Question

Identify the type of underlined pronoun in the following sentence:
These smelly socks must be his.
A. Reflexive pronoun
B. Reciprocal pronoun
C. Personal pronoun
D. Possessive pronoun

Answer 1

Hint: Pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.

Complete step by step answer:
Reflexive Pronouns are those which are used to show a noun which has been present in an earlier part of the same sentence. These pronouns are Myself, Themselves, Yourself, Ourselves, Herself, Himself and Itself.

Reciprocal Pronouns: Each other and One another. These are used when two or more nouns perform the same things towards one another.

Personal pronouns are used for a particular thing or person. They transform their forms to present different genders, numbers, cases, and persons speaking. They are: He, She, It, They, Him, Her, Them, etc.

Possessive pronouns refer to a particular person/people or thing/things belonging to a person/people. They are: Mine, Ours, His, Hers, Yours, etc.

Option a is the incorrect option because the given underlined word shows possession and the option shows a noun which emphasizes on the same noun portrayed in the earlier part of the sentence.

Option b is incorrect because the option fulfils the requirement of two nouns performing the same action towards each other but the given word shows belonging.

Option c is incorrect because personal pronoun replaces the main subject noun and indicates the noun of different gender, number, etc. the question demands the treatment of possession.

Option d is correct because the possessive noun shows a sense of belonging and the statement shows that the socks belong to him.

Note: Do not get confused between personal and possessive pronouns.