Learning To Speak The English Language

Pronouns

Pronouns are words like I and me.

Personal Pronouns – Subject Form

example: We have got some books.

Personal Pronouns – Object Form

example: The books are for us.

Possessive Adjectives

example: These are our books.

Possessive Pronouns

example: The books are ours.

Reflexive Pronouns

example: He can carry the bags himself.

Relative Pronouns

example: This is the man who lives next door.

Reflexive Pronouns

When the Subject and the Object in a sentence refer to the same person or thing we use a Reflexive Pronoun.

It is the only area of English grammar that is reflexive.

If you are using YOU in the plural, the reflexive pronoun is yourselves.

If you are using the third person non-specific the reflexive pronoun is themselves.

E.g. My daughter likes to dress herself without my help.

We taught ourselves to speak French.

When we use reflexive pronouns.

1. When the subject and the object refer to the same person or thing.

2. We use them for emphasis.

E.g. The author signed the book for me herself!

3. In some cases we use it to have a similar meaning to also.

E.g. Anabel was pretty happy last night. I was pretty happy myself.

When we don’t use reflexive pronouns.

1. There are a number of verbs in English with which we rarely or never use reflexive pronouns.

They include: adapt, behave, complain, concentrate, get up, hide, lie down, meet, move, relax, remember, shave, shower, sit down, tire and wash.

2. After a preposition of place or location we use a personal pronoun and not a reflexive pronoun.

E.g. He put the backpack next to him.

Ourselves, Themselves and Each Other

1. We use each other when two or more people or things perform the same action to the other.

E.g. Our next door neighbors were shouting at each other for a long time last night.

E.g. My brothers always compete with each other in sport.

2. Take note of the difference between these two sentences:

- Mark and Sarah killed themselves.  (They each committed suicide).

- Mark and Sarah killed each other.   (Mark killed Sarah and she killed Mark).

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns

This – That – These -Those

These words are called demonstrative pronouns and they are used to show the relative distance between the speaker and the noun.

We use this (singular) and these (plural) to refer to something that is here / near.

Examples:
This is my car. (singular)
These are our children. (plural)

We use that (singular) and those (plural) to refer to something that is there / far.

Examples:
That is our house. (singular)
Those are my shoes. (plural)

Note that the verb changes (i.e. singular / plural) depending on the pronoun that you use.

You can also use demonstrative pronouns with a noun.

Examples:
This party is boring. (singular)
That city is busy. (singular)
These chocolates are delicious. (plural)
Those flowers are beautiful. (plural)

If an action is near in time we tend to use this / these.
If an action has finished or is in the past we use that / those.

Examples:
This is a good meal. (at the time of eating)
Those girls we met last night were silly. (an event that happened in the past).

The expressions this is / that is are also common when you talk on the phone or you introduce people.

Examples:
“Hello, this is Peter.”
Carol, this is my friend Simon. Simon, this is Carol.