2) Errors in Pronouns

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We have already seen that pronouns are very important. Let us study pronouns in detail.
A sentence usually has a verb. eg. Go.
In some case, there is both a subject and a verb.eg. The sun rises.There is no need of an object in a sentence.
Subject - Doer of an action/ speaker
Verb - Action
First person - The one who is speaking
Second person - The one who is spoken to
Third person - The one who is spoken about
Subjective pronouns refer to the subject (doer of action across all persons)
Objective pronouns refer to the object (the action is done on them)
Possessive pronouns indicate possession or belonging. eg. This is my book.
Reflexive pronouns - Here the subject is the same as the object.

SUBJECTIVE –

First Person Pronouns - I, we

Second Person Pronouns - you, you
Third Person Pronouns – he, she, they

Impersonal Pronouns – it, who, that

OBJECTIVE -

First Person Pronouns - me, us

Second Person Pronouns - you, you
Third Person Pronouns – Him, her, them

Impersonal Pronouns – it, whom

POSSESSIVE -

First Person Pronouns – my,mine,our,ours

Second Person Pronouns - your, yours
Third Person Pronouns – his,her(s),their(s)

Impersonal Pronouns – its, whose

REFLEXIVE -

First Person Pronouns - myself, ourselves

Second Person Pronouns - yourself, yourselves
Third Person Pronouns – himself, herself, themselves

Impersonal Pronouns – itself

a) Difference between 'who' and 'whom'
'who' is a subjective pronoun.'whom' is an objective pronoun.
eg. My uncle who is abroad is coming to India for vacations.(Here uncle is the subject).
eg. John is the actor whom everybody loves.(Here everybody is the subject and John is the object).

b) Difference between 'who' and 'that'
'who' is used for persons.'that' is used for animals, things and persons of lower respect. Hence it would be wrong to say ' My dog who guards the house.....'
The correct statement would be 'My dog that guards the house....'.But it is right to say 'The milkman that gets us the milk....'

c) Difference between ''its" and "it's"
"its" is a possessive pronoun."it's" is not a pronoun. It is a short form of "It is"
eg. It's growing dark.
eg. Its tail is black in colour.

d) Difference between 'that' and 'which'
'which' provides simple (general) information whereas that is used for a
restrictive clause or to make the meaning more specific.'which' is also used for animals and objects.
eg. Go get the red book that is on the table.
This sentence implies that there are many books in the room and you have to get a specific book viz, the red book on the table.(specifying or restricting the choice)
eg. Go get the red book which is on the table.
This sentence implies that there is a single book in the room (generalising)

e) Reflexive pronoun - Here subject is same as the object.
eg.I looked at myself in the mirror. (Here myself is a reflexive pronoun)(If you notice, there is no pronoun next to or very close to the word 'myself')

f) Emphatic pronoun - Used for emphasis.
eg. You yourselves have to complete the job on time. (Here yourselves is an emphatic pronoun, there is a pronoun 'you' close to 'yourselves')

g) Demonstrative pronoun - In the sentences below,'that', 'these', 'those' are demonstrative pronouns.
eg. I want that camera, I wish to purchase those pictures, I need to borrow these books.

Have fun and learn to identify pronoun errors.
Pronouns, prepositions and articles are very important error types in the Parts of Speech section