This PowerPoint presentation discusses rules for proper pronoun reference and antecedents. It provides examples of pronoun errors and strategies for correcting ambiguous or unclear pronoun references. The rules address ensuring each pronoun refers to a single clear antecedent, avoiding pronouns that refer to possessive nouns, using pronouns like 'they' and 'it' precisely, and using 'who', 'which', and 'that' correctly depending on if the antecedent is a person, object, or unnamed item.

1. This PowerPoint Presentation is
This PowerPoint Presentation is
©2012 by Robin L. Simmons.
©2012 by Robin L. Simmons.
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.

2. ENC 1101, Freshman
ENC 1101, Freshman
Composition I
Composition I
Pronoun Reference
Even more
pronoun
rules to
learn!

3. Rule 1: Each pronoun must refer
Rule 1: Each pronoun must refer
clearly to a single antecedent.
clearly to a single antecedent.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
Samuel told Brian that his skirt was too
Samuel told Brian that his skirt was too
short and too tight.
short and too tight.
Is there a problem?
Is there a problem?

4. Isn’t it possible to see two
Isn’t it possible to see two
different pictures? This one …
different pictures? This one …
You
Dude, really
that skirt think
is a little so?
tight!

5. … or this one?
… or this one?
I know, I No time for
know … laundry
It’s too this week,
tight! huh?

6. To fix the mistake, try
To fix the mistake, try
Strategy 1.
Strategy 1.
Use a specific word to replace the
pronoun. The correction looks like this:
Brian’s skirt
Samuel’s skirt
Yeah, but I don’t like the
repetition of the name!

7. Or try Strategy 2.
Or try Strategy 2.
Completely revise the sentence, like this:
Brian, “Your skirt is too
“My skirt is too
tight.”
Use Strategy 1 or 2
depending on what works
best for the sentence!

8. Rule 2: A pronoun should not
Rule 2: A pronoun should not
refer to a possessive noun [one
refer to a possessive noun [one
that ends in ’s or s’ ].
that ends in ’s or s’ ].
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
The cockroach’s antennae searched the air as
The cockroach’s antennae searched the air as
itit attempted to find leftover crumbs or spilled
it
it attempted to find leftover crumbs or spilled
soda.
soda.
Is there a
problem,
my friends?

9. To fix the problem, try
To fix the problem, try
Strategy 1.
Strategy 1.
Strategy 1: Use of to show possession
instead of ’s or s’.
The antennae of the cockroach searched
Notice that now
cockroach is
free of the ’s!

10. Warning!
Warning!
Don’t use Strategy 1 if the sentence
will sound really weird.
Bob’s eyes grew more and more
tired as he studied his pronoun reference
rules.
The eyes of Bob grew …
Sounds like the title of a horror
movie. Coming this summer to a
theater near you … The Eyes of
Bob!

11. The eyes of Bob
say know
Strategy 2!

12. Strategy 2
Strategy 2
this insect attempted to find
No pronoun = no
pronoun reference error!

13. Rule 3: Use they with precision.
Rule 3: Use they with precision.
They should have a single, clear
They should have a single, clear
antecedent.
antecedent.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. They
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. They
say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
hurt your long-term investments.
hurt your long-term investments.
Is there a problem?
Is there a problem?

14. They who?
They who?
Pay
attention! I
know you
can hear
me!
Clowns from Talking ducks Market
the circus? from Lake Eola? analysts?

15. Say what you mean!
Say what you mean!
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Circus
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Circus
clowns say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
clowns say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
hurt your long-term investments.
hurt your long-term investments.
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. The talking
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. The talking
ducks at Lake Eola say that fluctuations are
ducks at Lake Eola say that fluctuations are
natural and won’t hurt your long-term investments.
natural and won’t hurt your long-term investments.
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Market
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Market
analysts say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
analysts say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
hurt your long-term investments.
hurt your long-term investments.

16. Rule 4: Use it with precision. It
Rule 4: Use it with precision. It
should have a single, clear
should have a single, clear
antecedent.
antecedent.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
It says in this week’s National Inquisitor that
It says in this week’s National Inquisitor that
It
It
the Loch Ness Monster ate Elvis Presley.
the Loch Ness Monster ate Elvis Presley.
Is there a problem?
Is there a problem?

17. What says? Who says?
What says? Who says?
It says This week’s National Inquisitor
It says in this week’s National Inquisitor
in this
says that theNess Monster ate Elvis
that the Loch Ness Monster ate Elvis
that the Loch Loch Ness Monster
Presley. Presley.
ate Elvis
Presley.
I must admit
that Elvis tasted
pretty bad.

18. In addition, use it
In addition, use it
sparingly.
sparingly.
Allow yourself no more than two its per
sentence!
We do! The
Who talking
says? ducks from
Lake Eola!

19. Rule 5: Make certain that this,
Rule 5: Make certain that this,
that, and which have one clear
that, and which have one clear
antecedent.
antecedent.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
While juggling the kittens on the dining room
While juggling the kittens on the dining room
table, Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the
table, Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the
chandelier, and pulled it out of the ceiling,
chandelier, and pulled it out of the ceiling,
which really upset Julia.
which really upset Julia.

20. What really upset Julia?
What really upset Julia?
Crash!
(No kittens were hurt during the

21. Say what you mean!
Say what you mean!
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Scuff marks on
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Scuff marks on
the table really upset Julia.
the table really upset Julia.
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Endangering the
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Endangering the
kittens really upset Julia.
kittens really upset Julia.
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Breaking the
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Breaking the
chandelier really upset Julia.
chandelier really upset Julia.

22. Lawrence’s
I’ll leave the
shenanigans
kittens alone!
are what really
I promise!
upset me!

23. Rule 6: Use you [or any other
Rule 6: Use you [or any other
second-person pronoun] only for
second-person pronoun] only for
direct address.
direct address.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
because you pay too much for a soda.
because you pay too much for a soda.
Is there a problem?
Is there a problem?

24. Fix the problem this way:
Fix the problem this way:
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
because you pays too much for soda.
because he pay too much for a a soda.
you pay too much for a soda.
$1.89 for 16
ounces! Are
you kidding
me?

25. Rule 7: Make sure that who,
Rule 7: Make sure that who,
which, and that refer to the right
which, and that refer to the right
types of nouns.
types of nouns.
Now read this sentence:
Now read this sentence:
My German shepherd King, which barks
My German shepherd King, which barks
which
incessantly, works better at deterring thieves
incessantly, works better at deterring thieves
than an alarm system.
than an alarm system.
Is there a problem?
Is there a problem?

26. Use who for people, famous
Use who for people, famous
animals, or named pets.
animals, or named pets.
Roberto, who Flipper, who King, who
plays guitar … had his own TV guards the
show … house …

27. Use which for inanimate objects
Use which for inanimate objects
and unnamed animals.
and unnamed animals.
Our fridge, My lucky pen, The stray cat
which makes which I use to which my
strange write … neighbor
noises … juggles …

28. Use that for anything unnamed,
Use that for anything unnamed,
though who is best for people.
though who is best for people.
The jerk that The iguana The coffee
lives next that Jason maker that we
door … has as a pet … got as a gift …

29. The End.
The End.
Study for your
pronoun reference
quiz! It’s a hard nut
to quack!