English Grammar Pronoun Rules

Here there are 30 Important English Grammar Pronoun Rules which are enough to identify pronouns and spot pronoun errors.

Pronoun Rule 1:

Pronoun should agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example: Every father must bring up his children properly.
Example: All students should show their home work.
Example: One must do one’s duty.

Question: one takes great risks they must be prepared for great losses. ​
(1)​they must be prepared ​
(2)​When one takes great risks ​
(3)​for great losses. ​
(4)​No error 
Answer: (1) Here, one must be prepared... should be used. The use of they is improper.

Question: article suggests that when a person is under unusual stress you should be especially careful to eat a well-balanced diet. ​
(1)​The article suggests that when a person is under unusual stress ​
(2)​you should be especially careful ​
(3)​to eat a well-balanced diet. ​
(4)​No error
Answer: (2) Here, he/she should be especially careful..... should be used. It is not proper to use second person here.

Question: We aren’t bothered/ as long as/ they don’t interfere/ with ours freedom. ​
(1)​We aren’t bothered ​
(2)​as long as ​
(3)​they don’t interfere ​
(4)​with ours freedom ​
(5)​No error
Answer: (4) Here, with our freedom.....  should be used.

Question: This is one company who not only (1)/ sells its products but also (2)/ gives good after-sales service. (3)/ No error (4)
Answer: (1) which/that in place of who will be used. Hence, This is one company which not only ..... should be used here.

Question: Things will not improve (1)/ unless you yourself (2)/ look into it. (3)/ No error (4)
Answer: (3) it wil be replaced by them.

Question:  Senior citizens prefer (1)/ banks which (2)/ branches are located (3)/ near their homes. (4)
Answer: (2) Whose is used for saying which person or thing you mean. Look at the sentence : It is the house whose door is painted red. ​Hence, banks whose ...should be used here.

Question: One should have their teeth checked every six months. ​
(1)​their teeth checked ​
(2)​every six months. ​
(3)​No error ​
(4)​One should have
Answer: (1) The possessive case of one is one’s ​one’s teeth checked should be used.



Pronoun Rule 2:

A noun or pronoun governing a gerund should be put in the possessive case.

Example: Please excuse my being late. It is wrong to say – Please excuse me being late.

Question: Due to me being a new comer (1)/ I was unable (2)/ to get a good house (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (1) If a pronoun (I, we, you, he, she, it, etc.) comes before a gerund (-ing form), then it is in the form of a possessive adjective (my, our, your, his, her, its, etc.). Hence, due to my being a new comer…. should be used here.

English-grammar-noun-rules

Pronoun Rule 3:

When a pronoun is used as the object of a verb or a preposition, it should be in the objective case.

Example: Let you and me do it. It is wrong to say – Let you and I do it.

Exmaple: These presents are for you and me. It is wrong to say – These presents are for you and I.

Question: My uncle forced  (1) / my friend and I  (2) / to stay back (3). / No error (4)
Answer: (2) Here, objective case i.e. my friend and me …. should be used.

Question: My uncle forced (1)/ my friend and I (2)/ to stay back. (3)/ No  error (4)​
Answer: (2) objective case of I, i.e. me should be used. The correct expression is my friend and me

Question: There is no agreement (1)/ between you and I (2)/ so we are free to go our way (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (2) Here, objective case, i.e. between you and me… should be used.

Question: Such rules (1)/ do not apply to (2)/ you and I (3)/ No error (4)
Answer: (3) Here, Objective case, i.e. you and me… should be used.

Question: We admire they are taking this step despite the numerous risks involved.
(1)​them to take ​
(2)​them for taking ​
(3)​that they have taken over ​
(4)​how their taking of ​
(5)​No correction required
Answer: (2) Here, Objective Case and a Gerund should be used. Hence, replace ‘they are taking’ by ‘them for taking’.

Question: If I was you I would not sign the document. ​
(1)​If I have been you ​
(2)​If I were you ​
(3)​If I had been you ​
(4)​No improvement
Answer: (2) If there is an imaginary wish, condition or supposition in a sentence, a plural verb is used with a singular subject.

Question: The company has appointed (1)/ consultants to help them (2)/ increase its revenue (3)/ and improve its financial position. (4)/ No error (5)
Answer: (2) Here, in the group of words, ‘consultants to help them’, the word ‘them’ has been wrongly used for the company. It is correct to use Objective Case ‘it’ (Pronoun) instead.

Question: He reports (1)/ suggest that (2)/ the project is (3)/ behind schedule. (4)/ No error (5)
Answer: (1) The possessive pronoun of ‘he’ is ‘his’. Hence, replace ‘He reports’ by ‘His reports’.



Pronoun Rule 4:

Pronouns like each, every, either, neither, any, anybody, everybody, everyone take a singular verb.
Example:  Everybody in the bus was injured. It is wrong to say – Everybody in the bus were injured.

Example: Each boy paid his own share. It is wrong to say – Each boy paid their own share.

Example: Everyone is happy with his effort. It is wrong to say – Everyone are happy with their effort.

Question: Each of the survivors of the Tsunami (1)/ have been offered free (2)/ psychological consultation to ease their trauma, (3)/ by some of the top consultants. (4)/ No error (5)
Answer: (2) After ‘Each of’ a plural noun or pronoun is used. It takes a singular verb. Hence, ‘has been offered free’ should be used.



Pronoun Rule 5:

Pronoun- you- is used both in singular and plural. A plural verb always follows it. ​
Example: ​Rama, you are a wise boy. (Singular pronoun) ​

Example: Boys, you are to do this. (Plural pronoun)



Pronoun Rule 6:

The fixed expression many a/an... is more formal than the single word many, and it is much less common. Like the adjective and the pronoun, many a/an... is used for indicating a large number of something. However, it takes a singular noun, which can be followed by a singular verb.

Example: It remained a mystery for many a year.  [=for many years]

Example: I’ve been there many a time.  [=many times]

Example: Many a politician has promised to make changes. [Politician and has are singular.]

Question: Many a man (1)/ have come to India from Bangladesh​(2)to live here permanently (3)/ No error (4)​​
Answer: (2) ‘Many a / an + Noun’ is always followed by a singular verb. Hence, has come to India … should be used here.

Question: Many a man want to be rich quickly.
(1)​rich quickly ​
(2)​want to be ​
(3)​Many a man ​
(4)​No error
Answer: (2) Many a man is a singular subject. Hence singular verb, i.e. hopes/ wants to be ..... should be used here.




Pronoun Rule 7:

Pronouns like anyone, everyone, each, everybody, etc. take a pronoun which agrees with the antecedent gender. However, when gender is not mentioned, then masculine pronoun is used.

Example: Every student must show his home work. It is wrong to say – Every student must show their homework.

Example: Anyone can ask for his turn. It is wrong to say – Anyone can ask for their turn.

One and everyone take different pronouns. ​

Example: One should do one’s duty. It is wrong to say – One should do his duty.

Example: Everyone should do his duty. It is wrong to say – Everyone should do one’s duty.

Question: Everybody (1)/ it must be admitted (2)/ has their ups and downs. (3)/ (No error (4)​​​
Answer: (3) their should be replaced by his.

Question: Every woman in the world (1)/ fervently hopes that their child (2)/ will be a normal and healthy baby. (3)/ (No error (4)​
Answer: (2) their will be replaced by her.

Question: This is a strange world (1)/ where each one pursues their own golden bubble (2)/ and laughs at others for doing the same. (3)/ (No error (4)
Answer: (2) their should be replaced by his.

Question: Nobody (1)/ in their senses (2)/ would have acted so. (3)/ Noerror (4)
Answer: (2) their should be replaced by his.



Pronoun Rule 8:

The possessive case is mainly used for showing possession (i.e. ownership). The possessive case applies to nouns, pronouns and adjectives.

Possessive Nouns: With nouns, the possessive case is usually shown by preceding it with 'of' or by adding ’s (or just ’) to the end.

Possessive Pronouns: The possessive-case pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours and theirs.

Possessive Adjectives: The possessive-case adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our and their.

Question: Each one of you (1)/ must make up their mind (2)/ as I did (3)./ No error (4)​
Answer: (2) The possessive case of pronoun ‘you’ is your. Hence, must make up your mind… should be used.

Question: With inflation at eleven per cent (1)/ companies need to come up  (2) / with innovative ways to (3)/ get customers to buy its good. (4)/ No error (5).​
Answer: (4) The subject of the sentence is Plural and it will take a Plural Possessive. Therefore, replace ‘get customers to buy its good’ by ‘get customers buy their goods’. Here, ‘to’ has been wrongly used.

Question: Except for you and I, everyone brought a present to the party. ​
(1)​With the exception of you and I everyone brought ​
(2)​Except for you and I, everyone had brought ​
(3)​Except for you and me, everyone brought ​
(4)​Exception of you and me, everyone had brought ​
(5)​No change required​
Answer: (3) ‘Except for you and I, everyone brought’ should be replaced by ‘Except for you and me, everyone brought’, because ‘except’ is followed by the objective case of the pronoun.

Question: Unfortunately today many (1)/ parents cannot afford (2)/ to send its (3)/ children to school. (4)/ No error (5) Answer: (3) The subject of the sentence ‘parents’ is in plural number. Hence, use ‘their’ in place of ‘its’.




Pronoun Rule 9:

A number of +[plural noun] is always followed by a verb that agrees with that plural noun, which is its subject. 

Example: There is a large number of labourers who want to migrate to Japan for work.

Question: A large number of policy (1)/ have lapsed because many (2)/ people have not paid (3)/ their installments on time. (4)/ No error (5)
Answer: (1) ‘A large number of’ is followed by a plural noun. Hence, ‘A large number of policies’ will be the correct usage.

Question: regulator has recently issued (1)/ a number of draft guideline about (2)/ the eligibility and functions of pension fund managers (3)/ and these will be enforced next month. (4)/ No Error (5)
Answer: (2) ‘A number of’ is followed by a plural countable noun/pronoun. Hence, draft guidelines about …. should be used.




Pronoun Rule 10:

Each, either, neither are called distributive pronouns because they refer to persons or things one at a time. Note that a distributive pronoun is always singular and as such it should be followed by a singular noun and verb.

Example: Each new day is different. (It is wrong to say – Each new days are different.)

Example: Either girl can do that. (It is wrong to say – Either girls can do that.)

Example: Neither answer is correct. (It is wrong to say – Neither answers is correct /or/ Neither answers are correct.)

Question: Either of the roads (1)/ lead (2)/ to the park (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (2) If the subject of a sentence be any Distributive Pronoun (each/everyone/either/neither), the verb is always singular. Therefore, either of the roads leads …. is the correct sentence.

Question: Neither of these two documents (1)/ support your claim (2)/ on the property (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (2) If the subject of a sentence be a Distributive Pronoun (each/everyone/either/neither) then the verb is always singular. Hence, supports your claim … should be used here.

Question: Each of these boys (1)/ play games (2)/ in the playground (3)./ No error (4)​
Answer: (2) For a Distributive Pronoun (each/every), a verb is singular. Hence, plays games… should be used.




Pronoun Rule 11:

The pronouns which are used for indicating all the members of the representative group are called distributive forms. Each, everyone, either and neither are the distributive forms.

Example: Each one of you will be given a chance.

Example: Everyone, present here, should take his dinner.

Example: Either of you can take the matter to the chairman.

Example: Neither of you is qualified to attend the final.

Question: Everyone are expected (1)/ to come (2)/ to school tomorrow (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (1) Everyone is a distributive pronoun and it agrees with a singular verb. Hence, Everyone is expected… should be used.

Question: Each of these boys (1)/ play (2)/ games (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (2) If the subject of a sentence be a Distributive Pronoun (each/everyone/either/neither), the verb is always singular. Hence, plays (singular) should be used here.




Pronoun Rule 12:

The indefinite pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all.

Example: One must not boast of one’s own success. It is wrong to say – One must not boast of his own success.

Question: My father says  (1) / that one should always be sincere (2)/ to his duties.  (3) / No error (4)​​​
Answer: (3) One is a pronoun and its possessive case is one’s. his should be replaced by one’s.



Pronoun Rule 13:

When the verb form to be (is, am, are, was, were) is to be complemented by a pronoun, it should be in the nominative form, i.e. I, you, he, she.

Example: It was he who came in the morning. It is wrong to say – It was him who came in the morning.

Example: I am taller than she. It is wrong to say – I am taller than her.

Example: Is it I you are looking for? It is wrong to say – Is it me you are looking for?

Example: You are smarter than he. It is wrong to say – You are smarter than him.

Question: He is (1)/ fatter (2)/ than me (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (3) Here, nominative case i.e. than I… should be used. Look at the sentences: He is senior to me. He is better than I.

Question: I and him (1)/ are (2)/ very good friends (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (1) The nominative case of a pronoun should be used as a subject. Hence, I and he… should be used here.

Question: Rustam and  (1) / myself saw (2)/ the picture (3). / No error (4)
Answer: Here, Nominative case, i.e. I saw… should be used.

Question: Was it him  (1) / who got injured  (2) / in an accident this morning (3). / No error (4)
Answer: (1) Here, Nominative case i.e. ‘was it he’ should be used.

Question: Myself Rajesh Mehta. ​(1)​Myselves ​(2)​Myself is ​(3)​I am ​(4)​No improvement
Answer: (3) As a subject ‘I’ should be used. Here, the use of ‘myself’ as a subject is not correct.



Pronoun Rule 14:

A pronoun in its objective form (him, her, me) should be used as an object of a verb or a preposition.

Example: He has helped me and my father. It is wrong to say – He has helped I and my father.

Example: Her, who appeared so considerate, turned out to be cruel. It is correct to say – She, who appeared so considerate, turned out to be cruel.

Example: Between you and me, you are a crook. It is wrong to say – Between you and I, you are a crook.

Example: Except him all were present. It is wrong to say – Except he all were present.



Pronoun Rule 15:

If a finite verb has a noun or pronoun as its subject in a sentence, the use of an extra pronoun for the same verb is a blunder.

Example: A man when he becomes old, he behaves very much like a child. Here, ‘he behaves’ will be replaced with ‘behaves’ only.



Pronoun Rule 16:

If three persons are used in a sentence, the order be Second person, Third person and First person.

Example:  You, he and I can leave at 5 p.m. It is wrong to say – I, you and he can leave at 5 p.m.

Example: If you and Sita are going, Hari and I shall accompany you. It is wrong to say – If Sita and you are going, I and Hari shall accompany you.



Pronoun Rule 17:

When two or more singular pronouns of different persons come together, the pronoun of the second person singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between.

Example: You, he and I must work together in this project. It is wrong to say – I, you and he must work together in this project.



Pronoun Rule 18:

When two or more plural pronouns of different persons come together, the first person plural (we) comes first, then the second person plural (you) and at last, the third person plural (they) comes.

Example: We, you and they must go to the function. It is wrong to say – You, they and we must go to the function.



Pronoun Rule 19:

Each other should be used for referring to two persons or things, one another for referring to more than two.

Example: Husband and wife exchanged vows with each other. It is wrong to say – Husband and wife exchanged vows with one another.

Example: should love one another. It is wrong to say – People should love each other.

Question: was so afraid that his knees knocked one another. ​
(1)​one against ​
(2)​each other ​
(3)​both ​
(4)​No improvement
Answer: (2) For two persons or things, ‘each other’ is used.



Pronoun Rule 20:

Emphatic pronouns cannot stand alone as subjects.

Example: It will be wrong to say – Himself did it. The correct way will be – He himself did it.



Pronoun Rule 21:

‘Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only while speaking about two persons or things; while, ‘any’, ‘no one’ and ‘none’ is used for speaking about more than two persons or things.

Example: Either of these two roads leads to the railway station. It is wrong to say – Any one of these two roads leads to the railway station.

Example: None of these three boys did his homework. It is wrong to say – Neither of these three boys did his homework.

Question: Neither of the teams (1)/ are sensible enough (2)/ to do this task (3)./ No error (4)
Answer: (2) Neither of /Either of… agrees with a singular verb. Hence, is sensible enough… should be used.



Pronoun Rule 22:

When two or more singular nouns are joined by ‘or’, ‘either… or’, ‘neither … nor’, the pronoun used for them should be in the singular.

Example: Neither Raj nor Rahul has done his homework. It is wrong to say – Neither Raj nor Rahul has done their homework.

Question: Neither he or his wife has arrived. ​
(1)​has arrived ​
(2)​Neither he ​
(3)​No error ​
(4)​nor his wife
Answer: (4) Neither … nor and Either … or – and the correct form of connectives. Hence, nor his wife … should be used.

Question: She immediately quit (1)/ the job in which  (2) / neither the skill nor (3)/ knowledge were required (4)/ No error (5).
Answer: (4) When we use ‘Neither…nor’, the verb agrees with the number/person of the noun/pronoun used after ‘nor’. Hence, ‘knowledge was required….’ will be used the correct usage.

Question: did not like the movie, not I did. ​
(1)​nor did I ​
(2)​nor I liked it ​
(3)​nor I like it ​
(4)​No improvement
Answer: (1) ‘Nor’ is used before a positive verb to agree with something negative that has just been said. Look at the sentence: She does not like them and nor does Sita.



Pronoun Rule 23:

Yours is usually used before words ending in -ly, otherwise your is used.

Example: I am, yours obediently. It is wrong to say – I am, your obediently.

Example: I remain, your affectionate brother. It is wrong to say – I remain, yours affectionate brother.




Pronoun Rule 24:

The Relative pronoun ‘who’ is always used in subjective case, while ‘whom’ is always used in objective case. Therefore, for ‘who’ there must be a finite verb in the sentence. Otherwise, when ‘whom’ (object) is used in the sentence and there are more finite verbs than the number of subjects in the sentence, ‘whom’ should be changed into ‘who’ (subject).

Example: There are some who I think are very smart. It is wrong to say – There are some whom I think are very smart.

Example: Who do you think was there? It is wrong to say – Whom do you think was there?

Example: Whom do you wish to address? It is wrong to say – Who do you wish to address?

Example: Whom the gods love die young. It is wrong to say – Who the gods love die young.

Question: Ashok is among the (1)/ few people in the world  (2) / which did not blindly follow (3)/ the path of others (4)/ No error (5).
Answer: (3) For a person ‘who’ should be used as a relative pronoun. Hence, replace ‘which did not blindly follow’ by ‘who did not blindly follow’.

Question: I know (1)/ to who (2)/ I am speaking? (3)/ No error (4)
Answer: (2) ‘Whom’ is used in place of ‘who’ as an object of a verb or preposition.

Question: I am fully aware that (1)/ my boss is one of those  (2) / who is totally dedicated (3)/ to work and proper discipline. (4)/ No error (5).
Answer: (3) When the subject of the verb is a Relative Pronoun, care should be taken to see that the verb agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the Relative Pronoun. For example: I, who am your friend, will guard your interest. In this sentence, ‘who’ is the Relative Pronoun and ‘I’ is its antecedent. The verb ‘am’ agrees with the antecedent ‘I’. It will be wrong to say ‘I who is your’.
In the given sentence, ‘who’ is a Relative Pronoun and the antecedent is ‘those’. As ‘those’ is in Plural number, so ‘is’ should be replaced by ‘are’.

Question: The place at which the two roads meet, you will find a small log cabin. ​
(1)​Where the two roads meet ​
(2)​At the place where the two roads meet ​
(3)​The place where the two roads meet ​(4)​No improvement

Answer: (1) For place, relative pronoun ‘where’ should be used.




Pronoun Rule 25:

The relative pronouns ‘who’, ‘whom’, ‘whose’, ‘which’ and ‘that’ are used in different senses. ‘Who’ (subject) and ‘whom’ (object) are generally used only for people. ‘Whose’ is used for possession. ‘which’ is used for things. ‘That’ can be used for things and people only in defining relative clauses.

Example: The person who phoned me last night is my uncle.
Example: The person that phoned me last night is my uncle.
Example: The car which hit him was red.
Example: car that hit him was red.

Question: He talked on the phone (1)/ for hours together (2)/ who really irritated (3)/ his parents a lot. (4)/ No error (5)
Answer: (3) ‘Who’ is used for showing which person or people you mean. ‘Which’ is used to be exact about the thing or things that you mean. Look at the sentences : Houses which overlook the lake cost more. The people who called yesterday want to buy the house. Therefore, ‘who really irritated’ should be replaced by ‘which really irritated’.




Pronoun Rule 26:

When two or more singular nouns are joined by ‘and’, the pronoun used for them must be in plural.

Example: Both Kajal and Madhu have done their homework. It is wrong to say – Both Kajal and Madhu have done her homework.



Pronoun Rule 27:

When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, a pronoun used for them must be in the singular.

Example: The Collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in his duty. It is wrong to say – The Collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in their duty.



Pronoun Rule 28:

With Superlative degree adjectives – only, none, all, etc. as Relative pronouns, we use ‘that’ and not ‘which’ or ‘who’.

Example: All that glitters is not gold. It is wrong to say – All which glitters is not gold.

Question: All that I have described have been taken place in the last four decades. ​
(1)​have taken ​
(2)​has been taken ​
(3)​has taken ​
(4)​was taken ​
(5)​No correction required
Answer: (3) You may think that after ‘all’ we can’t use a singular verb. Look at the sentence above – All that glitters is not gold. But here, in place of ‘have’, we can use ‘has’. Again, the given sentence is in active voice. So, we should use ‘has taken’ and not ‘has been taken’.



Pronoun Rule 29:

A Reflexive pronoun (addition of self) is used as an object of a verb, and refers back to the same subject.

Example: The prisoner hanged himself. Here, if we write – ‘The prisoner hanged him’, ‘him’ would refer to somebody else and not to the prisoner himself. The meaning thus would change.
Similarly, Some people always talk about themselves. I plan to go myself. We are to be blamed ourselves.

Question: You cannot change (1)/ people, but you (2)/ can definitely (3)/ change own. (4)/ No error (5)​​​
Answer: (4) Replace ‘change own’ by ‘change yourself’ (the reflexive form of you).

Question: We must take (1)/ regular exercises  (2) / to keep (3)/ ourself fit. (4)/ No error (5).​
Answer: (4) The Reflexive form of ‘we’ is ‘ourselves’. Look at the sentence : We shouldn’t blame ourselves for what happened. Hence, replace ‘ourself fit’ by ‘ourselves fit’.

Question: To get into the building I’ll disguise as a reporter. ​
(1)​disguise to be ​
(2)​disguise as one ​
(3)​disguise myself ​
(4)​No improvement
Answer: (3) Here, the reflexive pronoun should be used. Look at the sentence : She disguised herself as a boy.



Pronoun Rule 30:

After ‘let’ if a pronoun is used, that pronoun must be in the objective case.

Example: Let him go there. It is wrong to say – Let he go there.