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CHAPTER 14
Nouns and pronouns
There are several sets of pronouns in English: four types of personal pronouns (the
subject pronouns, the object pronouns, the possessive pronouns, and the reflexive pronouns)
the indefinite pronouns, the demonstrative pronouns, and the relative pronouns (discussed in
Chapter 14).
Personal pronouns (=Definite)
The personal pronouns are normally thought of in terms of a speech situation. In a
conversation, the speaker is the first person, the person being spoken to is the second person,
and anybody outside the speaker and hearer interaction is the third person. In addition, the
first, second, and third person pronouns can also be singular or plural.
Subject pronouns.
Listed in the chart are the forms that the personal pronouns have when used in the subject slot in a sentence.
singular
plural
first person
second person
third person
I
you
he, she, it
we
you
they
Object pronouns.
Listed in the chart are the forms that the personal pronouns have when used either in
the object slot in a sentence or as the main noun in a preposition phrase.
first person
second person
third person
singular
plural
me
you
him, her, it
us
you
them
Chapter 12: Personal pronouns (=Definite)
Possessive pronouns.
Listed in the chart are the forms that the personal pronouns have when used adjectivally, that is, as a possessive pronoun.
first person
second person
third person
singular
plural
my ___ , mine
your ___ , yours
his, hers, its1
our ___ , ours
your ___, yours
their ___ , theirs
The possessive pronouns have two forms except in the third person singular. As the chart
indicates and the examples below show, the first form occurs when the possessive pronouns
occurs before a noun, and the second form occurs when the possessive pronoun occurs as a
subject complement.
He stole my book.
The book was mine.
Reflexive pronouns.
Listed in the chart are the reflexive pronouns.
first person
second person
third person
singular
plural
myself
yourself
himself
herself
itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
1. The possessive pronoun its never has an apostrophe; the form it's is always a shortened form of it is.
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Chapter 12: Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns. Listed in the chart are the indefinite pronouns.
somebody
someone
something
anybody
anyone
anything
nobody
no one
nothing
everybody
everyone
everything
The indefinite pronouns contrast in meaning with the definite pronouns—the various personal
pronouns listed above. If the speaker assumes that the listener can identify whatever the pronoun refers to, a definite pronoun is used. If the speaker assumes that the listener cannot
identify whatever the pronoun refers to, one of the indefinite pronouns is used.
Definite versus indefinite pronouns
In a way quite parallel to the distinction between the definite and the indefinite articles,
the pronouns are definite and indefinite from the viewpoint of the listener (or, reader). Definite pronouns are identifiable from the listener's viewpoint; indefinite pronouns are not. Consider the following sequence:
Jane has wanted to get a new car for some time now. Last night she finally bought one.
It was bright, it was new, and it was expensive.
Obviously one refers to a specific car, that is, not just to any car but to a specific car so the
reason that one is being used is that the car is indefinite to the listener. However, once the
pronoun one has introduced the car to the listener, the car becomes definite. Subsequent references to the same car must be definite; hence, the definite pronoun it is used.
SAMPLE TEST QUESTION:
Explain how the meaning changes depending upon whether someone or her is used in
this sentence:
Sylvester asked someone/her to marry him.
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Chapter 12: Demonstrative pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns not only point to but indicate something about the relative
closeness of whatever they refer to. If they point at something close, one set of forms is
used—the proximals; if they point at something distant another set of forms is used—the distals.
proximal "close"
distal "far'
singular
plural
this
these
that
those
Terms
To check yourself, see if you can briefly describe each of the following terms and illustrate it in a phrase or sentence (underlining the relevant part).
definite pronouns:
personal pronouns:
subject pronouns
object pronouns
possessive pronouns
reflexive pronouns
demonstrative pronouns
indefinite pronouns
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Chapter 12: Terms
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