Chapter: Pronouns and Possessives
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
pronoun: সর্বনামsubject pronoun: কর্তৃবাচক সর্বনামobject pronoun: কর্মবাচক সর্বনামpossessive adjective: স্বত্ববাচক বিশেষণpossessive pronoun: স্বত্ববাচক সর্বনামreflexive pronoun: আত্মবাচক সর্বনামreciprocal pronoun: পারস্পরিক সর্বনামownership: মালিকানাbelong: অধিকারভুক্ত হওয়াsubject: কর্তাobject: কর্মpreposition: পদান্বয়ী অব্যয়
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Possessive adjectives are formed from personal pronouns: I-my, you-your, he-his, she-her, it-its, we-our, they-their.
► Possessive pronouns are formed as independent forms: my-mine, your-yours, her-hers, our-ours, their-theirs.
► Reflexive pronouns are generally formed by adding self for singular forms and selves for plural forms: my-self, your-self, him-self, her-self, it-self, our-selves, your-selves, them-selves.
► The possessive pronoun his has the same spelling as the possessive adjective his.
► The word her is an object pronoun when it follows a verb or preposition and a possessive adjective when it comes before a noun.
► Add each other or one another after a plural subject to express a mutual action.
► Do not use an apostrophe in possessive pronouns: hers, ours, yours, theirs.
► Its shows possession, whereas it is is the shortened form of it is or it has.
1. Subject Pronouns (8 words)
I[/aɪ/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমি
Alt: the speaker as the subject
Example: I am preparing for the examination.
Syn: the speaker
💡 Exam tip: Use I as the subject of a verb, not me.
you[/juː/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তুমি, আপনি, তোমরা, আপনারা
Alt: the person or people addressed
Example: You should complete your homework.
Syn: the person addressed
💡 Exam tip: You can refer to one person or more than one person.
he[/hiː/]pronouneasy
Meaning: সে, তিনি (পুরুষ)
Alt: a male person already mentioned
Example: Rahim is punctual because he reaches school early.
Syn: that boy, that manAnt: she
💡 Exam tip: Use he for a male person as the subject.
she[/ʃiː/]pronouneasy
Meaning: সে, তিনি (নারী)
Alt: a female person already mentioned
Example: Mina is kind because she helps the poor.
Syn: that girl, that womanAnt: he
💡 Exam tip: Use she for a female person as the subject.
it[/ɪt/]pronouneasy
Meaning: এটি, এটি বস্তু বা প্রাণী
Alt: a thing, animal, situation, or idea
Example: The book is useful, and it is interesting.
Syn: the thing
💡 Exam tip: Use it for things, animals of unknown sex, weather, time, and distance.
we[/wiː/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমরা
Alt: the speaker and one or more other people
Example: We are responsible for our actions.
Syn: the speakersAnt: they
💡 Exam tip: We is a first-person plural subject pronoun.
they[/ðeɪ/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তারা
Alt: more than one person, animal, or thing
Example: The students are attentive because they want good results.
Syn: those people, those thingsAnt: we
💡 Exam tip: Use they as the subject for plural nouns.
subject[/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: কর্তা
Alt: the person or thing that performs an action
Example: In the sentence 'She sings well,' she is the subject.
Syn: doer, performerAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: A subject pronoun comes before the verb in a normal statement.
2. Object Pronouns (8 words)
me[/miː/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমাকে, আমায়
Alt: the speaker as the object
Example: The teacher called me.
Syn: the speaker as object
💡 Exam tip: Use me after a verb or preposition, not I.
him[/hɪm/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তাকে, তাঁকে (পুরুষ)
Alt: a male person as the object
Example: I met him at the library.
Syn: that boy, that manAnt: her
💡 Exam tip: Him is the object form of he.
her[/hɜːr/]pronounmedium
Meaning: তাকে, তাঁকে (নারী)
Alt: a female person as the object
Example: We invited her to the programme.
Syn: that girl, that womanAnt: him
💡 Exam tip: Her can be an object pronoun or a possessive adjective.
us[/ʌs/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমাদেরকে
Alt: the speaker and others as the object
Example: The guide showed us the museum.
Syn: the speakers as object
💡 Exam tip: Us is the object form of we.
them[/ðem/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তাদেরকে
Alt: more than one person or thing as the object
Example: The coach praised them.
Syn: those people, those things
💡 Exam tip: Them is the object form of they.
object[/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: কর্ম
Alt: the person or thing affected by an action
Example: In 'I helped him,' him is the object.
Syn: receiver, targetAnt: subject
💡 Exam tip: An object pronoun generally follows a verb or preposition.
verb[/vɜːrb/]nouneasy
Meaning: ক্রিয়া
Alt: a word that expresses an action or state
Example: In 'They respect us,' respect is the verb.
Syn: action word
💡 Exam tip: Identify the verb first to decide whether a pronoun is subject or object.
preposition[/ˌprepəˈzɪʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: পদান্বয়ী অব্যয়
Alt: a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show relationship
Example: The letter was written by her.
Syn: relational word
💡 Exam tip: Use object pronouns after prepositions, such as to me and with them.
3. Possessive Adjectives (8 words)
my[/maɪ/]adjeasy
Meaning: আমার
Alt: belonging to or connected with the speaker
Example: This is my passport.
Syn: belonging to me
💡 Exam tip: My must be followed by a noun.
your[/jɔːr/]adjeasy
Meaning: তোমার, আপনার, তোমাদের
Alt: belonging to the person or people addressed
Example: Where is your examination hall?
Syn: belonging to you
💡 Exam tip: Your is used before a noun; yours is used without a noun.
his[/hɪz/]adjmedium
Meaning: তার, তাঁর (পুরুষের)
Alt: belonging to a male person
Example: His bicycle is new.
Syn: belonging to himAnt: her
💡 Exam tip: His can function both before a noun and independently.
her[/hɜːr/]adjeasy
Meaning: তার, তাঁর (নারীর)
Alt: belonging to a female person
Example: Her brother lives in Indonesia.
Syn: belonging to herAnt: his
💡 Exam tip: Her before a noun is a possessive adjective.
its[/ɪts/]adjmedium
Meaning: এর
Alt: belonging to a thing or animal
Example: The dog wagged its tail.
Syn: belonging to it
💡 Exam tip: Its shows possession; it is means it is or it has.
our[/aʊər/]adjeasy
Meaning: আমাদের
Alt: belonging to the speaker and others
Example: Our school has a science club.
Syn: belonging to us
💡 Exam tip: Our must come before a noun.
their[/ðeər/]adjmedium
Meaning: তাদের
Alt: belonging to more than one person or thing
Example: The students submitted their assignments.
Syn: belonging to them
💡 Exam tip: Their is followed by a noun; do not confuse it with there or they are.
possessive[/pəˈzesɪv/]adjmedium
Meaning: অধিকার বা মালিকানা-সম্পর্কিত
Alt: showing ownership or connection
Example: My and our are possessive adjectives.
Syn: ownership-related, belongingAnt: non possessive
💡 Exam tip: A possessive adjective is placed before a noun.
4. Possessive Pronouns (8 words)
mine[/maɪn/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমারটি
Alt: something belonging to me
Example: The navy-blue T-shirt is mine.
Syn: my possession
💡 Exam tip: Mine is used without a following noun.
yours[/jɔːrz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তোমারটি, আপনাদেরটি
Alt: something belonging to you
Example: How old is yours?
Syn: your possession
💡 Exam tip: Use yours instead of your when the noun is already understood.
his[/hɪz/]pronounmedium
Meaning: তারটি (পুরুষের)
Alt: something belonging to him
Example: This pen is his.
Syn: his possession
💡 Exam tip: His has the same form as a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun.
hers[/hɜːrz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তারটি (নারীর)
Alt: something belonging to her
Example: The red bag is hers.
Syn: her possession
💡 Exam tip: Hers is never followed immediately by a noun.
ours[/aʊərz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমাদেরটি
Alt: something belonging to us
Example: This park is ours.
Syn: our possession
💡 Exam tip: Use ours when our noun is omitted because it is already known.
theirs[/ðeərz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তাদেরটি
Alt: something belonging to them
Example: The larger house is theirs.
Syn: their possession
💡 Exam tip: Theirs is used independently and is not followed by a noun.
belong[/bɪˈlɒŋ/]verbmedium
Meaning: অধিকারভুক্ত হওয়া
Alt: to be owned by someone
Example: This notebook belongs to me.
Syn: be owned by, be the property ofAnt: be separate from
💡 Exam tip: Use belong to with an object pronoun: belongs to him, not belongs to his.
ownership[/ˈəʊnərʃɪp/]nounhard
Meaning: মালিকানা
Alt: the state of possessing something
Example: Possessive words express ownership.
Syn: possession, proprietorshipAnt: non-possession
💡 Exam tip: Possessive adjectives and pronouns can both express ownership.
5. Reflexive Pronouns (8 words)
myself[/maɪˈself/]pronouneasy
Meaning: নিজেকে, নিজে
Alt: the speaker as the receiver of an action
Example: I prepared myself for the party.
Syn: me personally
💡 Exam tip: Myself refers back to the subject I.
yourself[/jɔːrˈself/]pronouneasy
Meaning: নিজেকে, নিজে
Alt: the person addressed as the receiver of an action
Example: You will hurt yourself if you touch the rod.
Syn: you personally
💡 Exam tip: Use yourself with singular you.
himself[/hɪmˈself/]pronouneasy
Meaning: নিজেকে, নিজে (পুরুষ)
Alt: a male person referring back to himself
Example: He completed the work himself.
Syn: he personally
💡 Exam tip: Himself agrees with the masculine subject he.
herself[/hɜːrˈself/]pronouneasy
Meaning: নিজেকে, নিজে (নারী)
Alt: a female person referring back to herself
Example: She made the cake herself.
Syn: she personally
💡 Exam tip: Herself agrees with the feminine subject she.
itself[/ɪtˈself/]pronounmedium
Meaning: নিজেই, নিজেকে
Alt: a thing or animal referring back to itself
Example: The machine switched itself off.
Syn: the thing itself
💡 Exam tip: Use itself for a thing, animal, or situation represented by it.
ourselves[/aʊərˈselvz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: আমরা নিজেরা, নিজেদের
Alt: the speakers referring back to themselves
Example: We organized the programme ourselves.
Syn: we personally
💡 Exam tip: Ourselves agrees with the subject we.
yourselves[/jɔːrˈselvz/]pronounmedium
Meaning: তোমরা নিজেরা, নিজেদের
Alt: plural people addressed referring back to themselves
Example: You should prepare yourselves for the test.
Syn: you all personally
💡 Exam tip: Use yourselves with plural you.
themselves[/ðəmˈselvz/]pronouneasy
Meaning: তারা নিজেরা, নিজেদের
Alt: people or things referring back to themselves
Example: They painted the classroom themselves.
Syn: they personally
💡 Exam tip: Themselves agrees with the subject they.
6. Reciprocal and Related Expressions (8 words)
each other[/iːtʃ ˈʌðər/]pronounmedium
Meaning: একে অপরকে
Alt: one another in a mutual action
Example: Joyita and Jalal love each other.
Syn: one another, mutuallyAnt: separately
💡 Exam tip: Use each other when two or more people perform the same action mutually.
one another[/wʌn əˈnʌðər/]pronounmedium
Meaning: পরস্পরকে
Alt: each other
Example: The team members supported one another.
Syn: each other, mutuallyAnt: individually
💡 Exam tip: One another is commonly used for mutual relationships among several people.
mutual[/ˈmjuːtʃuəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: পারস্পরিক
Alt: shared by two or more people
Example: They have mutual respect for each other.
Syn: reciprocal, sharedAnt: one-sided
💡 Exam tip: Mutual describes an action or feeling shared by both sides.
reciprocal[/rɪˈsɪprəkəl/]adjhard
Meaning: পারস্পরিক
Alt: given or felt by each person toward the other
Example: Their reciprocal affection was well known.
Syn: mutual, interchangeableAnt: unilateral
💡 Exam tip: Reciprocal is a formal synonym of mutual.
personally[/ˈpɜːrsənəli/]advmedium
Meaning: ব্যক্তিগতভাবে, নিজে
Alt: by or for oneself
Example: The manager personally checked the documents.
Syn: oneself, directlyAnt: indirectly
💡 Exam tip: Personally often has a meaning similar to an emphatic reflexive pronoun.
organize[/ˈɔːrɡənaɪz/]verbeasy
Meaning: আয়োজন করা
Alt: to arrange or plan an event or activity
Example: The students organized a science fair themselves.
Syn: arrange, planAnt: disorganize
💡 Exam tip: With organize, use a reflexive pronoun when the subject did the work alone.
prepare[/prɪˈpeər/]verbeasy
Meaning: প্রস্তুত করা বা হওয়া
Alt: to make ready
Example: I prepared myself for the examination.
Syn: make ready, trainAnt: neglect
💡 Exam tip: Prepare oneself means to get ready; prepare something means to make it ready.
affect[/əˈfekt/]verbmedium
Meaning: প্রভাবিত করা
Alt: to produce a change in someone or something
Example: The action affected only the subject herself.
Syn: influence, impactAnt: leave unchanged
💡 Exam tip: A reflexive pronoun may show that an action affects only its subject.
💡 Exam Tips
• Use subject pronouns before verbs: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
• Use object pronouns after verbs and prepositions: me, you, him, her, it, us, and them.
• A possessive adjective must be followed by a noun: my book, their house.
• A possessive pronoun stands alone without a noun: The book is mine.
• Never write 'theirs house' or 'mine friend'; write 'their house' and 'my friend'.
• Distinguish between your and you are, their and they are, and its and it is.
• Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
• Use an emphatic reflexive pronoun to emphasize that the subject did an action without help.
• Use each other or one another for actions shared mutually by two or more people.
• In gap-filling questions, identify the antecedent and determine its number and gender before choosing the pronoun.
• Check whether the blank is before a noun or stands alone to distinguish a possessive adjective from a possessive pronoun.
• Remember that I is used as a subject, while me is used as an object.