Rotuman has more pronouns than does English. Whereas English has pronouns for 3 persons (first, second, and third), Rotuman first person is split between inclusive (we, including you) and exclusive (we, excluding you). And whereas English pronouns are either singular or plural, Rotuman also has a dual set for exactly 2 of something. Most Rotuman pronouns have more than one form, something like the complete and incomplete for other nouns. What is given below is just the shorter form, which is used much more frequently than the long forms. The main set of pronouns is used when the pronouns is the subject, direct object, or object of a preposition.
Notice that the dual pronouns all have an r in them (think of rua ‘two’), while the plural pronouns all have an s. There is also a possessive set of pronouns, which occur in front of nouns, just like English possessive pronouns do. Once again, the dual forms all have an r, and the plural forms all have an s. Notice also that all the possessive pronouns begin with ‛o.
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