Pronoun : 
A pronoun is a word used in place of Noun to avoid repetition of Noun.

Observe the following sentence : 
  I met a boy on my way to school. He was wearing a red shirt.
👉Here pronoun 'he' is used for the boy (Noun) to avoid repetition of the word 'boy'.

There are many kinds of pronoun. We will learn about each of them in details in separate rules.

Personal Pronoun I, you, we, she, they, it etc.
Possessive Pronoun Mine, yours, ours, hers, theirs, its etc.
Reflexive Pronoun Myself, yourself, ourselves, themselves, himself etc.
Relative Pronoun That, who, whom, which etc.
Distributive Pronoun Either, Neither, each, every, none, etc
Indefinite Pronoun Everybody, all, much, somebody, another etc.
Reciprocal Pronoun Each other, one another etc.
Demonstrative Pronoun This, that, these, those etc. 
Interrogative Pronoun Who? Which? Why? Whose? etc.

Grammar Rules of Pronoun

Rule 1 : 
      Rule of 231

When more than one Singular Pronouns are present in a sentence then correct order of pronouns should be 231. In sentence first we write 2nd Person Pronouns then 3rd person Pronouns and in the end 1st Person Pronouns are used.

Examples:
(a) I , you and he went to shopping yesterday.(X)
👉You, he and I went to shopping yesterday.
(b) I and she will attend the class today.(X)
👉She and I will attend the class today.

When an unpleasant act or wrongdoing is accepted in a sentence. Pronouns should be in order 123.

(a) You, he and I made a blunder today.(X)
👉I, you and he made a blunder today.
(b) You and I will be punished for his act.(X)
👉I and you will be punished for his act.
Rule 2 : 
      Rule of 123


In case of Plural Pronouns the correct order of pronouns in a sentence should be 123.

Examples:
(a) They, you and we went to shopping yesterday.(X)
👉We, you and they went to shopping yesterday.
(b) You and we are going to Delhi next week.(X)
👉We and you are going to Delhi next week.

Nominative and Objective case

Rule 3 : 


Objective case of pronouns is used after between, and, but, Let, except, like, Prepositions.

Nominative case : when Pronouns are used as a subject.
Objective case : When Pronouns are used as an object.

Nominative Case I We He She They It You
Objective Case Me Us His Her Them It You
Examples :
(a) She is intelligent between I and she.(X)
👉She is intelligent between me and her.
(b) I am going with Rahul and she.(X)
👉I am going with Rahul and her.
(c) Let he do the work.(X)
👉Let him do the work.
(d) Let I do the job.(X)
👉Let me do the job.
(e) Everybody but he was absent from the class.(X)
👉Everybody but him was absent from the class.
(f) You should not laugh at I.(X)
👉You should not laugh at me.
(g) Everyone was present except she in the meeting.(X)
👉Everyone was present except her in the meeting.

Rule 4 : 


In case of comparison, nominative case is compared to nominative case where as objective case is compared to objective case.

Examples:
(a) He is as smart as me. (X)
👉He is as smart as I . 
(b) My brother runs faster than him.(X)
👉My brother runs faster than he.
(c) I know you as much as him.(✓)
👉Here objective case ‘you’ is compared to objective case ‘him’.

Use of reflexive Pronoun

Rule 5 : 


These verbs are used with reflexive pronouns.
Avail (take advantage of), acquit(to behave in self-applauding way), adapt, adjust, reconcile(accept unwillingly),  amuse, apply( to work very diligently) enjoy, resign(surrender or accept unwillingly), avenge, pride, absent, exert(try or work very hard), pride, overreach etc.

💡 Reflexive Pronoun: When subject is receiver of the action mentioned in the sentence. Action is said to be reflected and a reflexive pronoun is used.   
Examples :
(a) You should avail yourself of every opportunity  in life.
👉Here subject is the receiver of the action of ‘availing every opportunity’.
(b) She has reconciled to demands of her mother-in-law. (X)
👉Use reconciled herself in place of reconciled.
(c) He resigned himself to his failure.(✓)
(d) The police officer acquitted himself well during natural disaster.(✓)
(e) You will have to apply yourself to this job to get successful.(✓)
(f) The students exert themselves a lot during examination.(✓)

[NOTE : Reflexive pronoun must be used if  verb "Enjoy" does not have an object. ]

(h) We enjoyed the vacation.(✓)
👉No need of reflexive pronoun
(i) We enjoyed during vacation.(X)
👉We enjoyed ourselves during vacation.

(j) He was absent.(✓)
(k) He absented himself.(✓)
👉If absent is used as verb then only reflexive pronoun is used.

Rule 6 : 


Below verbs are never used with reflexive pronoun. 
Hide, keep, stop, bath, qualify, turn, move, rest

Examples: 
(a) He hid himself behind the door.(X)
👉Remove himself.
(b) Keep yourself away from the dog.(X)
👉Remove yourself.

Rule 7 : 


Reflexive pronouns can never be used as a subject however they can be used as an object if concerned noun or pronoun is mentioned in the sentence.

Example:
(a) Myself Amit from Delhi.(X)
👉Myself can never be used as a subject.
(b) I myself did this work.(✓)
(c) He will do this for myself and my sister.(✓)
👉Here me should be used in place of myself.
(d) Rajesh did all this work himself.(✓)
👉Here himself is used for Rajesh who actually did this work.

Use of Possessive Adjective

Rule 8 : 


When two subjects are joined by 
as well as, together with, along with, like , unlike, in addition to, rather than, except, no less than, nothing but, and not, but, accompanied by
 Possessive Adjective(Possessive Case of Pronoun) is used according to the first subject.

There is a difference between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives.

Nominative
Case		 Possessive
Adjective		 Possessive
Pronoun
I My Mine
We Our Ours
You Your Yours
He His His
She Her Hers
It Its Not Used
They Their Theirs

Examples:
(a) Mahesh as well as his friends has done his work.(✓)
👉Here ‘his’  is used for first subject Mahesh and not for second subject ‘his friends’
(b) His father and not his four sons is accused of the murder case.(✓)
👉Possessive adjective is according to first subject.

Rule 9 : 


A possessive case of pronoun (or a possessive adjective) should not be used with these nouns
Separation, excuse, leave, mention, report, favour, sight, pardon .

Examples:
(a) Your separation is very painful for me.(X)
👉Separation from you is very painful for me.
(b) She made your mention in the party.(X)
👉Use ‘She made mention of you’
(c) I beg your favour, please.(X)
👉I beg favour from you, please.
(d) At his sight the robbers fled.(X)
👉Use ‘at the sight of him’

Rule 10 : 


When two subjects are joined by either...or, neither...nor, not only but also, non but,
the possessive adjective is used according to nearest subject.

Examples:
(a) Neither Mahesh nor his friends have taken their task seriously.(✓)
👉Here Possessive case their is used according to nearest subject ‘his friends’.

Rule 11 : 


When pronouns each, every, neither either, anyone,  none, many a , more than one, are used as subjects , Possessive adjective should be third person singular.

Examples:
(a) Each one of us is doing our duty.(X)
👉Use his in place of our.
(b) Either of the two brother has brought their luggage.(X)
👉Use his in place of their.
(c) Many a student has not done their homework.(X)
👉Use his in place of their.

Rule 12 : 


When pronoun one is used as a subject, the possessive adjective should be one’s.

Examples:
(a) One should do his duty sincerely.(X)
👉Use one’s in place of his.
(b) Everyone should do one’s duty.(X)
👉Use his in place of one’s

Rule 13 : 


If two or more than two singular Nouns are joined by " and "and each singular noun is followed by each or every, The possessive case of pronoun should be singular.

Example :
Every student and every teacher was present in their respective classrooms.(X)
👉Every student and every teacher was present in his respective classrooms.

Rule 14 :  


When a pronoun is used for more than one noun or pronouns of different persons , the possessive case used in such sentence will be Our and Your according to subjects.

(a) Have you, he and I received their emails? (X)
👉Use our in place of their.
(b) You and he completed their work.(X)
👉Use your in place of their. 
(c) Only your and I have brought your book.(X)
👉Use our in place of your.

Rule 15:  


Possessive adjective is used before a gerund.

Gerund : [ Verb+ing ] is called a gerund. It can be treated like a Noun or a Verb. e.g. Walking, swimming, jogging etc.

Examples:
(a) I was confident of me winning the match.(X)
👉Use my in place of me.
(b) She is confident of her doing well in the examination.(✓)

Use of Possessive Pronouns

Rule 16 : 


Possessive pronouns can be used as a subject in a sentence.

Examples:
(a) Yours is a new car.(✓)
👉It means your car is new.
(b) Hers is a beautiful house.(✓)
👉It means her house is beautiful.
(c) His is spacious apartment.(✓)
👉‘His’ can be used both as possessive pronoun and possessive adjective.
(d) Our is a populous country.(X)
👉Use ours in place of our.

Rule 17 : 


Possessive pronouns can be used as an object in a sentence.

Examples:
(a) Save your time and mine too.(✓)
(b) This book is mine.(✓)
(c) Your house is better than my.(X)
👉Your house is better than mine.
(d) I prefer your help to her.(X)
👉I prefer your help to hers.


Use of Relative Pronouns

Rule 18 : 


Relative Pronoun Who, which, that are used as subject of subordinate clause.

e.g.   The boy who played yesterday is a state champion.
Main clause: A sentence or part of sentence which makes sense on its own.
Subordinate clause : A sentence or part of sentence which does not make sense on it own.
In above example : ‘The boy ’ is main clause and ‘played yesterday is a state champion’ is subordinate clause.

Rule 19 : 


Relative Pronouns whom, which, that are used as the object of subordinate clause.

e.g.  I have a son whom I love very much.

Use of Pronoun "That"

Rule 20 : 


If two nouns are joined by and , One of them  is a human and another is an animal or a thing. Relative pronoun that is used .

e.g. The old lady and her dog that were crossing road yesterday are dead.

Rule 21 : 


Pronoun that is used after
everything, nothing, the only, any, all, everyone, nobody, much, little, the same, the few, the little.
Examples :
(a) My father has given me everything that I needed.(✓)
(b) It is the same person that was present yesterday.(✓)
(c) This is the only pen that I bought today.(✓)
(d) I spent the little money that my mother gave me.(✓)
(e) All that glitter is not gold.(✓)
(f) All who are interested to do this work can join me.(✓)
👉In case of human beings who can be used with all.

Rule 22 : 


Pronoun that is used after superlative degree.

e.g. Mr. kumar is the most laborious man that I have ever met.(✓)

Rule 23 : 


Either, neither, each other are used for two persons or things.
Anyone, none, another are used for more than two persons or things.

Examples:
(a) Indians should not fight with each other.(X) 
👉Use one another 
(b)Either of his three sons work in a MNC company.(X) 
👉Use All his three sons.
(b)None of his eyes was injured.(X) 
👉Use neither for none. 
(c) Shyam ans Radha are made for one another.(X) 
👉Use each other in place of one another.

Use of "Both"

Rule 24 : 


Both should be followed by "and" and not by as well as .Negative is also avoided with Both.

Examples:
(a) Both you as well as my brother are going for picnic.(X)
👉Use and in place of as well as.
(b) Both of them have not completed their work.(X)
👉Neither of them has completed his work.
(c) All of two students are guilty.(X)
👉Both of the two students are guilty.

Rule 25 : 


Pronoun Which is used in place of who when we refer to a choice between two or more than things or persons.

Examples:
(a) Who is more intelligent of the two sisters?(X)
👉Use which in place of who.
(b) Who is your father in the crowd?(X)
👉Which is your father in the crowd?

Rule 26 : 


The use of ‘same’ as pronoun is wrong. 

Examples:
(a) He bought the book and is reading the same.(X)
👉Use it for the same.

Use of One, Ones, One's

Rule 27 : 


One is used as pronoun for singular nouns , ones is used for plural nouns where as one's is a possessive adjective (like his, your , my).

Please go through the following sentences to understand the usage of one, ones and one's.
Examples:
(a) This is the new  version, but that is an old one.(✓)
(b) These are new books , but those are old ones.(✓)
(c) One should always be true to one’s  word.(✓)

Use of "What"

Rule 28 : 


Pronoun "What" is used without an antecedent and it refers to things only.( Not person or place).

Examples  : 
(a) It is incredible what he said.(✓)
(b) I don’t believe in the words what he said.(X)
👉Here an antecedent (Words) is present before which is wrong. 

Correct Sentence should be :
I don’t believe in what he said.(✓)
I don’t believe in any words that he said.(✓)

Use of "It"

Rule 29 : 


 A
  It is used for Non living thing, animal, country, and baby. 


Examples : 
(a) I found a pen. It was lying on the floor.(✓)
(b) The cow is a very useful animal. It has four legs.(✓)
(c) The baby is crying. It must be hungry.(✓)
(d) India is a developing country. It will soon become a superpower.(✓)


 B 
  When It is used as a subject and followed by any form of be (is, was, will etc) , nominative case is  used after It.


Examples:
(a) It is I who am responsible for this mischief.(✓)
(b) It will be us who will be going to Mumbai next week.(X)
👉Use we in place of us
(c) Was it her who did this work.(X)
👉Use she in place of her.


 C 
  Difference between Its and It's


Its = a possessive pronoun.
It’s = It is

Examples:
(a) The cow and it's calf are grazing the field.(X)
👉Use Its in place of It's
(b) It’s very important.(✓)

👉If you have gone through all the rules and concepts of this chapter , you can always practice questions based on this chapter for better understanding and clarity.
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