English in Use/Pronouns

A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun: as,
Pronouns are not a requirement of a sentence, and it is possible for them to never to be used in sentences. However, many sentences become unwieldy without them:
The pronouns in English language are twenty-four; and their variations are thirty-two: so that the number of words of this class, is fifty-six.
Pronouns are divided into three classes; personal, relative, and interrogative.
Pronouns also change depending on whether they refer to one person or thing (singular) or a group of people or things (plural).
Personal pronouns.
A personal pronoun or personal is a pronoun that shows, by its form, of what person it is: as,
The simple personal pronouns are five: namely, "I", of the first person; "you (thou)", of the second person; "he, she", and "it", of the third person.
The compound personal pronouns are also five: namely, "myself", of the first person; "yourself (thyself)", of the second person; "himself, herself", and "itself", of the third person.
First person pronouns are used when referring to oneself:
Second person pronouns are used to refer to someone who you are conversing with, the person the sentence is intended to be heard by:
Third person pronouns are used when referring to something else that is outside the conversation, either some other person, or an object not capable of understanding or communicating:
Third person singular pronouns are the only pronouns marked for gender. If gender is unknown, use "he or she" or use a plural.
Relative pronouns.
A relative pronoun or relative is a pronoun that represents an antecedent word or phrase, and connects different clauses of a sentence: as,
The relative pronouns are "who, which, what, that, as", and the compounds "whoever or whosoever, whichever or whichsoever, whatever or whatsoever".
"What" is a kind of double relative, equivalent to "that which" or "those which"; and is to be parsed first as antecedent, and then as relative: as,
Interrogative pronouns.
An interrogative pronoun or interrogative is a pronoun with which a question is asked: as,
The interrogative pronouns are "who, which", and "what"; being the same in form as relatives.
"Who" demands a person's name; "which", that a person or thing be distinguished from others; "what", the name of a thing, or a person's occupation and character.
Pronouns have the same modifications as nouns; namely, persons, numbers, genders, and cases. Definitions universally applicable have already been given of all these things; it is therefore unnecessary to define them again in this place.
The declension of a pronoun is a regular arrangement of its numbers and cases.
Simple personals.
The simple personal pronouns are thus declined:
Compound personals.
The word "self", added to the simple personal pronouns, forms the class of compound personal pronouns; which are used when an action reverts upon the agent, and also when some persons are to be distinguished from others. They all want the possessive case, and are alike in the nominative and objective. Thus:
Relatives and interrogatives.
The relative and the interrogative pronouns are thus declined:
Compound relatives.
The compound relative pronouns, "whoever or whosoever, whichever or whichsoever", and "whatever or whatsoever" are declined in the same manner as the simples. Thus:
Unclear Usage of Pronouns.
Although helpful to eliminate repetitiveness of nouns, pronouns, when used too much, can make a sentence extremely vague: as,
The reader does not know what "it" is.
The reader does not know who "they" are.
Y'all.
The pronoun "y'all" is a contraction of "You all". It is traditionally used in the south of the United States, where in the north you all is more common. "Y'all" follows the same conjugation rules as "they". Very often it is incorrectly spelled "ya'll".
A short syntax.
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent, as "This is the book; it is excellent," except the following cases: something indefinite, as "Tell me who it was," a neuter pronoun, as "I cannot view it," the pronoun "it", as "It is not for kings," the adjective "many", as "Many a great genius, they have no friends," enallage, as "We shall close our remarks," another sense, as "Lamps is of the plural number," nominatives, as "Who are you?", absolute nominatives, as "It need not be any wonder," possessives, as "Him whose yoke is easy," objectives, as "Those whom she persuaded," neuter verbs, as "Whom did you suppose me to be?", familiar language, as "The man [whom] I trust," omission of the relative, as "The worst thing [that] could happen," a collective noun, as "The council were divided," the conjunction "or", as "James or John will favour us with his company," the conjunction "and", as "Saul and Jonathan were pleasant in their lives," one person or thing, as "This great philosopher and statesman," empathy, as "The good man, and the sinner too, shall have his reward," and "each", "every", or "no", as "Every plant and every tree produces others after its kind."