Mastering Pronouns: Personal, Demonstrative, Interrogative, and Quantity
Welcome to this guide on pronouns! Have you ever wondered why we don't say: "Ken went to Ken's room because Ken wanted to play Ken's game"? Saying someone's name over and over sounds unnatural. Instead, we say: "Ken went to his room because he wanted to play his game."
That is the superpower of a pronoun (代名詞): it stands in place of a noun so our speech and writing flow smoothly. In this chapter, we will master four essential types of pronouns defined in the curriculum: personal pronouns (人称代名詞), demonstrative pronouns (指示代名詞), interrogative pronouns (疑問代名詞), and quantity pronouns (数量を表す代名詞). Don't worry if grammar terms look scary at first—we will break each one down step by step with clear everyday examples!
Note: Related topics like tenses, auxiliary verbs, and prepositions are covered in their own dedicated chapters in this grammar section.
---1. Personal Pronouns (人称代名詞)
Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. In English, these words change their form depending on who is doing what in a sentence. This is called their case (格).
The Four Forms of Personal Pronouns
Each personal pronoun can appear in four common forms:
1. Subject form (主格 - しゅかく): The "doer" of the action. Placed before the verb. Answers "Who?" (e.g., I play tennis.)
2. Possessive form (所有格 - しょゆうかく): Shows ownership. Always followed by a noun. Answers "Whose?" (e.g., This is my racket.)
3. Object form (目的格 - もくてきかく): The person or thing receiving the action. Placed after an action verb or preposition. (e.g., Ken helped me. / Listen to me.)
4. Possessive pronoun (所有代名詞 - しょゆうだいめいし): Stands for "possessive + noun" all in one word. Means "mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs." (e.g., This racket is mine.)
Personal Pronouns Chart
Here is the complete chart. Reading these aloud rhythmically (like a chant: I - my - me - mine) is the most reliable way to remember them!
First Person (The speaker):
• Singular: I (主格) — my (所有格) — me (目的格) — mine (所有代名詞)
• Plural: we (主格) — our (所有格) — us (目的格) — ours (所有代名詞)
Second Person (The listener):
• Singular: you (主格) — your (所有格) — you (目的格) — yours (所有代名詞)
• Plural: you (主格) — your (所有格) — you (目的格) — yours (所有代名詞)
Third Person (Someone or something else being talked about):
• Male singular: he (主格) — his (所有格) — him (目的格) — his (所有代名詞)
• Female singular: she (主格) — her (所有格) — her (目的格) — hers (所有代名詞)
• Thing / Animal singular: it (主格) — its (所有格) — it (目的格) — (no possessive pronoun form used)
• Plural (people or things): they (主格) — their (所有格) — them (目的格) — theirs (所有代名詞)
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
• Watch out for "it's" versus "its":
It's is short for It is (or It has). Its without an apostrophe is the possessive form meaning "of it."
Correct: The dog wagged its tail. (Not it's tail).
• Prepositions need the object form:
Whenever you put a pronoun right after prepositions like to, for, with, about, at, always use the object form.
Correct: Come with me. (Never: Come with I.)
Correct: This present is for her. (Never: ...for she.)
Key Takeaway for Personal Pronouns
Check the position in the sentence: Before the verb = Subject (He). Before a noun = Possessive (His car). After an action verb or preposition = Object (Call him / with him). Standing alone to mean "owner's thing" = Possessive Pronoun (The car is his).
---2. Demonstrative Pronouns (指示代名詞)
Demonstrative pronouns point directly to people, things, or ideas, just like pointing your finger at something near or far.
Near vs. Far: The Two Main Pairs
• Near the speaker:
- Singular: this ("this one / this person")
- Plural: these ("these ones / these people")
Example: This is my dictionary. / These are my friends, Yuka and Takuya.
• Far from the speaker:
- Singular: that ("that one / that person")
- Plural: those ("those ones / those people")
Example: That is our school over there. / Those are tall trees.
Special Everyday Uses of This and That
1. Introducing someone:
When introducing a friend or family member, use this, not he or she.
Example: "Mom, this is my classmate, Alex."
2. On the telephone:
In phone conversations, English speakers use this for oneself and that for the other person.
Example: "Hello, this is Ken. Is that Ms. Green?"
3. Responding to what someone just said:
To comment on an idea or statement just made by someone else, use that.
Example: "I passed the audition!" — "That is wonderful!"
Pronoun vs. Adjective: What is the difference?
• When this, that, these, those stand by themselves as the subject or object, they are pronouns:
Example: This is an interesting story. (This stands alone).
• When they come right before a noun to describe it, they act as determiners/adjectives:
Example: This story is interesting. (This points to story).
Key Takeaway for Demonstrative Pronouns
Use this / these for things close in distance or time. Use that / those for things farther away or for ideas just mentioned by your conversation partner.
---3. Interrogative Pronouns (疑問代名詞)
Interrogative pronouns are question words used to ask about an unknown person, thing, or choice. They sit at the front of question sentences to find out the identity of the subject, object, or owner.
The Key Interrogative Pronouns
1. who (誰が / 誰を): Asks about a person.
• Asking about the subject: Who plays the guitar? — Ken does.
• Asking about the object: Who did you meet yesterday? — I met Ms. Baker.
2. whose (誰のもの): Asks about ownership of an unknown person.
Example: Whose is this bag? — It is mine.
Note: Just like this, whose can also be placed before a noun: Whose bag is this?
3. what (何): Asks about things, actions, or occupations.
Example: What is in the box? — A new baseball.
Example: What do you want for lunch? — I want curry.
4. which (どちら / どれ): Asks for a choice from a limited, known group (e.g., choosing between two or three options).
Example: Which do you like better, tea or coffee? — I like tea better.
Example: Which is your locker, this one or that one?
What vs. Which: How to choose?
• Use what when the possibilities are open and unlimited: What sport do you like? (Any sport in the world!)
• Use which when there is a specific, limited set to choose from: Which do you prefer, soccer or baseball? (Choosing strictly between the two).
Crucial Pattern: "Who" as the Subject
Notice what happens when who acts as the subject of the sentence:
Usually, questions need an auxiliary verb like do / does / did (e.g., Where do you live?).
However, when who is the subject, do not add do / does / did. Treat who like a third-person singular noun and put the verb directly after it!
Correct: Who cleaned the classroom? (Not: Who did clean...?)
Correct: Who plays the piano well? (Not: Who does play...?)
Key Takeaway for Interrogative Pronouns
Use who for people, whose for "whose thing", what for open questions about things, and which when choosing between specific options. When who is the subject, follow normal statement word order directly: Who + verb.
---4. Quantity Pronouns (数量を表す代名詞)
Sometimes you need to talk about an amount, a number of items, or people without naming every single one. That is where quantity pronouns come in!
1. some and any (いくつかのもの / いくらかの人)
Both some and any refer to an indefinite number or quantity.
• some: Typically used in positive (affirmative) sentences.
Example: Some of my friends live near the station.
Example: I needed pencils, so I bought some.
• any: Typically used in negative sentences and regular questions.
In negative sentences (meaning "not even one / none"):
Example: I wanted fresh apples, but there weren't any in the fridge.
In questions (meaning "any at all?"):
Example: Do you have any of those postcards?
• Polite requests with "some": When you offer something or expect a "yes" answer, use some even in a question!
Example: Would you like some? (Offering tea or cookies).
2. all, both, and each
• all (すべて / 全員): Refers to three or more members of a group.
Example: All of the students were excited about the school trip.
Example: The cookies smell great; all of them look delicious.
• both (両方 / 2人とも): Refers specifically to two people or two things together.
Example: I have two older brothers. Both of them are college students.
Example: Do you want orange juice or apple juice? — I like both!
• each (それぞれ / 各自): Focuses on the individual members of a group one by one. In English, each is treated as singular!
Example: There are thirty students, and each has a locker. (Notice: has, not have).
3. many, much, and a few / a little
• many: Represents a large number of countable items.
Example: Many came to the school festival. / Many of us love music.
• much: Represents a large amount of an uncountable thing (e.g., time, water, money). Mostly used in questions and negatives.
Example: Did you spend a lot of time? — No, not much.
• a few / a little: Represents a small number (countable) or small quantity (uncountable).
Example: Are there any cookies left? — Yes, just a few.
4. one and ones (代名詞としての one)
When you want to avoid repeating a countable noun that was just mentioned, use one (singular) or ones (plural).
Example: I lost my pen, so I must buy a new one. (one = a pen)
Example: Which shoes do you like? — I like the black ones. (ones = shoes)
Helpful tip: It refers to the exact same item previously mentioned, while one refers to another item of the same kind.
Key Takeaway for Quantity Pronouns
Match the pronoun to the amount and type of thing: both for exactly two; all for the whole group; some for positive statements; any for negatives and questions; one / ones to avoid repeating a countable noun.
---Quick Check & Review Practice
Let's test what you've learned! Read each sentence and choose the correct pronoun.
Question 1: Ken and Emi are my classmates. I walk to school with (they / them) every morning.
Answer: them. (After the preposition with, we always use the object form).
Question 2: (Who / Whose) racket is this? — It is mine.
Answer: Whose. (We are asking who owns the racket).
Question 3: I have two cats. (All / Both) of them are sleeping right now.
Answer: Both. (There are exactly two cats, so use both).
Question 4: "This cap is too small. Can you show me a larger (it / one)?"
Answer: one. (We want another cap of the same type, not the exact same small cap).
Great job! Whenever you read or write English, take a second to look at the pronouns. Ask yourself: Who is this pointing to? Is it a subject or an object? Is it one, two, or many? With regular practice, choosing the right pronoun will become second nature!