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

3. Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun is used as the
subject of a sentence.
She is my best friend.
It is my dog.
Does he know the answer?
You and I will meet later.

4. Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is used as
the
direct/indirect object or the
object of a preposition.
Give the book to me.
The teacher gave her a reprimand.
I will tell you a story.
Susan read it to them.

5. List of Personal Pronouns
Singular Plural
I we
you you
he, she, it they
Subject Pronouns
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Object Pronouns

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

7. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The noun or group of words that a
pronoun refers to is called its
antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sure
that it refers to its antecedent clearly.
Be especially careful when you use the
pronoun they. Read the following
sentence.
They have several books about
Greek myths at the library.
Continue

8. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The meaning of They is unclear.
The sentence can be improved
by rewriting it in the following
manner.
Several books about myths are
available at the library.

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

10. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
1. The myth of Arachne is
amusing. I enjoyed it.
2. The bystanders see Athena.
They watch her at the loom.
In the first sentence, myth is the
antecedent of the pronoun it.
In the second sentence, bystanders
is the antecedent of They, and
Athena is the antecedent of her.

11. Using Pronouns Correctly
Subject pronouns are used in compound subjects, and
object pronouns are used in compound objects.
He and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. (Not Him
and Carmen)
Tell John and me about Hercules. (Not John and I)
Continue

12. Using Pronouns Correctly
A preposition takes an object, just as many verbs do.
The object of a preposition can be simple or compound.
In either case, use an object pronoun as the object of
the preposition.
Lee read a famous myth to me.
Lee read a famous Roman myth
to John and me.
Continue

13. Using Pronouns Correctly
If you are not sure of which form of the pronoun to use, say
the sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the subject or
the object. Your ear will tell you which form is correct.
Whenever the pronoun I is part of a compound subject, it
should always be placed after the other parts of the subject.
Similarly, when the pronoun me is part of a compound
object, it should go after the other parts of the object.
Continue

14. Using Pronouns Correctly
Lee and I read some ancient Roman
myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not
me and Lee).
Continue

15. Using Pronouns Correctly
In formal writing and speech use a subject pronoun after a
linking verb.
The writer of this report was she.
It is I.
Continue

16. Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is
a pronoun that shows who or
what has something. A
possessive pronoun may take
the place of a possessive
noun.
Read the following sentences.
Notice the possessive nouns and
the possessive pronouns that
replace them.
Continue

17. Possessive Pronouns
Homer’s story is famous.
His story is famous.
This story is Homer’s.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive
pronouns are in red.
Continue

18. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is
used before a noun. The other 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
Plural
Singular
Continue

19. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with
apostrophes. The pronoun its, for example,
shows possession. The word it’s, on the other
hand, is a contraction of it is. Read the
following sentences. Notice the meaning of the
words in red type.
Its central character is Odysseus. (possessive
pronoun)
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus.
(contraction of It is)

20. ndefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular
person, place, or thing.
Does anyone know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.
Continue

21. Some Indefinite Pronouns
Continue
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.

22. Some Indefinite Pronouns
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)

23. Some Indefinite Pronouns
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.

24. Reflexive 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

25. Reflexive 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.

26. ntensive Pronouns
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.