Understanding Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that takesA pronoun is a word that takes
the place of one or more nouns.the place of one or more nouns.
The most frequently used pronounsThe most frequently used pronouns
are called personal pronouns.are called personal pronouns.
They refer to people or things.They refer to people or things.
Personal PronounsPersonal Pronouns

A subject pronoun isA subject pronoun is
used as theused as the
subject of a sentence.subject of a sentence.
SheShe is my best friend.is my best friend.
ItIt is my dog.is my dog.
DoesDoes hehe know the answer?know the answer?
YouYou andand II will meet later.will meet later.

An object pronoun is used as theAn object pronoun is used as the
direct/indirect object or the object of adirect/indirect object or the object of a
preposition.preposition.
Give the book toGive the book to meme..
The teacher gaveThe teacher gave herher a reprimand.a reprimand.
I will tellI will tell youyou a story.a story.
Susan readSusan read itit toto themthem..
Object PronounsObject Pronouns

SingularSingular PluralPlural
II wewe
youyou youyou
he, she, ithe, she, it theythey
List of Personal PronounsList of Personal Pronouns
Subject Pronouns
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Object Pronouns

Read the following sentences. CanRead the following sentences. Can
you tell to whom the wordyou tell to whom the word SheShe
refers?refers?
Arachne competes with Athena.Arachne competes with Athena.
SheShe weaves skillfully.weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear because the wordThe sentence is not clear because the word SheShe could refer tocould refer to
either Arachne or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat aeither Arachne or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a
noun or rewrite the sentence.noun or rewrite the sentence.
Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTSPRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

The noun or group of words that aThe noun or group of words that a
pronoun refers to is called itspronoun refers to is called its
antecedent.antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sureWhen you use a pronoun, you should be sure
that it refers to its antecedent clearly. Bethat it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be
especially careful when you use theespecially careful when you use the
pronounpronoun theythey. Read the following. Read the following
sentence.sentence.
TheyThey have several books abouthave several books about
Greek myths at the library.Greek myths at the library.
ContinueContinue

The meaning ofThe meaning of TheyThey is unclear.is unclear.
The sentence can be improved byThe sentence can be improved by
rewriting it in the followingrewriting it in the following
manner.manner.
Several books about myths areSeveral books about myths are
available at the library.available at the library.

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

1.1. The myth of Arachne is amusing. IThe myth of Arachne is amusing. I
enjoyedenjoyed itit..
2.2. The bystanders see Athena.The bystanders see Athena. TheyThey
watchwatch herher at the loom.at the loom.
In the first sentence,In the first sentence, mythmyth is theis the
antecedent of the pronounantecedent of the pronoun itit..
In the second sentence, bystanders is theIn the second sentence, bystanders is the
antecedent ofantecedent of TheyThey, and Athena is, and Athena is
the antecedent ofthe antecedent of herher..

Subject pronouns are used in compoundSubject pronouns are used in compound
subjects, and object pronouns are usedsubjects, and object pronouns are used
in compound objects.in compound objects.
HeHe and Carmen wrote a report on theand Carmen wrote a report on the
subject.subject. (Not Him and Carmen)(Not Him and Carmen)
Tell John andTell John and meme about Hercules.about Hercules. (Not(Not
John and I)John and I)
Using Pronouns CorrectlyUsing Pronouns Correctly
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A preposition takes an object, just asA preposition takes an object, just as
many verbs do. The object of amany verbs do. The object of a
preposition can be simple orpreposition can be simple or
compound. In either case, use ancompound. In either case, use an
object pronoun as the object of theobject pronoun as the object of the
preposition.preposition.
Lee read a famous myth toLee read a famous myth to meme..
Lee read a famous Roman mythLee read a famous Roman myth
to John andto John and meme..
Continue

If you are not sure of which form of theIf you are not sure of which form of the
pronoun to use, say the sentence aloudpronoun to use, say the sentence aloud
with only the pronoun as the subject or thewith only the pronoun as the subject or the
objectobject.. Your ear will tell you which form isYour ear will tell you which form is
correct.correct.
Whenever the pronounWhenever the pronoun II is part of ais part of a
compound subject, it should always becompound subject, it should always be
placed after the other parts of the subject.placed after the other parts of the subject.
Similarly, when the pronounSimilarly, when the pronoun meme is part of ais part of a
compound object, it should go after thecompound object, it should go after the
other parts of the object.other parts of the object.
Continue

Lee and I read some ancient RomanLee and I read some ancient Roman
mythmyths.s. (Not I and Lee)(Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me.Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not(Not
me and Lee).me and Lee).
Continue

InIn formal writingformal writing and speechand speech use a subject pronounuse a subject pronoun
after a linking verb.after a linking verb.
The writer of this report wasThe writer of this report was sheshe..
It isIt is II..
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A possessive pronoun is aA possessive pronoun is a
pronoun that shows who or what haspronoun that shows who or what has
something. A possessive pronounsomething. A possessive pronoun
may take the place of a possessivemay take the place of a possessive
nounnoun..
Read the following sentences. Notice theRead the following sentences. Notice the
possessive nouns and the possessivepossessive nouns and the possessive
pronouns that replace them.pronouns that replace them.
Possessive PronounsPossessive Pronouns
Continue

Homer’sHomer’s story is famousstory is famous..
HisHis story is famoustory is famous.s.
This story isThis story is Homer’sHomer’s..
This story isThis story is hishis..
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronounsPossessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns
are in red.are in red.
Continue

Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form isPossessive pronouns have two forms. One form is
used before a noun. The other form is usedused before a noun. The other form is used
alone.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 apostrophes.Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes.
The pronounThe pronoun itsits, for example, shows possession., for example, shows possession.
The wordThe word it’sit’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of, on the other hand, is a contraction of
it isit is. Read the following sentences. Notice the. Read the following sentences. Notice the
meaning of the words in red type.meaning of the words in red type.
ItsIts central character is Odysseus. (possessivecentral character is Odysseus. (possessive
pronoun)pronoun)
It’sIt’s about the adventures of Odabout the adventures of Odysseus.ysseus.
(contraction of It is)(contraction of It is)

AnAn indefinite pronounindefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to ais a pronoun that does not refer to a
particular person, place, or thing.particular person, place, or thing.
DoesDoes anyoneanyone know the story of Midas?know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.
Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns
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Some Indefinite PronounsSome Indefinite Pronouns
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Singular Plural
another everybody no one
anybody everyone nothing
anyone everything one
anything much somebody
each neither someone
either nobody something
both
few
many
others
several
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)

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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
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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
myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
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 Pronouns
Relative 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 Pronouns
Interrogative 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?

Understanding Pronouns

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