What Are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. They help make sentences shorter and less repetitive.

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Types of Pronouns

1. Personal Pronouns: Refer to people or things and are used as the subject or object in a sentence.

• Subject Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
• Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them Examples:
• He is playing. (subject pronoun)
• The teacher called her. (object pronoun)

1. Reflexive Pronouns: Refer back to the subject of the sentence. They show that the subject does something to itself.

• myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves Examples:
• She made a sandwich for herself.
• I can do it myself.

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How to Choose Between Personal and Reflexive Pronouns

• Identify the Subject: Look at who is doing the action in the sentence.
• Check if the Subject Acts on Itself:

1. If the action is done by the subject to itself, use a reflexive pronoun.
2. If the action is done to something else, use a personal pronoun.

• Select the Correct Pronoun:

1. Use a personal pronoun when talking about someone or something.
2. Use a reflexive pronoun when the person or thing does something to themselves.

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Examples

1. Personal Pronoun:

• Sarah hugged her mom.
  • (“her” is a personal pronoun because the action is done to someone else)

1. Reflexive Pronoun:

• Sarah hugged herself.
  • (“herself” is a reflexive pronoun because Sarah is doing the action to herself)

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Practice Choosing the Correct Pronoun

Fill in the blanks with the correct pronoun:

1. I can tie my shoes by __.

• Answer: myself (reflexive pronoun)

1. John read the book to __.

• Answer: himself (reflexive pronoun)

1. She gave __ a gift.

• Answer: him (personal pronoun)

1. They made breakfast for __.

• Answer: themselves (reflexive pronoun)

1. We are going to the park with __.

• Answer: them (personal pronoun)

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Self-Check

Check your answers:

1. myself
2. himself
3. him
4. themselves
5. them

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