GCSE
English Language
In this lesson, we will explore what a pronoun is, the different types of pronouns there are, and some examples of each. Pronouns are a very common part of English and are used all the time in both writing and speaking. While there are several types of pronouns, some are more important to understand and use correctly than others. In this lesson, we will focus mainly on the basics of pronouns, but we will also briefly mention some of the less common types.
Pronouns
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun, such as a person’s name. There are many types of pronouns which we will explore, including:
- Personal pronouns
- Possessive pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns
- Relative pronouns
Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun is used to refer to a specific person, group, or thing. These pronouns replace nouns that have already been mentioned or are obvious from the context. They can show who is speaking, who is being spoken to, or who/what is being spoken about.
They come in two main forms:
- Subject pronouns (do the action): I, you, he, she, it, we, they
- Object pronouns (receive the action): me, you, him, her, it, us, them
He threw the ball to me. “He” is a subject personal pronoun doing the action. “Me” is an object personal pronoun receiving the action.Example
Students often confuse subject and object pronouns. For example, saying “Me and Tom went to the shop” is incorrect. It should be “Tom and I went to the shop” — because “I” is the subject, not “me.”Common Mistake
Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is used to show that something belongs to someone. It replaces a noun phrase to avoid repetition and makes the sentence more concise.
Common possessive pronouns include: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs
These are different from possessive adjectives (like my, your, his, her, their) because they stand alone, not before a noun.
That umbrella is mine. “Mine” is a possessive pronoun — it replaces the phrase “my umbrella” and shows ownership.Example
Students often confuse possessive pronouns with possessive adjectives. For example, “That coat is her” is incorrect — it should be “That coat is hers.” Possessive pronouns must stand alone, not be followed by a noun.Common Mistake
Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing — in other words, when someone does something to themselves.
Reflexive pronouns always end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).
Common examples include: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
She taught herself how to play the guitar. “Herself” is a reflexive pronoun — it reflects back to the subject “she.”Example
Some students wrongly use reflexive pronouns in place of personal ones — for example, saying “My brother and myself went to the shop.” This is incorrect. It should be “My brother and I went…” Reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject does something to themselves.Common Mistake
Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is used to introduce a clause that gives more information about a noun. These clauses are called relative clauses, and they add detail or explanation without starting a new sentence.
The most common relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that
- Who / Whom: Used for people
- Whose: Shows possession
- Which: Used for animals or objects
- That: Used for people or things (more flexible)
The girl who won the race is my cousin. “Who” is a relative pronoun introducing a clause that gives more information about “the girl.”Example
Students often mix up which and that, or drop the relative pronoun altogether. For example: While it’s sometimes acceptable to omit the relative pronoun in casual speech, in formal writing, always include it when it’s the subject of the clause.Common Mistake
Pronouns
- A pronoun replaces a noun, such as a person’s name.
- Types include personal, possessive, reflexive, and relative pronouns.
Personal Pronouns
- Refer to a specific person, group, or thing, replacing nouns already mentioned or obvious from context.
- Can be subject pronouns (do the action) or object pronouns (receive the action).
- Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
- Object pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
Possessive Pronouns
- Show that something belongs to someone.
- Replace a noun phrase to avoid repetition.
- Stand alone, unlike possessive adjectives.
Reflexive Pronouns
- Used when the subject and object are the same person or thing.
- Always end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).
Relative Pronouns
- Introduce a clause giving more information about a noun (relative clause).
- Common ones: who, whom, whose, which, that.
- Who/whom – for people; whose – possession; which – animals or objects; that – people or things.