What is a definitive pronoun? You will learn the answer to the question asked from the materials of this article. In addition, you will be presented with several examples of sentences and proverbs where this part of speech is used.
General information about pronouns
Before talking about what definitive pronouns exist in Russian, you should give a complete definition of this part of speech.
So, a pronoun is an independent part of speech, which is very often used instead of an adjective, numeral, noun, and adverb. It should be especially noted that the pronoun can change in numbers, gender and cases.
What types of pronouns are there?
Not everyone knows that the definitive pronoun is one of the categories of this part of speech. In general, there are the following:
- Private. Such pronouns refer to a specific person. Thus,1st and 2nd person denote the direct participants in the speech (you, you, we and I). 3rd person personal pronouns indicate listeners who do not take any part in the speech (she, he, they and it).
- Possessive. Such pronouns indicate an object (properties, objects) that belongs to someone or something (mine, mine, yours, yours, ours, his, theirs and hers).
- Returnable. This bit conveys the meaning of the direction of the action on some subject (for example, I see myself from the outside).
- Relative. This category is used as an attachment part of a subordinate clause to the main clause (who, whose, what, which, what, how much, what).
- Interrogative. This category of pronoun is used mainly in interrogative sentences. This group includes a variety of words (for example, how much, who, what, what, which, what, what, whose).
- Undefined. The task of this category is an indication of an indefinite set. Such a group is formed from interrogative pronouns by adding prefixes where-, not- or some-, as well as postfixes –either, -that or -something.
- Negative. Such a group is characterized by a complete denial of something or someone (no one, no one, nothing, none, nothing, no one, etc.).
- Mutual. Such a pronoun expresses an attitude towards 2 or more objects or persons. For example: “They have known each other for a long time.”
- Definitive and demonstrative pronouns.
Let's look at the last digits in more detail and give examples of how they are used in Russian.
Demonstrative pronoun
Such pronouns are sometimes called demonstratives. They indicate what kind of object this or that person has in mind, as well as its location relative to himself or the addressee (this, that, such, such, such, so much, such, this, this).
It should also be noted that demonstrative pronouns can also express additional information about an object (for example, its gender, animation, etc.).
In some cases, such a group is not allocated separately. This is due to the fact that the corresponding meaning is expressed not in the form of independent words, but with the help of demonstrative particles that are attached to the noun.
Examples of demonstrative pronouns
Some experts refer to demonstrative pronouns and words such as "both" and "both". However, this is only if they are used in the meaning of "the one and the other", "the one and the other".
Here is an example:
- Both students successfully passed the exam. (Both students passed the exam successfully.)
- Both boys received good gifts. (Both boys received good gifts.)
Other examples of demonstrative pronouns:
- This person was very rude to me.
- He who does nothing is never wrong.
- I am what I am, and I will not be different.
- He is so smart andbeautiful.
- Take as many nuts as you like.
As for obsolete demonstrative pronouns, they are most often used in historical, religious and classical literature:
- I've never seen such an eccentric before.
- What a rascal (irony).
- No word has been heard from him to this day.
- On the day I wanted to leave home.
Definitive pronoun
This category of pronouns indicates any one object among others. All, himself, every, most, everyone, everyone, everyone, other, other, any - all these are definitive pronouns.
Examples: anyone can walk fast; anyone can run; all dirty, etc.
What features do definitive pronouns have?
We told about what a definitive pronoun is. But what is their detailed indication? Let's answer this question in more detail.
- In Russian, the pronoun "self" is necessary to name a certain person performing an action (for example, I can easily beat myself).
- A pronoun such as "the whole" indicates the totality of persons or objects, as well as the completeness of their coverage (for example, the whole day passed like a dream for me).
- The pronoun "everyone" speaks of one person or object that is in a number of very similar or homogeneous (for example, every person has his own price).
- The following three pronouns - "any", "every" and "most" - indicate the selection of a specific personor an object from a series of homogeneous ones (for example, it was the same person; everyone who transgresses the law will be necessarily punished; any work is honorable).
However, it should be noted that not everything is so simple. After all, definitive pronouns have their own variations. For example, the word "any" is often used in the sense of "one to choose from" or "whatever." "Most" in some cases indicates the main feature of an object or its limit (for example, at the very end of the year). In addition, such a pronoun is sometimes used to form a superlative adjective or to indicate the highest measure of some sign (for example, the greatest happiness comes when you do not expect it).
As for the definitive pronouns "other" and "other", they are usually considered as antonyms for the words "this" and "that".
Definitive pronouns: decline for case, gender and number or not?
The morphological features of such pronouns include their ability to change in three forms, namely by gender, case and number.
Here are some examples:
- singular and plural: himself - themselves, all - everything;
- kind: himself - herself (self), all - all (all), another - another (other);
- cases: different - different (different), all - everything (total), different - different (other), etc.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, such an obsolete word as "everyone" never changes in cases. It can bedecline only by number and gender.
Sentence members
Which member of the sentence are attributive pronouns? In written or oral speech, this part of speech most often acts as agreed definitions. For example: “The years are followed by new years, and every day brings us happiness.” Also, together with nouns, pronouns can be one member of a sentence. For example: “Every hour she called me just like that” and “The boss himself called me and gave the order.”
If a definitive pronoun turns into a noun, then it acts as a subject in the sentence. For example: “Everyone left, only I stayed at home.”
It should also be noted that this part of speech often acts as a particle or adverb. For example: “He nevertheless agreed to marry her” and “She is all in her worries.”
Where are defining pronouns most often used?
This part of speech can be used in completely different sentences. By the way, proverbs with definitive pronouns are quite popular in Russian. Here are some examples.
Pronouns "any", "every" and "most", pointing to one object from others:
- The worst poverty is the lack of intelligence. The worst morning is Monday morning. The best friends are parents.
- Any job is good. Everyone chews, but not everyone lives. Bad ship - any windaft.
- Everyone gets what they are destined for. Every cricket know your hearth. Everyone is sighted, but not every doctor.
The pronoun "everyone", indicating any object from others:
- Every sandpiper only praises his swamp.
- Not everyone will understand you like me.
- Everyone seeks the truth, but not everyone can create it.
- Everyone goes crazy in their own way.
- Every spruce makes noise in its forest.
The pronoun "all" ("everything", "everything"), defining the subject as something inseparable:
- Everything is one: what is the crumb, what is the bread.
- Everything has its time.
- We all walk under God.
