In the following question, from the four alternatives, select the option that correctly identifies the type of pronoun.
He will reach home by himself.

1. A

   First person

2. B

   Reflexive

3. C

   Relative

4. D

   Demonstrative

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

• The pronoun in question is 'himself'.
• Pronouns ending in '-self' or '-selves' that refer back to the subject of the sentence are known as reflexive pronouns.
• In the sentence 'He will reach home by himself,' the pronoun 'himself' refers back to the subject 'He'.
• It functions as the object of the preposition 'by', indicating that the subject is performing the action alone, making it a reflexive use.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: First-person pronouns refer to the speaker (e.g., I, we, me, us). 'Himself' is a third-person pronoun, referring to someone being spoken about.
• Option C: Relative pronouns (e.g., who, which, that) are used to connect a dependent clause to a main clause. 'Himself' does not serve this function.
• Option D: Demonstrative pronouns (e.g., this, that, these, those) are used to point to specific nouns. 'Himself' refers back to a subject rather than pointing out a specific item.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of pronoun types in English grammar as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• While this is a grammar question, strong language skills are crucial in nursing for clear and accurate patient documentation, effective communication with the healthcare team, and providing understandable instructions to patients and their families.
• Misuse of pronouns can lead to ambiguity in patient notes, potentially causing confusion about who performed an action or to whom something happened.
• What if the note said, 'Nurse A told Nurse B she would administer the medication'? This is ambiguous. A clearer sentence would be 'Nurse A told Nurse B that she (Nurse A) would administer the medication' or 'Nurse A said she would administer the medication herself.'.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the pronoun in the sentence that the question is about. Here, it is 'himself'.
• Analyze the function of this pronoun within the sentence. Ask yourself: What is this word doing?
• Notice that 'himself' refers back to the subject, 'He'.
• Recall the definitions of different pronoun types. A pronoun that refers back to the subject and ends in '-self' is a reflexive pronoun.
• Evaluate the given options. 'First person', 'Relative', and 'Demonstrative' do not fit the function of 'himself' in this context.
• Select 'Reflexive' as the correct classification.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Identification of pronoun types in English grammar.
• Stem keywords: pronoun, himself
• Lead-in keywords: correctly identifies the type
• Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.

Question ID

QJIbQXQlh_bQfy7EFrnI99

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