pronouns revised 2

A pronoun is a word that A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or takes the place of one or more nouns.more nouns.

The most frequently used The most frequently used pronouns are called pronouns are called personal pronouns. They personal pronouns. They refer to people or things.refer to people or things.

Personal PronounsPersonal Pronouns

A subject pronoun A subject pronoun is used as theis used as the

subject of a subject of a sentence.sentence.SheShe is my best friend. is my best friend.

ItIt is my dog. is my dog.

Does Does hehe know the know the answer?answer?

YouYou and and II will meet will meet later.later.

An object pronoun is used as An object pronoun is used as thethe

direct/indirect object or the direct/indirect object or the object of a preposition.object of a preposition.

Give the book to Give the book to meme..The teacher gave The teacher gave herher a reprimand. a reprimand.

I will tell I will tell you you a story.a story.Susan read Susan read itit to to themthem..

Object PronounsObject Pronouns

SingularSingular PluralPlural

II we we

youyou you you

he, she, ithe, she, it theythey

List of Personal List of Personal PronounsPronouns

Subject Pronouns

me us

you you

him, her, it them

Object Pronouns

Read the following Read the following sentences. Can you tell to sentences. Can you tell to whom the word whom the word SheShe refers? refers?

Arachne competes with Arachne competes with Athena.Athena. She She weaves weaves skillfully.skillfully.

The sentence is not clear because the word The sentence is not clear because the word SheShe could refer to either Arachne or Athena. could refer to either Arachne or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite the sentence. the sentence.

Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.skillfully.

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTSPRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

The noun or group of words The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is that a pronoun refers to is called its called its antecedent.antecedent.

When you use a pronoun, you should When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that it refers to its be sure that it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be especially antecedent clearly. Be especially careful when you use the pronoun careful when you use the pronoun theythey. Read the following sentence.. Read the following sentence.

TheyThey have several books have several books about Greek myths at the about Greek myths at the library.library.

ContinueContinue


The meaning of The meaning of TheyThey is is unclear. The sentence can unclear. The sentence can be improved by rewriting be improved by rewriting it in the following manner.it in the following manner.

Several books about Several books about myths are available at myths are available at the library.the library.


When using pronouns, you must When using pronouns, you must also make sure that they also make sure that they agree with their antecedents agree with their antecedents in number in number (singular or plural)(singular or plural) and gender. The and gender. The gendergender of a of a noun may be masculine noun may be masculine (male), feminine (female), or (male), feminine (female), or neuter (referring to things). neuter (referring to things). Notice how the pronouns on Notice how the pronouns on the next slide agree with their the next slide agree with their antecedents.antecedents.


Continue

1. 1. The myth of Arachne is The myth of Arachne is amusing. I enjoyedamusing. I enjoyed itit..

2. 2. The bystanders see Athena.The bystanders see Athena. They They watchwatch herher at the loom.at the loom.

In the first sentence, In the first sentence, mythmyth is the is the antecedent of the pronoun antecedent of the pronoun itit..

In the second sentence, In the second sentence, bystanders is the antecedent bystanders is the antecedent of of TheyThey, and Athena is the , and Athena is the antecedent of antecedent of herher..


Subject pronouns are used in Subject pronouns are used in compound subjects, and object compound subjects, and object pronouns are used in compound pronouns are used in compound objects.objects.

HeHe and Carmen wrote a report on and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. the subject. (Not Him and (Not Him and Carmen)Carmen)

Tell John and Tell John and meme about Hercules. about Hercules. (Not John and I)(Not John and I)

Using Pronouns CorrectlyUsing Pronouns Correctly

Continue

A preposition takes an object, A preposition takes an object, just as many verbs do. The just as many verbs do. The object of a preposition can be object of a preposition can be simple or compound. In either simple or compound. In either case, use an object pronoun as case, use an object pronoun as the object of the preposition. the object of the preposition.

Lee read a famous myth to Lee read a famous myth to meme.. Lee read a famous Roman Lee read a famous Roman

mythmyth to John and to John and meme..


Continue

If you are not sure of which form If you are not sure of which form of the pronoun to use, say the of the pronoun to use, say the sentence aloud with only the sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the subject or the pronoun as the subject or the objectobject. . Your ear will tell you which Your ear will tell you which form is correct.form is correct.

Whenever the pronoun Whenever the pronoun II is part of is part of a compound subject, it should a compound subject, it should always be placed after the other always be placed after the other parts of the subject. Similarly, parts of the subject. Similarly, when the pronoun when the pronoun meme is part of a is part of a compound object, it should go compound object, it should go after the other parts of the object.after the other parts of the object.


Continue

Lee and I read some ancient Lee and I read some ancient Roman mythRoman myths. s. (Not I and Lee)(Not I and Lee)

Mythology interests Lee and Mythology interests Lee and me. me. (Not me and Lee).(Not me and Lee).

Using Pronouns Using Pronouns CorrectlyCorrectly

Continue

InIn formal writingformal writing and speechand speech use a use a subject pronoun after a linking verb.subject pronoun after a linking verb.

The writer of this report wasThe writer of this report was sheshe.. It isIt is II..


Continue

A possessive pronoun is a A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows who or pronoun that shows who or what has something. A what has something. A possessive pronoun may take possessive pronoun may take the place of a possessive nounthe place of a possessive noun..Read the following sentences. Read the following sentences.

Notice the possessive nouns Notice the possessive nouns and the possessive pronouns and the possessive pronouns

that replace them.that replace them.

Possessive PronounsPossessive Pronouns

Continue

Homer’sHomer’s story is famousstory is famous. . HisHis story is famoustory is famous.s.

This story is This story is Homer’sHomer’s. . This story is This story is hishis..

Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are in red.pronouns are in red.


Continue

Possessive pronouns have two forms. One Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used before a noun. The other form is used before a noun. The other form is used alone.form is used alone.


ours

yours

theirs

mine

yours

his, hers, its

Used

alone

our

your

their

my

your

his, her, its

Used before nouns

PluralSingular

Continue

Possessive pronouns are not written with Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The pronoun apostrophes. The pronoun itsits, for , for example, shows possession. The word example, shows possession. The word it’sit’s, ,

on the other hand, is a contraction of on the other hand, is a contraction of it it isis. Read the following sentences. . Read the following sentences. Notice the meaning of the words in red Notice the meaning of the words in red type.type.

ItsIts central character is Odysseus. central character is Odysseus. (possessive pronoun)(possessive pronoun)

It’sIt’s about the adventures of about the adventures of OdOdysseus. ysseus. (contraction of It is)(contraction of It is)


An An indefinite pronounindefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular person, place, or thing.refer to a particular person, place, or thing.

Does Does anyoneanyone know the story of Midas? know the story of Midas?

Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.plural.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

Continue

Some Indefinite PronounsSome Indefinite Pronouns

Continue

Singular Pluralanother everybody no oneanybody everyone nothinganyone everything oneanything much somebodyeach neither someoneeither nobody something

bothfew

manyothersseveral

All, any, most, none and some can be singular or plural, depending on the phrase that follows them.


Continue

When an indefinite pronoun is used as the subject, the verb must agree with it in number.

Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)

Both talk about King Minos. (plural)

All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)

All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)


Continue

Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns must agree in number. Note that in the first example the intervening prepositional phrase does not affect the agreement.

Each of the characters has his or her motive.

Several have conflict with their rivals.

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

Continue

A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another pronoun and indicates that the same person or thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive pronouns

The woman found herself a book of folktales.

Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

Continue

Singular Plural

myselfyourselfhimself, herself, itself

ourselvesyourselvesthemselves

Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for himself and theirselves for themselves. Avoid using hisself and theirselves.

Intensive PronounsIntensive Pronouns

Continue

An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun already named.

George himself bought a copy of American Tall Tales.

He himself paid for the book.

Demonstrative PronounsDemonstrative PronounsDemonstrative Pronouns point out a specific persons, animals, places, things or ideas. List of Demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those

That is his book. This is an excellent question. I want to exchange this for that and these for those.

Reciprocal PronounsReciprocal PronounsReciprocal Pronouns show a mutual relationship. They are each other and one another. Each other is used when the group consists of just two people, animals or things.One another is used when the groups consists of more than two people, animals ot things.

Examples John and Bob respect each other. We are commanded to love one another

Reciprocal PronounsReciprocal Pronouns

Reciprocal Pronouns show a mutual relationship. They are each other and one another. Each other is used when the group consists of just two people, animals or things.One another is used when the groups consists of more than two people, animals ot things.

Examples John and Bob respect each other. We are commanded to love one another.

Relative PronounsRelative PronounsRelative Pronoun begins a subordinate

clause and connects that clause to another noun that precedes it in the sentence. Relative pronouns list: who, whom, whose, whoever, whomever, which, whichever, that, what, whatever.

Examples It is a book that is difficult to ignore. The dog, which is a terrier, is four years old. I will consider renting or buying, whichever works out best.

All relative pronouns do not change the form with gender, person, or number. Only who changes form with case.

Interrogative PronounsInterrogative PronounsInterrogative pronouns are used to

begin or introduce interrogative sentences.They are who, whom, whose, what, and which. They are similar to the Relative Pronouns; the difference is their use in the sentence.

Examples Whom did you invite to the party? Which did you prefer? Who did what to whom?

pronouns revised 2

Documents