Download Unit 7: Pronouns

Unit 7: Pronouns
I.
Personal Pronouns
A. A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun or group of words
acting as a noun.
B. Personal Pronouns: A pronoun that refers to a person or thing.
1. Subject Pronouns: Pronoun is the subject of the sentence.
-Ex. She likes pizza.
2. Object Pronouns: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.
-Ex. Sarah loves football. Sarah watches it all the time.
Subject Pronouns
Singular
Plural
I
You
He
She
It
We
You
They
Object Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Me
You
Him
Her
It
Us
You
Them
II.
Pronouns and Antecedents
A. A pronoun takes the place of a noun.
B. Antecedent: the word(s) being replaced by the pronoun.
C. A pronoun must agree in number to the antecedent.
D. Examples:
1. WRONG: Louisa May Alcott wrote a novel about a young
woman. They have three sisters. (Pronoun is plural, replaces
singular antecedent.)
2. RIGHT: Louisa May Alcott wrote a novel about a young woman.
She has three sisters. (Pronoun and antecedent are both singular)
E. Make sure that every pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and
gender.
F. When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that it refers to its antecedent
correctly. Be especially careful with the word they as it can be unclear.
III.
Using Pronouns Correctly
A. Subject Pronouns: Nominative case
B. Objective Pronouns: Objective case
-objects of verbs or prepositions.
C. Uses:
1. Nominative case
a. When a pronoun is in a compound subject
-Ex. She and I are best friends.
b. After the verb form of be
-Ex. The winner was she.
2. Objective Case
a. when a pronoun is in a compound object (predicate of the
sentence.)
-Ex. Lisa went with her and me.
3. I/me, use last in a compound subject or object.
-Ex. Michelle and I, Jeff and me.
IV.
V.
Possessive Pronouns
A. Shows who owns something.
B. Takes the place of a possessive noun.
C. Two forms:
Used BEFORE a NOUN
Used ALONE
Singular
My, your, hers, his, its
Mine, yours, his hers, its
Plural
Our, your, their
Ours, yours, theirs
Indefinite Pronouns
A. An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular person,
place, or thing.
B. Most are singular; some are plural.
C. Match the verb you use with the pronoun.
Some Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Another
everybody
no one
Anybody
everyone
nothing
Anyone
everything
one
Anything
much
somebody
Each
neither
someone
Either
nobody
something
Either Singular OR plural (Depending on the phrase that follows)
All, any, most, more, some
both
few
many
others
several
VI.
Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
A. Are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive
pronouns.
Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Myself
Yourself
Himself, Herself, Itself
Ourselves
Yourselves
Themselves
Avoid using hisself and theirselves as they are NOT words.
B. Reflexive Pronouns:
1. Refer to a noun or another pronoun and indicates that the same
person or thing is involved.
2. Reflects the action back on the subject.
3. Ex.
Eva congratulated herself.
4. DON’T USE a reflexive pronoun for a subject or object pronoun.
C. Intensive Pronouns:
1. A pronoun that adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun already
named.
2. Makes it more intense!
3. Ex.
Eva herself would like to become a doctor.
Mark bound the book himself.
VII.
Interrogative Pronouns/Demonstrative Pronouns
A. Interrogative Pronouns:
1. A pronoun used to introduce an interrogative sentence.
2. Asks a question
3. Who, whom, when, where, whose, which, what
4. Use who as the subject; use whom as the object of a
verb/preposition.
5. Ex.
Who borrowed the book? (Subject)
Whom did the librarian call? (Direct Object)
For whom did you borrow the book? (Object of Preposition)
B. Demonstrative Pronouns:
1. A pronoun that points out something.
2. This (s.), these (pl.) = things close by
3. That (s.), those (pl.) = things in the distance
4. Replaces noun and acts alone
5. Ex.
This is an interesting book. (singular, nearby)
These are interesting books. (plural, nearby)
That is a long book. (singular, at a distance)
Those are long books. (plural, at a distance)
6. If this or that appears BEFORE a noun it is functioning as an
adjective-not a pronoun.