The document discusses the impersonal pronouns "you", "one", and "they" which can refer to humans in a generic sense. It notes that these pronouns allow generic readings and only refer to humans. Examples are given showing how "one" and "you" can mean "any person" or "people in general" in sentences like "One should always be polite" and "How do you get to 5th avenue from here?". The document also discusses how "one" is used in more formal or British English compared to American English forms.

1. USING 'YOU,ONE,AND THEY'
AS IMPERSONAL PRONOUNS
http://www.kau.edu.sa/SBANJER
By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar
http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 1

2. ONE
THEY
YOU
IMPERSONAL
PRONOUNS
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 2

3. The impersonal pronouns
considered here ( YOU, ONE,
and THEY) share two
fundamental properties:
(i) they only refer to humans,
(ii) they allow generic readings.
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 3

4. EXAMPLES
One should always be polite.
How does one get to 5th Avenue from here?
You should always be polite.
How do you get to 5th avenue from here?
Means “any
person, people in
general.”
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 4

5. ONE
YOU
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR
5

6. BRITISH
+
EXAMPLES FORMAL AMERICAN
1. One should take care of one’s health.
2. One should take care of his health.
3. One should take care of his or her health.
AMERICAN
AWKWARD
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 6

7. ‘some people
= or
somebody’
Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 7

8. Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 8