Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Grammar Pronouns
♦ Pronouns (Text Book Page No.: 142-144)
A pronoun is a word or phrase that substitutes a noun or a noun phrase. There are ten types of pronouns generally used.
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or noun phrase. Using pronouns correctly eliminates unnecessary noun repetition in your writing.
Unnecessary repetition:
e.g. Mary is in Mary’s office, but Mary asked not to be interrupted.
Usage of Pronoun eliminates repetition:
e.g. Mary is in her office, but she asked not to be interrupted.
Personal Pronouns:
Personal pronouns refer to people and things; they can be singular or plural, and their form often changes according to their grammatical function in a sentence, as seen in the table below:
Pronoun as Subject:
- we
- you
- he
- she
- it
- they
Pronoun as Subject:
- Me
- us
- you
- him
- her
- it
- them
Possessive:
- my/mine
- our / ours
- your/yours
- his
- her/hers
- its
- our/ours
- your/yours
- their /theirs
Demonstrative Pronouns (this, that, these, those)
Demonstrative pronouns identify or point to a noun.
e.g., This lab report is due tomorrow.
e.g., That looks like the computer I used to have.
e.g., Put these pencils on your desk.
e.g., Those were the best days of my life.
Relative Pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that)
Relative pronouns begin adjective clauses and usually refer to the noun that comes right before them.
e.g., Senthil Kumar is a manager whom everyone respects.
e.g., I don’t know who is responsible for setting up the lab equipment.
e.g., You need to talk to the students whose laptops were stolen.
e.g., My textbook, which costs Rs. 125, is missing.
e.g., The new software lacks many of the benefits that the company promised.
Exercises: Type -1
Fill in with relative pronouns.
Question 1.
I met a woman _______ can speak six languages.
Answer:
who
Question 2.
What’s the name of the man _______ lives next door?
Answer:
who
Question 3.
What’s the name of the river _______ goes through the city?
Answer:
which
Question 4.
Everybody _______ I met at the party enjoyed it very much.
Answer:
whom
Question 5.
Do you know anybody _______ wants to buy a car?
Answer:
who
Question 6.
Where is the picture _______ was on the wall?
Answer:
which
Question 7.
She always asks me questions _______ are difficult to answer.
Answer:
that
Question 8.
I have a friend _______ is very good at repairing cars.
Answer:
who
Question 9.
A coffee-maker is a machine _______ makes coffee.
Answer:
that
Question 10.
Why does he always wear clothes _______ are too small for him?
Answer:
which
Exercises: Type – 2
Combine the following sentences using a relative pronoun.
Question 1.
A girl is now in hospital. She was injured in the accident.
Answer:
A girl who was injured in the accident is now in hospital.
Question 2.
A man told me you were away. He answered the phone.
Answer:
A man who answered the phone told me you were away.
Question 3.
A waitress Was very impolite and impatient. She served us.
Answer:
A waitress who served us was very impolite and impatient.
Question 4.
A building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
Answer:
A building which has now been rebuilt was destroyed in the fire.
Question 5.
A bus goes to the airport. It runs every half hour.
Answer:
A bus which goes to the airport rims every half hour.
Question 6.
I saw the man. He closed the door.
Answer:
I saw the man who closed the door.
Question 7.
The girl is happy. She won the race.
Answer:
The girl who won the race is happy.
Question 8.
The student is from Chennai. He sits next to me.
Answer:
The student who sits next to me is from Chennai.
Question 9.
We are studying sentences. They contain adjective clauses.
Answer:
We are studying sentences that contain adjective clauses.
Question 10.
The taxi driver was friendly. He took me to the airport.
Answer:
The taxi driver who took me to the airport was friendly.