Pronouns 2

2.5 Pronouns

Kinds  of  Pronouns

* Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out something or someone. In English,  

   demonstrative  pronouns are this, that, these, those.

• This  is  my  teacher.

• That  is  my  classroom.

* Distributive  pronouns are used to refer to things one at a time rather than 

   collectively. They are each, either and neither. Since they refer to single person or 

   thing at a time, distributive pronouns are always singular and are followed by 

   singular verbs.

• Each child was given a present.

• Either answer is correct.

• Neither team could win.

Note-Before a noun with a determiner (the , my , this) we use each of. This is followed by a plural noun and a singular verb.

• Each of the girls was given a present.

When speaking about more than two persons or things the distributive pronouns any , no one or none should be used.

• I don’t like any of these three designs.

• No one offered to accompany her to the hospital.

• None but the brave deserve the fair.

* A relative pronoun is a pronoun that refers to something within a larger sentence. It is called a relative pronoun because it relates to the word that it modifies and is not specific. In English, relative pronouns are: who, whom, which, whose, that, where, when, why. 

• The shirt that I am wearing today belongs to my brother.

• I have a friend who knows five languages.

• I live on Fir Street which is two miles from here.

Relative pronouns are used to join two or more sentences.

-           The cheetah is the fastest mammal. It is my favourite animal.

-          The cheetah, which is the fastest mammal, is my favourite animal.