Pronouns are words that play an extremely important role in creating complete, coherent sentences and avoiding repetition. Mastering how to use pronouns will not only help you demonstrate a solid level of English in the IELTS test but also communicate effectively in everyday conversations. So, what is a Pronoun and what types of pronouns are there in English? Let's find out with IDP!
1. What Is a Pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun or noun phrase. It helps avoid repetition, making sentences clearer and more natural.
Example:
Without pronoun: Mary is a student. Mary is intelligent.
With pronoun: Mary is a student. She is intelligent.
Here “She” is a personal pronoun replacing “Mary.” Dictionaries often mark pronouns with “pron.”
2. Roles and Positions of Pronouns
Pronouns can function like nouns:
As subject (start of sentence): They have known each other for eight years.
As object (after verb): She sent me a gift.
As complement (after linking verb): Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.
As object of preposition: She received a letter from him.
3. Types of Pronouns
3.1 Personal Pronouns
Replace people or things. They include:
Person | Subject | Object |
1st singular | I | me |
2nd singular | you | you |
3rd singular | he/she/it | him/her/it |
1st plural | we | us |
2nd plural | you | you |
3rd plural | they | them |
Example: “They are my cousins, so I understand them.”
3.2 Possessive Pronouns
Show ownership and stand alone:
I → mine
You → yours
He → his
She → hers
We → ours
They → theirs
It → its
Example: These books are great favorites of mine.
3.3 Reflexive Pronouns
End in -self or -selves and refer back to the subject:
I → myself
You → yourself/yourselves
He → himself
She → herself
We → ourselves
They → themselves
It → itself
Example: He bought himself skates.
3.4 Relative Pronouns
Connect clauses and refer back to nouns: who, whom, whose, which, that
Example: The boy who is wearing the black shirt is my neighbor.
3.5 Demonstrative Pronouns
Point to specific things: this, these, that, those
Example: This is a good example of his poetry.
3.6 Interrogative Pronouns
Begin questions: who, whom, what, which, whose
Example: Who do you think will win?
3.7 Indefinite Pronouns
Refer to unspecified people or things:
Singular: something, somebody, everything, nobody…
Plural: several, many, few…
Both: any, some, all, most…
Example: I need something cold to drink.
3.8 Reciprocal Pronouns
Express mutual actions: each other (two people), one another (more than two)
Example: The children here are friendly with one another.
4. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Replace the underlined words with possessive pronouns:
Marianne liked my cookies more than your cookies. → Marianne liked my cookies more than yours.
Sherlock, is that your car? → Sherlock, is that yours?
Did you find the cat’s bell? → Did you find its bell?
That is not their car. This black one is their car. → That is not their car. This black one is theirs.
Whose bike is this? Is it his bike? → Whose bike is this? Is it his?
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with correct pronouns:
Last year we went to Antalya to visit ___ grandparents… → …to visit our grandparents. They were glad to see us. …
Exercise 3: Answer the questions with interrogative pronouns:
___ is your name? → What is your name?
___ are you going with? → Who are you going with? … and so on.
Mastering Pronouns with IDP
Understanding pronouns helps improve coherence in both conversation and IELTS writing. Practice regularly and use IDP’s free study materials and mock tests to reinforce these skills.
Register for an IELTS test with IDP today!