Pronouns
* Definition: Words that replace nouns. They act as substitutes for nouns, preventing repetition and making sentences more concise.
* Examples: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them, mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs, myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
* Function: To replace nouns and refer to people, places, or things.
* Types:
* Personal pronouns: Replace specific people or things (e.g., I, he, she, they).
* Possessive pronouns: Show ownership (e.g., mine, yours, his).
* Reflexive pronouns: Refer back to the subject of the sentence (e.g., myself, himself).
Contractions
* Definition: Shortened forms of words created by combining two or more words and omitting letters.
* Examples: I'm (I am), you're (you are), he's (he is), she's (she is), it's (it is), we're (we are), they're (they are), can't (cannot), don't (do not), won't (will not).
* Function: To make speech and writing more informal and concise.
* Formation: Typically involves combining a pronoun or verb with a verb "to be" or a modal verb (can, will, should, etc.)
Key Differences
| Feature | Pronouns | Contractions |
|-------------------|----------|--------------|
| Function | Replace nouns | Combine words |
| Structure | Single words | Shortened forms |
| Example | She, they, ours | I'm, can't, won't |
In Summary: Pronouns replace nouns, while contractions are short forms of words created by combining words and omitting letters. They serve distinct roles in language and contribute to its flexibility and expressiveness.