Demonstrative, Indefinite and Distributive Pronouns

Pronouns are one of the most basic parts of English grammar. Do you know what are the various types of pronoun? And what exactly is a pronoun? Let’s find out more about demonstrative, indefinite, distributive, and other types of pronoun.

Suggested Videos

 

Introduction to Pronoun

A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun or noun-equivalent, where, pronoun = pro (instead of) + noun. Pronoun means for a noun.

Browse more Topics under Pronoun

• Introduction to Pronoun
• Personal and Impersonal Pronouns
• Relative Pronoun

Types of Pronoun

There are ten different types of Pronoun:

Demonstrative Pronouns

We use demonstrative pronouns to point out the objects to which they refer. For example,

• This is a present from my elder brother.
• These are merely excuses.
• Darjeeling tea is better than that of Assam.
• These mangoes are not as sour as those mangoes.

Indefinite Pronouns

We use Indefinite Pronouns in order to refer to persons or things in a general way, not to refer to any particular person or thing. Some examples are:

• Anybody can do this easy task.
• One must not praise oneself.
• None of the boys is (are) wicked.
• None but the brave deserves the fair.
• Many of them were injured but a few escaped unhurt.
• None of them has (have) come back yet. (‘None’ is a shortened form of not one, yet it is commonly used with plural verbs)
• What is everybody’s business is nobody’s business?

In referring to anybody, everybody, everyone, anyone, each, etc. the Pronoun he or she, his or her is used according to the context.

• I shall be glad to help every one of the boys in his studies.
• I shall be glad to help every one of the girls in her studies.

But when the sex is not determined from the context, we use pronouns of the masculine gender.

• Each must do his best.
• Everyone likes to have his way.
• Anyone can do this if he tries.

But we cannot use his or her in case of ‘one’:

• One must do one’s duty (not, his)

Distributive Pronouns

We use distributive pronouns in order to refer to persons or things one at a time. For this reason, they are always singular –

Note 1: Either means the one or the other of the two. Neither is the negative of either.

• Each of the boys is healthy.
• Either of the roads leads to the market.
• Neither of the girls was late.

Note 2: The pronoun each may have three positions:

• Each of the boys received a prize.
• These boys each received a prize.
• These boys received ten rupees.

The third order is usually placed after a numeral.

Note 3: In the following sentence each, either, and neither are adjectives, not pronouns.

• Each boy got a prize. (each boy separately)
• There are trees on either side of the river. (either side = on both the sides)
• Neither accusation is true. (neither = bit any one of the two)

Question For You

Q: Fill in the distributive pronouns and demonstrative pronoun and Indefinite Pronoun in the following:

• ____ of these answers is correct.
• ____ of these roads leads to the airport.
• ____ are my books.
• ____ are the boys who bullied my friend.
• ____ individual is different.
• ____ of the keys opens the door.
• ____ answer is correct.
• ____ is the boy who got the first prize.
• ____ is my house.
• ____ can take me home.
• ____ of us are out.
• ____ might come for help.

Ans:

• Each of these answers is correct.
• Each of these roads leads to the airport.
• These are my books.
• Those are the boys who bullied my friend.
• Each individual is different.
• Neither of the keys opens the door.
• Either answer is correct.
• This is the boy who got the first prize.
• This is my house.
• Anybody can take me home.
• None of us is out.
• Someone might come for help.