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Subjective, Objective, Possessive, and Reflexive Pronouns

Pronouns	Subject	Possessive	Object	Possessive	Reflective
First person (singular)	I	my	me	mine	myself
Second person (singular)	you	your	you	yours	yourself
Third person (singular)	he	his	him	his	himself
	she	her	her	hers	herself
	it	its	it	its	itself
First person (plural)	we	our	us	ours	ourselves
Second person (plural)	you	your	you	yours	yourselves
Third person (plural)	they	their	them	theirs	themselves

▶️ Subjective and objective pronouns
Subject and object pronouns are two different kinds of pronouns (words that replace nouns) that play different grammatical roles in sentences. A subject pronoun (I, we, he, she, they, etc.) refers to the person or thing that performs an action. It normally appears at the start of a sentence, before the verb. An object pronoun (me, us, him, her, them, etc.) refers to the person or thing affected by an action. It normally comes after a verb or preposition.
The words in orange are subject pronouns.

The words in green are object pronouns.

I am pretty worried about him.
She was ill so I sent her some flowers to cheer her up.
I would like to find Debbie and talk to her about this.
Please remove your passport from the protective case and present it to the security agent.
I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not be able to process your order at this time.

▶️ Possessive pronouns
Possessive pronouns are pronouns that demonstrate ownership. They can be used to express "ownership of someone" when followed by a noun. Here are example sentences:
The doctor was impressed with his quick recovery.

Everyone has their own ideas about the best way to bring up children.
The actress received rave reviews for her performance in the new film and her career is now on the rise.
Since Mr. Anderson will retire from the company next week, the monthly sales meeting this month will be conducted in his absence.
Taipei has proved its ability to host major international events such as the 2009 Deaflympics and 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo.

Possessive pronouns can also be used to replace a previously mentioned "possessive + noun". Here are example sentences:

I lost my textbook. Can you lend me yours?
His car and mine are the same model but have different colors.
Dave's tickets cost much less than ours—I think we've been ripped off.
Your name was spelled correctly in the copy we gave to the printers, so the mistake was definitely theirs, not ours.

Nicky and I both have blown hair but hers is lighter than mine.
A job like his would be much too demanding for me, but he enjoys that kind of life.
▶️ Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same, reflecting the action back to the subject. These act as the objects in the sentence.

I like to treat myself to a coffee in the morning.
He cut himself shaving.

She saw herself reflected in the shop window.
Alex taught himself to play the guitar.
The committee kept the results of the survey to itself, fearing a bad public reaction.

Sometimes reflexive pronouns are placed in the middle or at the end of a sentence to intensify the tone.

The apartment itself is in good condition, but the rent is too expensive.
William himself fixed the bicycle.

I won't be available to give the presentation to the client myself tomorrow.
The movie itself is very good, with compelling characters and stunning visuals, but I just don't like the music.
When "by" is placed before a reflexive pronoun, it means 'alone'. Here are some examples:

She lives by herself in an enormous house.
I don't mind going to the movies by myself; it can be quite peaceful.
TOEIC Example: All passengers are advised to check baggage claim tags to verify that retrieved bags are in fact ______.

(A) they
(B) them
(C) theirs
(D) themselves

The correct answer is (C) theirs.

(A) 'They' is a subject pronoun. It is used as the subject of a verb, but in this context, we need a possessive pronoun.

(B) 'Them' is an object pronoun. It is used as the object of a verb or preposition. However, in this sentence, we need a word indicating possession, not an object pronoun.

(D) 'Themselves' is a reflexive pronoun, used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. It does not work here because the passengers are not the object in this sentence, their luggage is.

The possessive pronoun 'theirs' is used in this context to indicate possession, in this case, the bags that belong to the passengers. The sentence is advising passengers to confirm that the bags they've claimed are indeed their own. 'Theirs' is used when we refer to something that belongs to them, without specifying exactly what the thing is, which is luggage in this context.

TOEIC Example: Since summer is the peak season, it is important that you notify ______ immediately of any errors regarding your airline reservation.

(A) ourselves
(B) we
(C) us
(D) our

The correct answer is (C) us.

(A) "Ourselves" is incorrect because it is a reflexive pronoun, which is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person. In this case, the subject and the object are different people, so a reflexive pronoun is not appropriate.

(B) "We" is incorrect because it is a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun. Subject pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence, not as the object of a verb.

(D) "Our" is incorrect because it is a possessive adjective, not an object pronoun. Possessive adjectives are used to show ownership, not to serve as the object of a verb.

The reason why "us" is the correct answer is because it is the appropriate object pronoun to use after a verb, in this case, "notify". The sentence is essentially saying, "You need to notify us."

TOEIC Example: The regional sales manager has asked Mr. Johnson to send ______ the final report of the quarterly sales figures by the end of the week.

(A) she
(B) her
(C) hers
(D) herself

The correct answer is (B) her.

(A) "She" is incorrect because "she" is a subject pronoun and cannot be the object of a verb.

(C) "Hers" is a possessive pronoun, and does not fit the sentence structure here, as it doesn't clearly identify the person to whom the report is meant to be sent.

(D) "Herself" is a reflexive pronoun and we use it when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same person. In this context, it does not make sense because the report is not being sent to the same person who is doing the sending.

In English grammar, we use "her" as an object pronoun when it refers to the direct or indirect object of a verb. In this sentence, "her" is the indirect object of the verb "send." We send something (direct object: report) to someone (indirect object: her).

TOEIC Example: The construction is now expected to be completed by October, two months ahead of ______ scheduled date.

(A) its
(B) it
(C) their
(D) them

The correct answer is (A) its.

(B) “it” is incorrect because "it" is a subject pronoun, not a possessive pronoun. It does not show possession or ownership.

(C) “their” is incorrect because "their" is a plural possessive pronoun. The noun it is referring to, "construction," is singular, not plural.

(D) “them” is incorrect because "them" is an object pronoun, not a possessive pronoun. It does not show possession or ownership.

TOEIC Example: The shop ______ started 15 years ago but the internet side of the business is new.

(A) themselves
(B) itself
(C) it
(D) its

The correct answer is (B) itself.

(A) 'Themselves' is incorrect because it is a plural reflexive pronoun and 'the shop' is a singular noun. 'Themselves' would be used when referring back to a plural noun or pronoun, such as 'the shops' or 'they'.

(C) 'It' is incorrect because in this context, a reflexive pronoun (itself) is needed to refer back to the subject (the shop). 'It' is a personal pronoun, not a reflexive one.

(D) 'Its' is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership. It would be used to refer to something that the shop owns, like 'its merchandise' or 'its profits'. 'Its' doesn’t fit in this context because the shop doesn't own the action of starting.

In this sentence, the pronoun is referring back to the noun 'the shop'. 'Itself' is a reflexive pronoun that is used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. Hence, 'itself' is the correct pronoun to refer back to 'the shop'.

Demonstrative Pronouns: this/that/these/those

Demonstrative pronouns are words that are used to point to specific things. They can be used in place of a noun that has already been mentioned or that is obvious from the context. There are four demonstrative pronouns in English: this, that, these, and those.

▶️ Demonstrative pronoun: this /that

"This" and "that" are used to refer to to singular nouns or noun phrases. "This" is used for things that are close to the speaker or things that are happening now. "That" is used for things that are farther away from the speaker, or for things in the past. Here are some examples:

This is delicious. (Referring to the food the speaker is currently eating)
That was a great movie. (Referring to a movie the speaker has just watched)
Please note that the use of "this" and "that" can depend on the speaker's physical location or their feelings towards the noun they're referring to.

Demonstrative pronouns “that” can be used to refer to a singular noun or an uncountable noun in a sentence. Here are some examples:

The population of Taipei is ten times as large as that of Hsinchu.

(“that” refer to the population)

The weather in LA is much warmer than that in London.

(“that” refer to the weather)

▶️ Demonstrative pronoun: these/those
"These" and "those" are used to refer to plural nouns or noun phrases. "These" is used for things that are close to the speaker. "Those" is used for things that are farther away. Here are some examples:

These are my friends. (Referring to the speaker's friends who are present)
Those were the days. (Referring to a time in the past)
Demonstrative pronouns “those” can be used to refer to plural nouns in a sentence. Here are some examples:

Harvard's tuition fees are much higher than those of other universities. (“those” refer to tuition fees)
▶️The demonstrative pronoun “those” can mean "those who"
Those participating in the prize draw have a chance to win a substantial cash prize.
For those wishing to receive a discounted rate on our furniture, please use the coupon code provided below.

Demonstrative adjectives: this/that/these/those

“this/these/that/those” can also be used as demonstrative adjectives.

“this/that" + singular countable or uncountable noun.
"these/those" + plural countable noun.

This weather is perfect for a day at the beach.
They frequently hold conferences at that hotel.
These pants belong to my roommate.
Those files have been uploaded. You can tell James that they are ready to be downloaded.

TOEIC Example: The financial consultant recommended a salary freeze to reduce costs, but ______ suggestion was rejected by the board of directors.

(A) that
(B) they
(C) those
(D) its

The correct answer is (D) its.

(A) 'That' is incorrect because it is used to refer to singular or plural nouns mentioned earlier, far from the speaker or listener, or to refer to something that is not present. In this sentence, 'that' would not correctly refer back to the financial consultant.

(B) 'They' is a plural pronoun and is used to refer to more than one person or thing previously mentioned or easily identified. In this context, 'they' does not fit because the financial consultant is single.

(C) 'Those' is a plural pronoun used to refer back to specific things previously mentioned. Again, the financial consultant is singular, so 'those' would not be grammatically correct in this sentence.

In English, we use 'its' as a possessive pronoun when referring to an individual non-human entity or an organization, such as a company. In this case, the financial consultant is an individual entity whose suggestion is being discussed, hence 'its' is the appropriate choice.

TOEIC Example: While a majority of customers think the new modified operating system is easy to use, ______ who are less familiar with the original operating system have trouble using the new system.

(A) they
(B) them
(C) these
(D) those

The correct answer is (D) those.

(A) 'They' is a personal pronoun used to refer to people or things previously mentioned or clearly understood from the context. In this context, 'they' would refer to all customers, not just the specific group of customers who are less familiar with the original operating system.

(B) 'Them' is an object pronoun, not a demonstrative pronoun. It can refer to specific people or things previously mentioned, but it cannot stand at the beginning of the sentence to introduce a new clause or sentence.

(C) 'These' is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to specific things or people that are close to the speaker or to refer to specific things or people previously mentioned. However, it refers to things close to the speaker, whereas 'those' refers to things far from the speaker. In this context, 'those' fits better as it refers to a specific group previously mentioned.

The word 'those' is the correct choice because it is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to specific things or people that are far away from the speaker or to refer to specific things or people previously mentioned. In this sentence, it is used to refer to a specific group of customers previously mentioned - those less familiar with the original operating system.

TOEIC Example: Because of the beautiful weather, the number of visitors visiting the N Seoul Tower was over double ______ of the preceding years.

(A) that
(B) those
(C) they
(D) it

The correct answer is (A) that.

(B) "those" is incorrect because "those" is used as a plural form to refer to more than one previously mentioned item or group. Here, we are not talking about several different groups or things, but one specific thing: the number of visitors.

(C) "they" is wrong because "they" is a personal pronoun that usually refers to people. Here, we are referring to a number, so "they" would not be appropriate.

(D) "it" is incorrect because "it" is a personal pronoun that refers to a specific thing previously mentioned, understood, or common. Here, we are referring to a the concept of the number of visitors in the preceding years, and "it" doesn't fit well in this context.

In this context, "that" is used to refer back to a singular noun, in this case, the "number," which is singular. "That" is a demonstrative pronoun used to replace and refer to something that has been previously mentioned in the sentence, saving repetition. So, "that" here refers to "the number [of visitors] of the preceding years," indicating a comparison of the number of visitors this year with the number of visitors in the previous years.

Indefinite Pronouns: one/ones/others/the other/the others

An indefinite pronoun refers to a general, vague, or unknown person, object, group, or amount. Most of the time, the referred-to object is identified elsewhere in the sentence or doesn’t need to be precisely identified.
▶️ Indefinite pronouns: one/ones
“One” is used to refer to a singular countable noun, and “ones” is used to refer to two or more things or people.

My shirt didn't fit, so I bought a new one.
She traded in her old phone for one with better features.
My glasses are broken. I need new ones.

Let's look at the photos. The ones you took in Tokyo.
I saw a cute Baby Yoda keychain online and ordered one for myself.
▶️ Indefinite pronoun: another

"Another" is used to refer to an additional person or thing of the same type. for example, in the sentence "I would like another cup of coffee," "another" is used as an indefinite pronoun to refer to an additional cup of coffee. Here are more example sentences:
I saw two sweaters. One is red, and another is blue.
We learned in lesson 4 that “another” can be used as a "quantifier" to modify nouns, followed by singular countable nouns.

I don't like this restaurant. Let's go to another one around the corner.
Another thing I love about the city is the beautiful scenery.
Can you fit another person in your car or do we have to take two cars?

▶️ Indefinite pronoun: others

"Others" is used to refer to additional people or things, usually of the same type that has already been mentioned. for example, in the sentence "Some people like to play sports, others prefer to watch movies," "others" is used as an indefinite pronoun to refer to a different group of people. Here are more example sentences:
Some kids like indoor activities while others like outdoor activities.
One of the visitors is in a conference room. Others are in a lobby.

▶️ Indefinite pronoun: the other
"The other" is usually used to refer to one more person or thing, or an alternative person or thing, in addition to the one or ones that you have mentioned. Here are example sentences:
Emily has two sisters. One is younger. The other is older.

I saw three sweaters. One is red, another is blue, and the other is white.

We learned in Lesson 4 that “the other” can be used as a quantifier to modify nouns. Here are example sentences:

I can't find the other sock.
Kevin has three friends. One is there. The other friends are at home.
I have handed in one assignment, but I haven't finished the other assignments.
The first three cupcakes were delicious, but the other cupcakes tasted a bit stale.

Of all the pizzas we ordered, the pepperoni was the first to go. The other pizzas were left untouched.
▶️ Indefinite pronoun: the others
"The others" is used to refer to the rest of the people or things in a group or set that you have already mentioned. Here are example sentences:

Some of my friends have arrived. The others are still on the way.
The first three cupcakes were delicious, but the others tasted a bit stale.
Of all the pizzas we ordered, the pepperoni was the first to go. The others were left untouched.

▶️ Indefinite pronouns: each other/one another
Reciprocal pronouns are used to indicate a two-way relationship or action involving the subjects of the sentence. In English, there are two reciprocal pronouns: "each other" and "one another." They are often used interchangeably in modern English, but traditionally, they have slightly different uses:
Each Other

Traditionally, "each other" is used when referring to two entities or members of a pair. It indicates a reciprocal action or relationship where each member of the pair is doing something to or with the other.

John and Mary helped each other.
John and Mary looked at each other and smiled during their wedding ceremony.
The two athletes congratulated each other on their performance.

One Another
Traditionally, "one another" is used for groups of more than two. It also indicates a reciprocal action or relationship among the members of the group.

The students in the class shared their ideas with one another during the group discussion.
During the team building exercise, the colleagues learned to trust one another more deeply.
The members of the choir have to listen to one another carefully to maintain harmony.

TOEIC Example: In light of the increasing demand for RW Design's clothing products, the company will launch one line of clothing in February and ______ in May.

(A) each other
(B) one another
(C) other
(D) another

The correct answer is (D) another.

(A) 'Each other' is used to refer to two or more people or things, previously mentioned, regarded and identified separately. It does not fit the context here as only one line of clothing is mentioned at a time.

(B) 'One another' is used to indicate mutual actions or relationship. It is normally used to refer to three or more people or things. In this context, it doesn't fit because the lines of clothing are not relating to or acting upon each other.

(C) 'Other' is used to refer to the second of two things or people previously mentioned or implied. It would not work in this context because 'other' requires a plural noun. The context here refers to a singular noun ('line' of clothing), so 'another' would be the correct option.

The term 'another' in English is used to refer to an additional thing or amount, something of the same kind but different than the first. The context here is the launch of a line of clothing, a singular, countable noun. 'Another' is most suitable for the context, implying that a different, additional line of clothing will be launched in May.

TOEIC Example: One secretary stayed in the conference room and set up the projector, while ______ went to the copy room to gather the printed documents.

(A) other
(B) the other
(C) each other
(D) one

The correct answer is (B) the other.

(A) 'Other' without 'the' would normally be used with plural nouns, and in this case, we are only referring to one other secretary, not multiple. So, it's incorrect in this context.

(C) 'Each other' is used when we are referring to two or more people or things, previously mentioned, considered together. It is used to show a reciprocal relationship, for example, "They looked at each other." It doesn’t fit in this sentence context.

(D) 'One' would be incorrect as it doesn’t provide a clear reference to who or what 'one' refers to. It could be anyone, not necessarily the second secretary, making it ambiguous and incorrect in this sentence.

In the sentence, we are talking about two secretaries. so, we need to use a form of 'other' to denote the second secretary. 'The other' is used to refer to the second of two things or people already mentioned or implied.

TOEIC Example: While a few of the suppliers agreed to the wholesales' request for discounts, ______ were unwilling to reduce their product's prices.

(A) other
(B) the other
(C) others
(D) one

The correct answer is (C) others.

(A) "other" is incorrect because it is an adjective that requires a noun to follow it. In this context, there's no noun after "other", hence it's incorrect.

(B) "the other" is incorrect because it refers to one or some of a thing or number of things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge. It suggests that there are only two suppliers, which is not suggested in the sentence.

(D) "one" is incorrect because it would imply that there was only one supplier who was unwilling to reduce their prices, which contradicts the plural verb 'were.'

"Others" is a pronoun used to refer to 'the remaining people or things in a group or set' or 'people or things that are similar or related to those already mentioned.' In this context, "others" refers to the remaining suppliers who are unwilling to reduce their prices.

Indefinite Pronouns: some/any/none/most

▶️ Indefinite pronoun: some/any
“Some” is used to refer to an unspecified amount or number and it is mostly used in affirmative sentences. “Any” is used to refer to one, some or all, regardless of quantity, and it is mostly used in negative and interrogative sentences.
If you don't have enough changes, I can lend you some.

Some of the computers needed to be repaired.
The airline couldn't find any of my luggage.

We learned in lesson 4 that “some” and “any” can be used as quantifiers to modify nouns. It is followed by plural countable or uncountable nouns.

I have some questions.
There is some cheese in the fridge.
Is there any coffee left in the pot? I could use a pick-me-up.

Do you have any questions about the proposal?
If you encounter any problems with our system, please notify our technical department.
▶️Indefinite pronoun: most = most of

“Most” and “most of” are used to signify the majority of a particular group.

Most of the units in this condo have been rented out.
In this school, most of the children are from the Chinese community.

We learned in lesson 4 that “most” can be used as a "quantifier" to modify nouns. It is followed by plural countable or uncountable nouns.

Most shops are closed today. = Most of the shops are closed today.
Most eligible voters went to the polls.
Most kids like bumper cars.
Most bread we sell is made with organic ingredients.

Difference between “most” and “most of”

“Most of the” is used before a noun with a determiner, often referring to a specific subset of a group or category, while “most” is used before a noun without a determiner, referring to a general quantity or majority within a whole group.

most of the + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns

In this school, most of the children are from the Chinese community.
Most of the people I know like to spend Christmas at home.

most + plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns

I am afraid of most dogs.
Most people work from nine to five.

▶️ Indefinite pronoun: none
“None” is used to indicate that there is not even one of something.
None of the hotel rooms are available today.

We went over the proposal, but none of the suggestions listed in the proposal are feasible.
None of my friends like horror movies, so I always end up watching them alone.
TOEIC Example: ______ of the files has been recovered since the office computer server crashed, but fortunately, our employees had made backup copies of their work.

(A) any
(B) no
(C) not
(D) none

The correct answer is (D) none.

(A) 'Any' is incorrect because it is typically used in negative sentences or questions to express an indefinite quantity, but here the sentence implies a complete lack of recovered files, which 'any' does not adequately convey.

(B) 'No' is incorrect because it is used before a noun to mean 'not a' or 'not any'. In this context, it would sound awkward and grammatically incorrect to say 'no of the files has been recovered'.

(C) 'Not' is incorrect because it is an adverb used to negate verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire clauses. It is not used before nouns or pronouns, as required in this sentence.

In this sentence, the use of the word 'none' is appropriate because it denotes that not a single file has been recovered from the office computer server since it crashed. 'None' is used before singular countable and uncountable nouns when we mean 'not one' or 'not any'.

Indefinite Pronouns: one/ones/others/the other/the others

An indefinite pronoun refers to a general, vague, or unknown person, object, group, or amount. Most of the time, the referred-to object is identified elsewhere in the sentence or doesn’t need to be precisely identified.
▶️ Indefinite pronouns: one/ones
“One” is used to refer to a singular countable noun, and “ones” is used to refer to two or more things or people.

My shirt didn't fit, so I bought a new one.
She traded in her old phone for one with better features.
My glasses are broken. I need new ones.

Let's look at the photos. The ones you took in Tokyo.
I saw a cute Baby Yoda keychain online and ordered one for myself.
▶️ Indefinite pronoun: another

"Another" is used to refer to an additional person or thing of the same type. For instance, in the sentence "I would like another cup of coffee," "another" is used as an indefinite pronoun to refer to an additional cup of coffee. Here are more example sentences:
I saw two sweaters. One is red, and another is blue.
We learned in lesson 4 that “another” can be used as a "quantifier" to modify nouns, followed by singular countable nouns.

I don't like this restaurant. Let's go to another one around the corner.
Another thing I love about the city is the beautiful scenery.
Can you fit another person in your car or do we have to take two cars?

▶️ Indefinite pronoun: others

"Others" is used to refer to additional people or things, usually of the same type that has already been mentioned. For instance, in the sentence "Some people like to play sports, others prefer to watch movies," "others" is used as an indefinite pronoun to refer to a different group of people. Here are more example sentences:
Some kids like indoor activities while others like outdoor activities.
One of the visitors is in a conference room. Others are in a lobby.