Types of pronouns
Types of pronouns refers to the different categories of words that replace nouns to avoid repetition, such as personal (he, they), possessive (mine, their), reflexive (myself), demonstrative (this, those), relative (who, which) and indefinite (someone, everything) pronouns. Each type performs a specific grammatical job in a sentence.
Types of types of pronouns
Personal pronouns
Refer to specific people or things and change form based on subject or object position.
e.g. I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them
Possessive pronouns
Show ownership and replace a noun phrase completely, without a following noun.
e.g. mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs
Reflexive and intensive pronouns
End in -self/-selves; reflexive pronouns show the subject and object are the same, intensive pronouns add emphasis.
e.g. myself, yourself, himself, themselves, ourselves
Demonstrative pronouns
Point to specific things or people, indicating nearness or distance in place or time.
e.g. this, that, these, those
Relative pronouns
Introduce relative clauses and connect them to the noun they describe.
e.g. who, whom, whose, which, that
Indefinite pronouns
Refer to people or things without specifying exactly who or what they are.
e.g. someone, anybody, everything, few, several, none
Rules to remember
- A pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun it replaces (its antecedent): 'Sarah lost her keys', not 'their keys' unless plural.
- Personal pronouns change form depending on whether they are the subject (I, he, they) or the object (me, him, them) of a verb or preposition.
- Possessive pronouns stand alone and are never followed by a noun; possessive adjectives like 'my' or 'her' are followed by a noun instead.
- Reflexive pronouns are used only when the subject and object of the verb are the same person or thing.
- Relative pronouns must match the type of noun they refer to: 'who' or 'whom' for people, 'which' for things, and 'that' for either in restrictive clauses.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| She gave the report to him before the meeting started. | 'She' and 'him' are personal pronouns acting as subject and object. |
| This laptop is mine, and that one is yours. | 'Mine' and 'yours' are possessive pronouns; 'this' and 'that' are demonstratives. |
| He taught himself to play the guitar over the summer. | 'Himself' is a reflexive pronoun because the subject and object are the same person. |
| The colleague who helped me with the project has now left the company. | 'Who' is a relative pronoun introducing a clause describing 'colleague'. |
| Everyone in the room agreed with the proposal. | 'Everyone' is an indefinite pronoun referring to an unspecified group. |
| These are the documents that need signing by Friday. | 'These' is demonstrative and 'that' is a relative pronoun introducing the clause. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: This is her's book.
Correct: This book is hers.
Incorrect: He hurt himself accidentally by himself.
Correct: He hurt himself accidentally.
Incorrect: The student who's essay won the prize was delighted.
Correct: The student whose essay won the prize was delighted.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using a wide range of pronoun types accurately, especially relative pronouns in complex sentences and possessive pronouns instead of repeating nouns, demonstrates sentence variety and cohesion, both of which are assessed under Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Examiners also check pronoun-antecedent agreement carefully, so consistent, error-free use across a long essay or speaking response signals strong control of grammar rather than memorised phrases.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of pronouns?
The main types are personal, possessive, reflexive/intensive, demonstrative, relative and indefinite pronouns, each replacing nouns in a different grammatical role.
What is the difference between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives?
Possessive pronouns like 'mine' and 'theirs' stand alone and replace a noun entirely, while possessive adjectives like 'my' and 'their' must be followed by a noun.
Can 'that' be used as both a demonstrative and a relative pronoun?
Yes, 'that' points to a specific thing as a demonstrative pronoun (I want that) but also introduces a relative clause (the book that I read).
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