pronoun

It replaces nouns

A pronoun is a member of a small set of words that can stand for another noun already mentioned or implied.

Some pronouns, like the personal pronouns (I, she, them) have no other function.

Many other pronouns can also be used in other parts of speech, like each or this.

Unlike all other word classes, pronouns inflect for case and there are separate forms depending on whether a pronoun is nominative, objective, or possessive.

examples

he

Male subject pronoun

sheThat woman there
theyNot we, but
itNeuter third-person pronoun

who · whom · whose · which · that · one · oneself · himself · herself · itself

grammar

antecedent

Something that precedes

referentWhat a term designates
anaphoraRepeated opening words
agreementShared position between parties

subject · object · clause · syntax · determiner · possessive · relative · demonstrative · interrogative · reflexive

identity

gender

Social identity category

nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
transgenderGender differs from assignment
neopronounsNewly created personal pronouns

ze · they/them · she/her · he/him · misgendering · deadnaming · affirming · preferred · respecting · asking

function

substitute

Replacement for another

replacementWhat takes another's place
stand-inTemporary human placeholder
proxyAuthorized substitute

placeholder · reference · pointing · shorthand · repetition · avoidance · clarity · ambiguity · antecedent · binding

anonymity

privacy

Freedom from observation

namelessWithout any designation
unidentifiedNot yet recognized
unknownNot yet discovered

faceless · generic · impersonal · one · someone · anyone · everybody · nobody · whoever · indefinite

pronoun

he

antecedent

gender

substitute

privacy

pronoun

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family