Pronouns – the Proxy Nouns
Pronouns are the words used in place of nouns. It means, the
words that stand for nouns i.e. perform the function of nouns and can replace
them are known as pronouns. Thus, pronouns can also be labeled as proxy
pronouns. Here, it must be kept in mind that while using a pronoun in subjective
and objective cases, it may retain its form or it may undergo a change; which
does not happen in case of a noun.
Examples of Pronouns :
I, we, you, they, he, she, it, this, that, these, those,
what, which, who, whose, whom, mine, yours, his, him, her, hers, theirs, each,
everyone, none, everybody, some, somebody, someone, either, neither, all, few,
both, many, each other and one another etc.
An important point to note is that role of a word depends
upon its usage. As such, same word may perform different functions / roles in
same or different sentences. Certain pronouns like ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘which’ etc
may be used as adjectives as well. Similarly, ‘which’, ‘where’ and ‘who’ may be
used as conjunctives (conjunctions); while ‘here’ and ‘there’ may be used as
pronouns as well as adverbs.
Study of pronouns discussed under
the following topics will make the things clearer to you.
- Types of Pronouns
- Position / Function of Pronouns
- Pronouns vs Nouns
- Pronouns vs Adjectives
- Relative Pronouns vs Conjunctions
- Reflexive Pronouns vs Emphatic Pronouns