Introduction
Pronouns can replace nouns. There are different kinds of pronouns, for example: personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, relative pronouns and interrogative pronouns.
The personal pronouns in Esperanto are mi, vi, li, ŝi, ĝi, ni, ili. We use them in the place of nouns that have already been mentioned, to talk about ourselves or to address other people.
- Example:
- Ĉu vi konas min?
Possessive pronouns indicate possession or ownership. They can go before nouns or replace them. We simple add the -a ending to the personal pronouns.
- Example:
- Tio ne estas via pomo, estas la mia.
We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same. Reflexive pronouns usually take the -n ending.
- Example:
- Mi lavas min.
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. In Esperanto, relative pronouns are the same as question words.
- Example:
- La viro, kiu estas tie, parolas Esperanton.
Interrogative pronouns are question words that we use to ask about people and things. All of the questions words begin with k in Esperanto.
- Example:
- Kiu estas vi?
Demonstrative pronouns point out something specific and help to specifiy which objects we are talking about, this here or that over there.
- Example:
- Mi ne ŝatas ĉi tiun jupon. Ĉu mi povas surprovi tiun jupon?
The indefinite pronouns in Esperanto are io/iu, ĉio/ĉiu, nenio/neniu.
- Example:
- Mi konas neniun.
