The words this, these, that, and those are called demonstrative pronouns. They point to specific people or things in a sentence, helping to identify them.

• You use this and these when you point to things near you.
• You use that and those when you point to things farther away.

Demonstrative pronouns can be singular or plural:

Singular	Plural
This	these
That	those

Common Mistake Reflexive Pronouns

A reflexive pronoun can only be used if the subject and object of the sentence are the same. If the object differs from the subject, an object pronoun should be used instead.

√ My boss invited Joe and me to the meeting.

× My boss invited myself and Joe to the meeting

References and Recommended Reading

• Altenberg, E. P., & Vago, R. M. (2010). English grammar: Understanding the Basics. Cambridge University Press.
• Azar, B. S. (1996). Basic English Grammar. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Regents.
• Azar, B. S. (2003). Fundamentals of English Grammar: Chartbook: a Reference Grammar. White Plains, NY: Longman.
• Azar, B. S., & Hagen, S. A. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar: Workbook. White Plains, N.Y.: Pearson Longman.
• Ansell, M. (2000). Free English Grammar Second Edition.
• Barduhn, S., & Hall, D. (2016). English for Everyone–English Grammar Guide. New York: DK Publishing.
• Herring, P. (2016). Complete English Grammar Rules. California: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Murphy, R., Smalzer, W. R., & Nguyễn, T. T. (2000). Grammar in Use: Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Murphy, R., & Čhakramāt, S. (2002). Essential grammar in use (Vol. 20010). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.