The pronoun is the second of the eight parts of speech. Just for the record, here are all eight:

noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

Pronouns can be used in different ways. They can be personal, indefinite, interrogative, and demonstrative.

Personal pronouns have a sub-category called possessive.

First, let's start with a basic definition:

Pronouns take the place of nouns to name persons, places, things, or ideas. 
 

PERSONAL PRONOUNS:

I, me, you, he, him, she, her, it, we, us, they, them
 

POSSESSIVE PERSONAL PRONOUNS:

my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs

****Note that there are no apostrophes used with possessive personal pronouns. This includes "its." Just as you would say "That is hers," you would say "Success is its own reward." It's stands for the contraction that represents "It is" or "It has." It's is NEVER possessive. 

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS:

Anybody, anyone, each, either, none, someone, somebody, both, everyone, no one, neither, many, few, several, one.

****Note: Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some may be used as both singular and plural. This will be discussed in a future lesson.
 

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS:

who, whom, what, which, whose
 

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS:

this, that, these, those

              Find the pronouns in the following sentences. 

1. He suggested that they clean up Wilmington Statue for their community service project.

                        __________ __________ _______________ 

              2. They water-skied on Lake Erie. 

                        __________ 

              3. Who was it you said vacationed in Canada all last month?

                        __________ _________ _________

              4. The teacher asked her to report on that later.

                        __________ __________ 

              5. The address on that clearly read Mexico.

                        __________ 

              6. Whose book is that? 

                        _____________ ___________

              7. Her story was about someone fleeing from a building.

                        __________ __________ 

              8. Either is fine with me.

                        _________ __________

              9. The factory blew into a thousand pieces, but no one heard it.

                   __________ __________

              10. Mary was so excited that she ran all the way home.

                   __________ 

              11. Someone found Hemingway's journal after his death.

                   __________ __________ 

              12. Tractors are good for young boys and girls who want to 

                    practice their driving skills.

                   __________ __________
 

For the Answer Key, Click Here
For Reflexive Pronouns lesson, click here.
 

Submitted by:  © Elaine Ernst Schneider  is a freelance writer and a teacher. She has been writing since high school and has published articles, songs, and children's work. Presently, Elaine is a curriculum author for Group Publishing and also writes the City Songs column for www.newcolonist.com ezine.

Feedback:  Thanks a million. I got an A on the test!! J.R. April 6, 2002