A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. Pronouns are classified into 6 types: personal pronouns; demonstrative pronouns; indefinite pronouns; relative pronouns; interrogative pronouns; and reflexive and intensive pronouns.
Personal pronouns designate specific people or things. Personal pronouns are classified by case (subjective, objective, possessive), person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, neutral).
| number | person | personal pronouns | possessive adjectives |
||
| subjective | objective | possessive | |||
| singular | first | I | me | mine | my |
| second | you | you | yours | your | |
| third | he/she/it | him/her/it | his/hers/its | his/her/its | |
| plural | first | we | us | ours | our |
| second | you | you | yours | your | |
| third | they | them | theirs | their | |
Note: The possessive adjectives are similar to possessive pronouns, but remember that possessive adjectives are not pronouns. They are adjectives that modify nouns.
- Here is my book. [The possessive adjective "my" modifies the noun "book."]
- The book is mine. [The possessive pronoun "mine" stands alone.]
The word "her" can be an objective pronoun or a possessive adjective.
- Here is her book. [In this sentence, "her" is a possessive adjective that modifies the noun "book."]
- Give the book to her. [In this sentence, "her" is an objective pronoun functioning as the indirect object.]
