Relative pronouns are pronouns that are used to refer to an earlier substansive, called an antecedent, and give additional information, as the "who" in the following examples: Like hƿilċ is sƿilċ "such", ġehƿilċ "each/every one", ǣġhƿilċ "each one, every one", nāthƿilċ "someone I know not", samhƿilċ "some". Because it is an adjective, it also simply takes the strong adjectival declension. The following word is also used as an interrogative adjective, like Modern English "which" as in "Which fruit did you eat?" Used standalone as a pronoun, though, it means "which one". Like hƿæðer is āhƿæðer "some one, something any one anything", ǣġhƿæðer "of two" "either, both, each" "of many" "every one, each", nāhƿæðer "neither", sƿæðer "whichever of two, whosoever of two". In Old English, they had a word meaning "which of two" as might be used in "Which of the two children went with you?", declined the same as the strong adjective declension. The instrumental form of "hƿæt" ( hƿȳ) is used to mean "why". But "Hƿā ǣt mīnne hlāf?" - "Who ate my bread?", where no one is indicated. Consider, "Hƿæt is hē?" - "Who is he?", where "hē" shows that we are aware of which person the question applies to. "Hƿā" was used when no person had been identified. Note that "hƿæt" was used when a person had been identified, and that was the person who was being enquired about. Interrogative pronouns are pronouns used to ask questions of identity, such as Modern English "who" and "what" as in "Who are you?" and "What is that animal?" The following are Old English interrogative pronouns: In earlier Old English, both in West Saxon and Anglian dialects, "hīo" was used instead of "hēo". In Anglian dialects, "hēo" was used for feminine and plural nominative and accusative. Third person pronouns refer to another person not involved in a conversation, like Modern English "he", "she", "it", and "they". In Anglian dialects, "þec", "inċit" and "ēoƿiċ" were used in the accusative instead of "þē", "inc", and "ēoƿ" respectively. Second person pronouns are for the person who is being spoken to, like Modern English "you" (and “thou” and “ye” in dialects). Also in Anglian dialects, "ūser" was sometimes used instead of "ūre". In Anglian dialects, in the accusative, "mec" was used instead of "mē" "uncit" was used instead of "unc" and "ūsiċ" was used instead of "ūs". Since there is a dual number for each set of pronouns, the plural form should only be used for three or more. If used with an adjective or a verb, it should take the same declensions and conjugations as plural. The separate dual number is exceptional and rare. Notice that there is a dual number it means "both" or "two" as in "we both" or "we two". The simple personal pronouns are declined like this:įirst person pronouns are pronouns that refer to the speaker (in singular), or the speaker and other people (in dual and plural), like Modern English "I" and "we". Like nouns and adjectives, pronouns are declined according to case, gender (only sometimes), and number. Also includes negative pronouns - pronouns used to talk about "nobody" or "nothing". Indefinite pronouns - used to talk about nobody in particular, or about everyone in general, like Modern English "anybody" and "everybody".Demonstrative pronouns - words used often when pointing to something, with with a sense of location, as in Modern English "this" or "that".Relative pronouns - used after another substansive to add additional information, like Modern English "whom" in "John is the person whom I like".Interrogative pronouns - used to ask questions of identity like Modern English "who", "what", and "which one".Personal pronouns - usually refer to specific persons or objects.Alistair is doing what he thinks is best for his rights as a human being.A more usual way to say the above, using pronouns, would be: Alistair is doing what Alistair thinks is best for Alistair's rights as a human being.īecause it repeats "Alistair" so much it seems strange and tedious.For an example without using any pronouns, see this sentence: However, they are useful because they help avoid repeating the same noun over and over again and they make it easier for a sentence to be understood. They are not a requirement of a sentence, and it is possible for them never to be used in sentences. They are words like "I", "you", "he", "they", "anybody", "who", and many more. Pronouns are used to substitute for nouns in most speech.
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