Four Types of Pronouns
| Person | Subject pronoun | Object pronoun | Possessive adjective | Possessive pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sing | I | me | my | mine | myself |
| 2nd sing | you | you | your | yours | yourself |
| 3rd sing (m) | he | him | his | his | himself |
| 3rd sing (f) | she | her | her | hers | herself |
| 3rd sing (neut) | it | it | its | — | itself |
| 1st pl | we | us | our | ours | ourselves |
| 2nd pl | you | you | your | yours | yourselves |
| 3rd pl | they | them | their | theirs | themselves |
When to use each type
| Type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject pronoun | Before the verb (subject) | She is my friend. |
| Object pronoun | After verb or preposition | Can you help me? I'm talking about him. |
| Possessive adjective | Before a noun | My book is on the table. |
| Possessive pronoun | Stands alone (no noun) | That book is mine. |
| Reflexive pronoun | Same subject & object; emphasis | She cut herself. I did it myself. |
Warning
Do not confuse its (possessive) and it's (= it is):
- The dog wagged its tail.
- It's raining. (= It is raining.)
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Me and my friend went. | My friend and I went. | Use subject pronoun |
| Between you and I. | Between you and me. | Use object after prepositions |
| Their are three cats. | There are three cats. | their/there confusion |
Real world: formal email
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to inquire about your vacancy. We would appreciate it if you could reply at your earliest convenience. Please send us the details and we will review them.
Real world: customer service call
Customer: Excuse me, can you help me? I ordered a product and it hasn't arrived. Agent: Of course. Can you give me your order number? We'll look into it for you right away.
Tip Personal pronouns are the building blocks of every English sentence. Subject pronouns (I, she, we) go before the verb; object pronouns (me, her, us) go after the verb or preposition. You use them in every email, text, conversation, and essay — mastering them is essential.
Practice Problems
Choose the correct pronoun: (She/Her) and (I/me) went to the library.
Show answer
She and I went to the library.
Fill in: The cat hurt ___. (reflexive)
Show answer
The cat hurt itself.
Fill in: Is this bag ___? (mine/my)
Show answer
Is this bag mine?
Explain the difference: 'my' vs 'mine'.
Show answer
'My' is a possessive adjective and comes before a noun (my book). 'Mine' is a possessive pronoun and stands alone (the book is mine).