Pronouns for ESL Students: A Complete Guide

1. Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns replace the person or thing doing the action.

• I
• You (singular – for one person or plural for more than one person)
• He
• She
• It
• We (used when you are talking about another person and yourself)
• They

Examples

1. I like pizza.
2. You are my friend. (singular) You are my friends. (plural)
3. John is in my grammar class. He is very smart.
4. Regina is at the library. She is studying for an exam.
5. My dog is a puppy. It is very playful.
6. Alejandra and I are at the mall. We are shopping for clothes.
7. John and Maria live in Guanajuato. They are professors at the university.

View our complete guide on Subject Pronouns

2. Object Pronouns

Object pronouns replace the person or thing that receives the action. They answer the question “who?” or “what?” after the verb or a preposition.

Each Subject Pronoun has a matching Object Pronoun

How they work together

1. When the pronoun is doing the action, use a subject pronoun.

I eat chocolate.

She is studying English.

We are driving to Austin to watch the game.

2. When the pronoun is receiving the action, use the object pronoun.

The teacher likes me. (Likes who? Like me)

Everyone is helping her. (Helping who? Helping her)

My dogs love it. (Love what? Love it)

⚖️ Common Mistakes ESL Students Make

❌ Us are going to the store.
✅ We are going to the store. (subject pronoun, not object, is needed here)

❌ Me am a student.
✅ I am a student. (subject pronoun, not object, is needed here)

❌ She loves I.
✅ She loves me. (object pronoun needed after the verb)

👉 Quick Tip

If the pronoun is at the beginning of the sentence, it’s usually a subject pronoun.
If the pronoun comes after a verb or preposition, it’s usually an object pronoun.

3. Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership and replace a noun.

They can be the subject or the object.

Examples

1. I have a book. It is mine. (‘mine’ replaces the noun ‘book’ – the object)
2. This is my pen. Is this yours? (‘yours’ replaces the noun ‘pen’)
3. Maria’s phone is on the desk. Where is hers? (‘hers’ replaces the noun ‘phone’ – the subject)
4. ‘Its’ as a possessive pronoun is rarely used, so we won’t discuss it here.
5. Karina and Diego’s car is fast. Ours is slow. (‘ours’ replaces the noun ‘car’ – the subject)
6. We have a small home. Theirs is big. (‘their’ replaces the noun ‘home’ – the object)

Possessive pronouns never come before a noun.

❌ Mine book

✅ This book is mine.

4. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject.

Examples

1. I made the cake myself.
2. Can you drive yourself to class?
3. He started the business himself.
4. Regina wrote the essay herself. She didn’t use ChatGPT.
5. My cat cleans itself.
6. Diego and I created the ad campaign ourselves.
7. They painted the house themselves.

⚖️ Common Reflexive Pronoun Errors

Using a reflexive pronoun instead of a subject pronoun

❌ Myself went to the store.
✅ I went to the store.

Using a reflexive pronoun instead of an object pronoun

❌ She told myself the answer.
✅ She told me the answer.

Forgetting to use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same

❌ He looked at him in the mirror.
✅ He looked at himself in the mirror.

Overusing reflexive pronouns for emphasis

❌ Myself will finish the project.
✅ I will finish the project myself. (Reflexive pronouns can be used for emphasis, but they don’t replace the subject.)

Confusing singular and plural forms

❌ We did it by myself.
✅ We did it by ourselves.

❌ They introduced hisself.
✅ They introduced themselves.

Using reflexive pronouns where no object is needed

❌ She sat herself on the chair.
✅ She sat on the chair.

Using the wrong reflexive form

❌ He hurt hisself while playing.
✅ He hurt himself while playing.

❌ You should be proud of meself.
✅ You should be proud of yourself.

Forgetting that itself can’t describe people

❌ The baby can feed itself. (⚠️ This is okay only if we don’t want to specify gender, but usually…)
✅ The baby can feed himself / herself.

👉 Quick Tip

Use a reflexive pronoun only when the subject and the object are the same (I taught myself Spanish). Otherwise, use a subject or object pronoun.

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive or reflexive pronoun

1. This book belongs to me. It is ___ .
2. She fixed the computer by ___ .
3. These bags belong to Carlos and Maria. They are ___ .
4. Don’t worry, I can do it by ___ .
5. That phone isn’t mine. Is it ___ ?
6. We built this house all by ___ .
7. He looked at ___ in the mirror before the interview.
8. The cat cleaned ___ with its tongue.
9. This pen is hers, not ___ .
10. Did you two enjoy ___ at the party?
11. The children hurt ___ while playing outside.
12. That’s my seat. It’s not ___ .

5. Demonstrative Pronouns – This, That, These, and Those

This, that, these, and those are used to describe the existence of something or someone, often with a location.  

Affirmative Statements with This or That

Remember!! Singular = 1

This/That + the Be verb is (or a singular noun) + other information

Use this to talk about something or someone that is next to or near you.

Examples

This is my yoga mat. 

This is her newspaper.

This song is my favorite.

Use that to talk about something or someone that is not next to you.

Examples

That is an umbrella. 

That is an airport.

That tent is Reginas. 

Affirmative Statements with These or Those

Remember!! Plural = 2 or more

These/Those + the Be verb are (or a plural noun) + other information.

Use these to talk about more than one thing or person that is next to or near you.

Examples

These are my clothes.

These are her headphones.

These recipes are from my grandmother.                      

Use those to talk about more than one thing or person that is not next to you.

Examples

Those are clean clothes.

Those trails are difficult.

Those spoons are dirty.

Negative Statements with demonstrative pronouns

The negative (not) goes after the Be verb.

Examples

This is not my passport.

That is not her newspaper.

These are not his paintings.

Those magazines are not theirs.

Yes/No Questions and Short Answers with demonstrative pronouns

A Be verb + (a demonstrative pronoun) + a noun + other information.

Examples

Is this yoga mat expensive? Yes, it is. / No, its’ not. / No, it isn’t.

Is that song your favorite? Yes, it is. / No, it’s not. / No, it isn’t.

Are these books hers? Yes, they are. / No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.

Are those songs on Spotify? Yes, they are. / No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.

Remember!!

Affirmative answers are not contracted

❌ Yes, she’s.

✅ Yes, she is.

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative pronoun

1. ___ is my favorite movie. (pointing to a DVD in your hand)
2. ___ are my best friends. (showing a photo of friends)
3. ___ is a beautiful day! (talking about today’s weather)
4. ___ tastes delicious. (eating a piece of cake)
5. ___ is my brother over there. (pointing across the street)
6. ___ is very expensive. (looking at a car nearby)
7. ___ are my shoes by the door.
8. Who is ___ standing next to Maria? (pointing to one person)
9. ___ is my teacher’s desk. (close to you)
10. ___ were the best days of my life. (talking about years ago)
11. ___ is my favorite pen. (holding one pen in your hand)
12. ___ are the mountains we visited last summer. (showing photos)

6. Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns connect a main clause with a relative clause (a dependent clause that describes a noun). They act as the subject or object inside the relative clause.

a. Who

• Refers to people (as the subject of the relative clause).
• Example: The teacher who helped me is very kind.
  → “who helped me” describes the teacher.

b. Whom

• Refers to people (as the object of the relative clause).
• Example: The student whom I tutored passed the test.
  → “whom I tutored” describes the student.
  (In modern English, people often use “who” instead of “whom.”)

c. Whose

• Shows possession (for people, animals, or things).
• Example: I know a girl whose brother is famous.
  → “whose brother is famous” describes a girl.

d. Which

• Refers to things or animals.
• Example: The book which is on the table is mine.
  → “which is on the table” describes the book.

e. That

• Refers to people, animals, or things.
• Example: This is the car that I bought.
  → “that I bought” describes the car.
  (“That” is often used in defining clauses instead of who/which.)

Types of Relative Clauses

Relative pronouns introduce two main kinds of clauses:

1. Defining (restrictive) relative clauses

• Essential information. No commas.
• The man who lives next door is a doctor.
  (We need this information to know which man.)

2. Non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses

• Extra information. Use commas.
• My uncle, who lives in Canada, is visiting us.
  (The relative clause just adds extra detail.)

👉 Quick Tip

• Use who for people (subject).
• Use whom for people (object – but less common in everyday speech).
• Use whose for possession.
• Use which for things/animals.
• Use that for essential information (people, things, or animals).

7. Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They stand in place of the noun you’re asking about.

The Main Interrogative Pronouns

a. Who

• Refers to a person (subject of the question).
• Example: Who is calling? (= Which person is calling?)

b. Whom

• Refers to a person (object of the question).
• Example: Whom did you meet at the party?
• Note: In modern English, most people just say “Who did you meet?”

c. Whose

• Asks about possession (person/thing).
• Example: Whose book is this?

d. Which

• Asks about a specific choice from a limited set.
• Example: Which shirt do you like better—blue or red?

e. What

• Asks about things or information (not limited choice).
• Example: What is your favorite food?

⚖️ Key Notes for Learners

Who vs. Whom

→ Who = subject (Who called you?)
→ Whom = object (Whom did you call?)
(In daily speech, “whom” is rare.)

Which vs. What

→ Which = limited options (Which bus goes downtown—7 or 9?)
→ What = open possibilities (What bus should I take?)

Whose

→ Shows possession (Whose phone is ringing?)

8. Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun refers to non-specific people, places, or things. Instead of naming exactly who or what, it is more general.

a. Indefinite Pronouns for People

Singular: anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, each

• Is anyone home?
• Everyone loves English grammar.
• Everybody at the concert was singing.
• Would someone like to volunteer to come to the board.
• Somebody is at the door.
• No one is in class right now.
• Nobody knows the answer.

b. Indefinite Pronouns for Things

Singular: anything, everything, something, nothing

• Is there anything to eat?
• Everything is easy when you use ChatGPT.
• I heard something outside.
• Nothing is impossible.

c. Indefinite Pronouns for Places

Singular: anywhere, everywhere, somewhere, nowhere

• Do you want to go anywhere tonight?
• Look at the stars. They are everywhere!
• Let’s go somewhere quiet.
• Nowhere is safe during a tornado.

d. Quantifiers as Indefinite Pronouns

These pronouns show amounts or numbers, sometimes singular and sometimes plural:

Singular: each, either, neither, one, another

• Each of the students has a book.
• Do you want coffee or tea? You can have either.
• Neither answer is correct.
• Do you want an apple? Take one from the counter.
• There is beer in the refrigerator. You can have another if you want.

Plural: both, few, many, several

• Both are invited.
• A few have tried.

• Many have tried.
• There are several choices for you to make.

Singular or Plural (depending on the noun after “of” or the context): all, any, most, some, none

• All of the cake is gone. (singular – cake = uncountable)

• All of the cookies are gone. (plural – cookies = countable)
• There aren’t any clean dishes.
• Do you have any questions?
• I’ve read most of the book.
• Would you like some coffee?
• She ate some French fries.
• None of the answers is correct.

⚖️ Special Grammar Notes

Double Negatives

Avoid using “not” with nobody, nothing, no one, etc.

❌ I don’t know nobody.

✅ I don’t know anybody. OR I know nobody.

🚫 Common ESL Mistake

❌ Either of the answers are correct.

✅ Either of the answers is correct.
(Because “either” is grammatically singular.)

👉 Quick Tip

None can take singular or plural verbs depending on the noun:

• None of the money is missing. (uncountable noun → singular)
• None of the students are ready. (countable plural noun → plural)

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blank with the correct relative, interrogative, or indefinite pronoun

Relative Pronouns

1. The teacher ___ helped me is very kind.
2. I met a girl ___ brother plays soccer.
3. The movie ___ we watched last night was exciting.
4. The student to ___ you gave the book is absent today.
5. This is the place ___ I first met your father.

Interrogative Pronouns

1. ___ is knocking at the door?
2. To ___ are you speaking?
3. ___ is your favorite color?
4. ___ of these pens do you prefer?
5. ___ is going to the party tonight?

Indefinite Pronouns

1. ___ knows the answer to this question.
2. There is ___ at the door.
3. I looked everywhere, but I found ___.
4. ___ of my friends are coming to the game.
5. She is very popular. ___ likes her.
6. We needed volunteers, but ___ offered to help.

Scoring and Feedback

🔵 90 – 100%
Excellent work! 🎉 You understand pronouns well and can use them correctly in different contexts. Keep practicing in conversation and writing for fluency.

🟢 75 – 89%
Great job! ✅ You have a strong understanding but made a few mistakes. Review the questions you missed and focus on those pronoun forms.

🟡 60 – 74%
Good effort! 💪 You’re learning, and that’s what matters. You know some pronouns, but there are areas of confusion. Review the rules and practice more fill-in-the-blank or speaking exercises with pronouns.

🔴 0 – 59%
No worries! 🌱 Keep Practicing! Focus first on the basics (subject, object, possessive), then move on to the more advanced types (reflexive, demonstrative, relative, indefinite).

These rules might seem like a lot to remember, but with practice, using the correct pronouns and possessive adjectives will become second nature. Focus on understanding how these elements connect within sentences, and don’t hesitate to refer back to these explanations whenever you feel unsure!

And remember . . . Practice! Practice! Practice!