Pronouns are words that replace nouns in sentences to avoid repetition and make speech and writing more fluid. Understanding the different types of pronouns and their correct usage is essential for the ЕГЭ English exam. This guide will help you master pronouns and use them accurately in various contexts.
In English, pronouns are categorized into several types based on their function in a sentence. Each type has its own forms and usage rules. Mastering these pronouns is crucial for achieving a high score in the ЕГЭ English exam, as they are frequently tested in both the grammar and writing sections.
Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They have different forms depending on whether they are used as the subject or object of a sentence, and whether they are singular or plural.
| Person | Subject Pronouns | Object Pronouns |
|---|---|---|
| First Person Singular | I | me |
| Second Person Singular | you | you |
| Third Person Singular | he, she, it | him, her, it |
| First Person Plural | we | us |
| Second Person Plural | you | you |
| Third Person Plural | they | them |
Subject pronouns are used as the subject of a verb:
Object pronouns are used as the object of a verb or preposition:
In formal English, when referring to yourself and another person, put the other person first:
John and I went to the cinema. (not "I and John")
The teacher gave John and me good grades. (not "me and John")
Possessive pronouns and adjectives show ownership or relationship.
| Person | Possessive Adjectives | Possessive Pronouns |
|---|---|---|
| First Person Singular | my | mine |
| Second Person Singular | your | yours |
| Third Person Singular | his, her, its | his, hers, its |
| First Person Plural | our | ours |
| Second Person Plural | your | yours |
| Third Person Plural | their | theirs |
Possessive adjectives are used before nouns:
Possessive pronouns stand alone (they are not followed by nouns):
Don't confuse possessive pronouns with contractions:
It's raining. (contraction of "it is")
The dog wagged its tail. (possessive adjective)
They're my friends. (contraction of "they are")
Their house is big. (possessive adjective)
You're late. (contraction of "you are")
Is this book yours? (possessive pronoun)
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. They end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).
| Person | Reflexive Pronouns |
|---|---|
| First Person Singular | myself |
| Second Person Singular | yourself |
| Third Person Singular | himself, herself, itself |
| First Person Plural | ourselves |
| Second Person Plural | yourselves |
| Third Person Plural | themselves |
Reflexive pronouns are used in the following situations:
Don't use reflexive pronouns when they are not needed:
Incorrect: John and myself went to the cinema.
Correct: John and I went to the cinema.
Demonstrative pronouns point to specific things. They can be used as pronouns (standing alone) or as adjectives (before nouns).
| Distance | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Near | this | these |
| Far | that | those |
As pronouns (standing alone):
As adjectives (before nouns):
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions.
| Pronoun | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| who | For people (subject) | Who called you? Who is coming to the party? |
| whom | For people (object, formal) | Whom did you invite? To whom should I address this letter? |
| whose | For possession | Whose book is this? Whose turn is it? |
| what | For things or actions | What happened? What do you want? |
| which | For choice between limited options | Which do you prefer, tea or coffee? Which is your favorite color? |
"Who" is used as the subject of a verb, while "whom" is used as the object of a verb or preposition. In modern English, especially in informal contexts, "who" is often used instead of "whom":
Who is calling? (subject)
Whom did you call? (formal) / Who did you call? (informal) (object)
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun.
| Pronoun | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| who | For people (subject) | The woman who lives next door is a doctor. I know someone who can help you. |
| whom | For people (object, formal) | The man whom you met yesterday is my brother. The person to whom I spoke was very helpful. |
| whose | For possession | The girl whose bike was stolen is my sister. I met a writer whose books I admire. |
| which | For things and animals | The book which I'm reading is interesting. The car which he bought is very expensive. |
| that | For people, things, and animals | The movie that we saw was great. The people that live next door are friendly. |
In defining relative clauses (essential information), "that" can be used instead of "who" or "which," and the relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted when it's the object:
The woman who/that lives next door is a doctor. (subject, cannot be omitted)
The book (which/that) I'm reading is interesting. (object, can be omitted)
In non-defining relative clauses (additional, non-essential information), "which" and "who" must be used (not "that"), and the relative pronoun cannot be omitted. These clauses are separated by commas:
My sister, who lives in London, is visiting next week.
The book, which was published last year, has won several awards.
Indefinite pronouns refer to unspecified people, things, or amounts.
| Category | Pronouns | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| People | anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, nobody, no one, somebody, someone | Everyone is welcome. Nobody knows the answer. Is anyone there? |
| Things | anything, everything, nothing, something | I have something to tell you. There's nothing in the box. Did you find anything interesting? |
| Places | anywhere, everywhere, nowhere, somewhere | Let's go somewhere quiet. I can't find my keys anywhere. There's no place like home. |
| Quantity | all, any, both, each, either, few, many, most, neither, none, several, some | Both of them are good. None of us knew the truth. Several of the students passed the exam. |
Reciprocal pronouns express mutual actions or relationships between two or more people.
| Pronoun | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| each other | Between two people or things | They love each other. The two teams respect each other. |
| one another | Between three or more people or things | The students help one another with their homework. The countries trade with one another. |
In modern English, "each other" and "one another" are often used interchangeably, regardless of the number of people or things involved.
When referring to people in general, several options are available:
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents (the nouns they refer to) in number (singular or plural) and gender:
With collective nouns (group, team, family, etc.), the choice between singular and plural pronouns depends on whether you're thinking of the group as a single unit or as individuals:
The team celebrated its victory. (the team as a single unit)
The team went back to their homes. (the team members as individuals)
With indefinite pronouns, remember that those ending in -body, -one, and -thing are singular:
Incorrect: Everyone brought their own lunch.
Traditionally correct: Everyone brought his or her own lunch.
Modern usage (increasingly accepted): Everyone brought their own lunch.
Using the correct case (subject or object) for pronouns is important:
A helpful tip: Remove the other person from the sentence to check if the pronoun sounds right:
Avoid ambiguous pronoun references, where it's not clear what the pronoun refers to:
Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence.
Answers:
1. John and I went to the cinema yesterday. (subject pronoun)
2. The teacher gave us a lot of homework. (object pronoun)
3. She made this cake herself. (reflexive pronoun)
4. Is this book yours? (possessive pronoun)
5. The person whom I spoke to was very helpful. (relative pronoun as object; "who" is also acceptable in modern English)
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
Corrections:
1. My friend and I are going to the party tonight. (Use subject pronoun "I" instead of object pronoun "me," and put the other person first)
2. The teacher gave him and me good grades. (Use object pronoun "me" instead of subject pronoun "I")
3. Everyone should bring his or her own lunch. (Traditionally, indefinite pronouns like "everyone" take singular pronouns; however, "their" is increasingly accepted in modern English)
4. The book which/that I read last week was interesting. (Use "which" or "that" for things, not "who")
5. John told Peter that he was wrong, but he didn't believe him. (This sentence is ambiguous. It should be clarified: "John told Peter, 'You are wrong,' but Peter didn't believe him." OR "John admitted to Peter that he himself was wrong, but Peter didn't believe him.")
Fill in the blanks with appropriate pronouns.
Answers:
1. The book is on the table. Could you please give it to me? (object pronoun referring to "the book")
2. My sister and I share a room. (subject pronoun)
3. The students helped one another / each other with the project. (reciprocal pronoun)
4. This is the woman whose car was stolen. (relative pronoun showing possession)
5. There's nothing in the box. It's empty. (indefinite pronoun)
In the ЕГЭ English exam, pronouns are often tested in multiple-choice questions, gap-filling exercises, and error correction tasks. Pay special attention to pronoun agreement, pronoun case, and the correct use of relative pronouns, as these are frequently tested. When in doubt about which pronoun to use, identify the antecedent and determine whether the pronoun is being used as a subject or object.