Chapter 5
Pronouns
THEORY
1. Kinds of Pronouns
| Kind | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Refer to persons/things by grammatical person | I, we, you, he, she, it, they |
| Possessive | Show ownership (stand alone) | mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs |
| Reflexive / Emphatic | Refer back to / emphasise the subject | myself, himself, themselves |
| Demonstrative | Point out | this, that, these, those |
| Indefinite | Refer to no particular person/thing | one, some, any, none, all, few, everybody |
| Distributive | Refer to one at a time | each, either, neither |
| Relative | Join clauses and refer to a noun | who, whom, whose, which, that, what |
| Interrogative | Ask questions | who? whom? whose? which? what? |
| Reciprocal | Mutual relation | each other, one another |
2. Case of Personal Pronouns
| Person | Nominative (Subject) | Objective (Object) | Possessive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sing. | I | me | my / mine |
| 1st plural | we | us | our / ours |
| 2nd | you | you | your / yours |
| 3rd masc. | he | him | his |
| 3rd fem. | she | her | her / hers |
| 3rd neuter | it | it | its |
| 3rd plural | they | them | their / theirs |
Golden Rule: Use the nominative as the subject and the objective after a verb or preposition. Between you and me (not "I"); Let him and me go (not "he and I").
Five solved examples:
- Between you and me, the plan is risky. → after preposition "between".
- Let him and me decide. → after "let" (objective).
- It was he who broke it. → complement of "was" (nominative).
- She is taller than I (am). → "than" + understood verb → nominative.
- They invited my brother and me. → object of "invited".
3. Pronoun after "than" and "as"
After than and as, the case of the pronoun depends on the verb understood.
| Sentence | Case | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| He is stronger than I (am). | Nominative | "I am" understood (subject) |
| I like you more than (I like) him. | Objective | "him" is the object |
| I like you more than he (likes you). | Nominative | "he likes" understood |
Exam Tip: Complete the elliptical sentence mentally to choose the case. The meaning changes: "I like you more than him" ≠ "I like you more than he".
4. Reflexive vs. Emphatic Pronouns
| Use | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexive | Object is the same as the subject | He hurt himself. |
| Emphatic | Stresses the subject; can be removed | I myself saw it. |
Warning: Do not use a reflexive pronoun as a subject or after a preposition where a personal pronoun is needed. Wrong: Myself and Ram went. Right: Ram and I went. Some verbs (absent, avail, enjoy, pride, exert, resign, acquit, betake, overreach) usually require a reflexive object: He absented himself.
5. Distributive and Reciprocal Pronouns
- Each, either, neither are singular → take a singular verb and singular pronoun. Each of the boys has his book.
- Either / Neither are used for two; for more than two use any / none / no one.
- Each other → for two; one another → for more than two. The two friends love each other; the players helped one another.
6. Relative Pronouns — who / whom / whose / which / that
| Pronoun | Used for | Function |
|---|---|---|
| who | persons | subject |
| whom | persons | object |
| whose | persons (and things) | possessive |
| which | animals / things | subject/object |
| that | persons, animals, things | subject/object (defining clauses) |
"That" preferred after: superlatives (the best that…), "all, only, same, none, any, nothing", and after two antecedents (persons + things). "Which" with commas = non-defining (extra information).
Five solved examples:
- This is the man who helped me. → subject of "helped".
- The man whom I met is rich. → object of "met".
- It is the best book that I have read. → after superlative.
- He is the same boy that won last year. → after "same".
- My car, which is new, broke down. → non-defining (commas).
7. Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement
- A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number, person, and gender.
- Two singular nouns joined by and → plural pronoun (Ram and Shyam did their work).
- Singular nouns joined by or / nor → singular pronoun (Neither Ram nor Mohan did his work).
- Each, every, everyone, anybody, nobody → singular pronoun (traditionally "his"; modern usage allows "their").
- Order of persons in a list — 231 rule: when admitting a fault, put the 1st person first (I and you were wrong); otherwise 2-3-1 (You, he and I).
COMMON EXAM ERRORS
| # | Wrong | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Between you and I. | Between you and me. | After a preposition → objective. |
| 2 | Let he go. | Let him go. | After "let" → objective. |
| 3 | Myself and my friend went. | My friend and I went. | Reflexive cannot be the subject. |
| 4 | He is taller than me. | He is taller than I (am). | "I am" understood → nominative. |
| 5 | It is me. | It is I. (formal) | Complement of "be" → nominative (formal British). |
| 6 | Each of the boys have their book. | Each of the boys has his book. | "Each" is singular. |
| 7 | Neither of the two are present. | Neither of the two is present. | "Neither" is singular. |
| 8 | The two brothers love one another. | The two brothers love each other. | "each other" for two. |
| 9 | All the boys helped each other. | All the boys helped one another. | "one another" for more than two. |
| 10 | Everyone must do their duty. (strict) | Everyone must do his duty. | "Everyone" is singular (traditional). |
| 11 | The man which came is my uncle. | The man who came is my uncle. | "who" for persons. |
| 12 | This is the boy whom I think is honest. | This is the boy who I think is honest. | "who" is subject of "is honest". |
| 13 | It is one of the best book that I read. | …one of the best books that I have read. | "one of" + plural noun; tense. |
| 14 | Ram and Shyam did his work. | Ram and Shyam did their work. | Two nouns + "and" → plural. |
| 15 | Neither Ram nor Mohan did their work. | …did his work. | Singular nouns + "nor" → singular. |
| 16 | Each boy and each girl did their best. | …did his or her best. | "Each…and…" → singular. |
| 17 | I, you and he are friends. | You, he and I are friends. | Order of persons (2-3-1). |
| 18 | Everybody has done their work. | Everybody has done his work. | "Everybody" singular (traditional exam answer). |
| 19 | The dog wagged its' tail. | The dog wagged its tail. | "its" (no apostrophe) is possessive. |
| 20 | Who are you waiting for? (formal: whom) | For whom are you waiting? | Object of "for" → whom (formal). |
| 21 | One should keep his promise. | One should keep one's promise. | "one" continues with "one's". |
| 22 | These kind of things annoy me. | This kind of thing annoys me. | Demonstrative–noun agreement. |
| 23 | He enjoyed during the holidays. | He enjoyed himself during the holidays. | "enjoy" needs a reflexive object. |
| 24 | He availed of the offer. | He availed himself of the offer. | "avail" requires a reflexive. |
| 25 | Whom do you think will win? | Who do you think will win? | "who" is the subject of "will win". |
EXAM TRICKS
- Drop-the-other-noun test: For "He invited my sister and (I/me)", remove "my sister and" → "He invited me." → use me.
- Complete the ellipsis: After "than/as", mentally add the verb to fix the case.
- who/whom test: Replace with he/him — if "he" fits, use who; if "him" fits, use whom.
- Two vs. more-than-two: either/neither/each-other for two; any/none/one-another for more.
- Distractor: Setters tempt "between you and I", "than me", "everyone…their", and "the man which".
FREQUENTLY CONFUSED PAIRS
| Pair | Distinction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / me | subject / object | I went / gave it to me |
| who / whom | subject / object | who came / whom I met |
| which / that | non-defining / defining | my car, which… / the car that… |
| each other / one another | two / more than two | the couple / the team |
| its / it's | possessive / it is | its tail / it's late |
| everyone / every one | people / each individual thing | everyone is here / every one of the books |
EXCEPTIONS — Important, Rare & Advanced
- Singular "they" (Modern): Increasingly accepted for an unknown-gender antecedent (Someone left their bag). For UPESSC, the traditional singular "his/her" is usually the keyed answer unless options say otherwise.
- "It" as an introductory/impersonal subject: It is raining; It is hard to say. "It" has no antecedent.
- "We/You" used indefinitely: We must obey the law (= people in general).
- Possessive before a gerund (Advanced): Use the possessive — I don't like his coming late (not "him coming"), in strict grammar.
- "Whose" for things: Acceptable to avoid the clumsy "of which" — a house whose roof leaks.
50 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Easy (1–15)
1. Between you and ______, the secret is safe.
(a) I (b) me (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) me
Explanation: After the preposition "between" → objective case.
2. Let him and ______ finish the work.
(a) I (b) me (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) me
Explanation: After "let" → objective case.
3. This is the man ______ helped me.
(a) which (b) whom (c) who (d) whose
Answer: (c) who
Explanation: "who" for persons, as subject of "helped".
4. Each of the boys ______ a pen.
(a) have (b) has (c) are having (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: "Each" is singular.
5. The dog wagged ______ tail.
(a) it's (b) its (c) its' (d) his
Answer: (b) its
Explanation: "its" is the possessive (no apostrophe).
6. The two sisters love ______.
(a) one another (b) themselves (c) each other (d) ourselves
Answer: (c) each other
Explanation: "each other" is used for two.
7. He hurt ______ while playing.
(a) him (b) himself (c) his (d) hisself
Answer: (b) himself
Explanation: Reflexive: subject acts on itself.
8. The book ______ I bought is interesting.
(a) who (b) whom (c) which (d) whose
Answer: (c) which
Explanation: "which" for things.
9. Neither of the two boys ______ present.
(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: "Neither" is singular.
10. Ram and Shyam did ______ work.
(a) his (b) their (c) its (d) her
Answer: (b) their
Explanation: Two nouns + "and" → plural pronoun.
11. Who broke the window? It was ______.
(a) me (b) I (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) I
Explanation: Complement of "be" → nominative (formal British).
12. ______ is your favourite, this or that?
(a) Who (b) Whom (c) Which (d) Whose
Answer: (c) Which
Explanation: "Which" for selection among things.
13. I ______ saw the accident.
(a) me (b) myself (c) mine (d) my
Answer: (b) myself
Explanation: Emphatic pronoun stressing the subject.
14. The pen is ______.
(a) my (b) mine (c) me (d) myself
Answer: (b) mine
Explanation: Possessive pronoun standing alone.
15. Everybody must do ______ duty.
(a) their (b) his (c) our (d) its
Answer: (b) his
Explanation: "Everybody" is singular (traditional answer).
Moderate (16–35)
16. He is taller than ______.
(a) me (b) I (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) I
Explanation: "than I (am)"; verb understood → nominative.
17. The man ______ I met yesterday is a doctor.
(a) who (b) whom (c) which (d) whose
Answer: (b) whom
Explanation: Object of "met" → whom.
18. All the players congratulated ______.
(a) each other (b) one another (c) themselves (d) ourselves
Answer: (b) one another
Explanation: More than two → one another.
19. It is the best film ______ I have ever seen.
(a) which (b) who (c) that (d) what
Answer: (c) that
Explanation: "that" preferred after a superlative.
20. Neither Ram nor his brothers ______ done the work.
(a) has (b) have (c) is (d) was
Answer: (b) have
Explanation: Verb agrees with the nearer subject "brothers" (plural).
21. One should keep ______ word.
(a) his (b) one's (c) their (d) your
Answer: (b) one's
Explanation: "One" continues with "one's".
22. ______ do you think will win the race?
(a) Whom (b) Who (c) Which (d) Whose
Answer: (b) Who
Explanation: Subject of "will win" → who.
23. I like her more than ______ (i.e., than he likes her).
(a) him (b) he (c) his (d) himself
Answer: (b) he
Explanation: "than he (likes her)" → nominative.
24. Each boy and each girl ______ given a prize.
(a) were (b) was (c) have (d) are
Answer: (b) was
Explanation: "Each…and each…" → singular.
25. The jury gave ______ verdict unanimously.
(a) their (b) its (c) his (d) our
Answer: (b) its
Explanation: Acting as one body → singular "its".
26. ______ and I are good friends.
(a) Me and you (b) You and he (c) He and me (d) I and he
Answer: (b) You and he
Explanation: Order of persons 2-3-1 (You, he and I).
27. He availed ______ of the opportunity.
(a) — (b) him (c) himself (d) his
Answer: (c) himself
Explanation: "avail" requires a reflexive object.
28. This is the same watch ______ I lost.
(a) which (b) who (c) that (d) what
Answer: (c) that
Explanation: "that" follows "same".
29. My car, ______ is quite old, still runs well.
(a) that (b) which (c) who (d) what
Answer: (b) which
Explanation: Non-defining clause (commas) → which.
30. ______ of the two roads leads to the station.
(a) Any (b) None (c) Either (d) All
Answer: (c) Either
Explanation: "Either" for one of two.
31. He did not like ______ coming late.
(a) me (b) my (c) I (d) mine
Answer: (b) my
Explanation: Possessive before a gerund (strict grammar).
32. ______ kind of mangoes is the sweetest?
(a) These (b) Those (c) Which (d) What a
Answer: (c) Which
Explanation: Interrogative selecting among kinds.
33. The teacher praised the boy ______ essay won the prize.
(a) who (b) whom (c) whose (d) which
Answer: (c) whose
Explanation: Possessive relative → whose.
34. Somebody has left ______ umbrella here.
(a) their (b) his (c) its (d) our
Answer: (b) his
Explanation: "Somebody" is singular (traditional keyed answer).
35. They invited my wife and ______ to the party.
(a) I (b) me (c) myself (d) mine
Answer: (b) me
Explanation: Object of "invited"; drop-the-noun test → me.
Difficult (36–50)
36. He is one of those men who ______ never satisfied.
(a) is (b) are (c) was (d) has been
Answer: (b) are
Explanation: "who" refers to "those men" (plural) → are.
37. It was ______ who first objected to the plan.
(a) him (b) he (c) his (d) himself
Answer: (b) he
Explanation: "It was he who…"; complement → nominative.
38. Choose the correct sentence:
(a) The man and his dog which were lost. (b) The man and his dog that were lost. (c) The man and his dog who were lost. (d) The man and his dog whom were lost.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: For mixed antecedents (person + animal) use "that".
39. None of the students ______ done the homework.
(a) has (b) have (c) is (d) was
Answer: (b) have
Explanation: "None" + plural noun commonly takes a plural verb.
40. I, who ______ your friend, will help you.
(a) is (b) are (c) am (d) be
Answer: (c) am
Explanation: The relative "who" agrees with the antecedent "I" → am.
41. Each of the women had done ______ best.
(a) their (b) her (c) his (d) its
Answer: (b) her
Explanation: "Each" is singular; antecedent feminine → her.
42. He talks as if he ______ everything.
(a) knows (b) knew (c) has known (d) know
Answer: (b) knew
Explanation: "as if" + past subjunctive (unreal present); pronoun "he" subject.
43. Choose the correct pronoun usage:
(a) Let you and I try. (b) Let you and me try. (c) Let we try. (d) Let I and you try.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: After "let", both pronouns objective; order "you and me".
44. He is the only one of the boys who ______ trustworthy.
(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have been
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: "the only one" → "who" refers to "one" (singular) → is.
45. Whom did you give the book? — I gave it to ______.
(a) he (b) him (c) his (d) himself
Answer: (b) him
Explanation: Object of preposition "to" → objective.
46. Choose the correct sentence:
(a) Everyone of the players did their best. (b) Every one of the players did his best. (c) Everyone of the player did his best. (d) Every one of the players did their best.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: "Every one of" (each individual) + plural noun + singular "his".
47. The committee were divided in ______ opinions.
(a) its (b) their (c) his (d) our
Answer: (b) their
Explanation: Members acting separately → plural "their".
48. Identify the correctly framed question:
(a) Who are you waiting for, formally? (b) For whom are you waiting? (c) Whom is waiting for you? (d) Who whom are you waiting?
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Object of "for" → whom (formal British).
49. Such ______ help the poor are respected.
(a) who (b) which (c) as (d) that
Answer: (c) as
Explanation: After "such", the relative is "as".
50. There is no one but ______ admires her courage.
(a) who (b) which (c) that (d) whom
Answer: (c) that
Explanation: "but" (= except) as a relative takes "that" here (= no one who does not admire).