Pronouns

Subject Pronouns - I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they function as the subject of a sentence: I live in New York. Do you like playing tennis? He doesn't want to come this evening. She works in London. It won't be easy. We are studying pronouns at the moment. You went to Paris last year, didn't you? They bought a new car last month.

Object Pronouns - me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them serve as the object of a verb. Give me the book. He told you to come tonight. She asked him to help. They visited her when they came to New York. She bought it at the store. He picked us up at the airport. The teacher asked you to finish your homework. I invited them to a party.

Possessive Pronouns - mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs show that something belongs to someone. That house is mine. This is yours. I'm sorry, that's his. Those books are hers. Those students are ours. Look over there, those seats are yours. Theirs will be green.

Demonstrative Pronouns - this, that, these, those refer to things. 'this' and 'these' refer to something that is near. 'that' and 'those' refer to things that are farther away. This is my house. That is our car over there. These are my colleagues in this room. Those are beautiful flowers in the next field.

Possessive adjectives - my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their are often confused with possessive pronouns. The possessive adjective modifies the noun following it in order to show possession. I'll get my books. Is that your car over there? That is his teacher, Mr Jones. I want to go to her store.

Its color is red. Can we bring our children? You are welcome to invite your husbands.

Linking Verbs
LIST
o o o o o o o o

to appear to be to become to feel to get to go to grow to look

o o o o o o o o

to prove to remain to seem to smell to sound to stay to taste to turn

USE
The linking verbs above are often followed by adjectives instead of adverbs. In such situations, the adjective describes the subject of the sentence rather than the verb. Study the examples below to learn the difference. Examples:

Mary seemed sad. Correct Mary seemed sadly. Not Correct The cake tastes good. Correct The cake tastes well. Not Correct The train is slow. Correct The train is slowly. Not Correct James grew tired. Correct Sarah remained calm. Correct The milk went bad. Correct The seas turned rough. Correct The negotiations proved pointless. Correct

IMPORTANT
The verbs in the list above are not always used as linking verbs. Compare the examples below. Examples:

Sally grew angry. "Angry" describes Sally. In this sentence, "to grow" is being used as a linking verb meaning "to become." The plant grew quickly. "Quickly" does not describe the plant, it describes the manner in which it grows. In this sentence, "to grow" is not being used as a linking verb.

The future with 'Will' Positive Subject + will + base form of verb + object(s) Negative Subject + will + not + base form of verb + object(s) Question (Question Word) + will + subject + base form of verb? Used for spontaneous decisions. Spontaneous decisions are decisions made AT the moment of speaking. Jack's hungry. I'll make him a sandwich. That's difficult! I'll help you with the problem. Used for predictions:

It will snow tomorrow. She won't win the game. Used for scheduled public events

The concert will begin at 8 o'clock. When will the train leave? The class won't start next week. Used for promises Will you marry me? I'll help you with your homework after class. Future with 'Going to' The future with 'going to' is used to speak about future intentions or plans made before the present moment. Use the following forms with 'going to'. Positive 3

Subject + to be + going to + base form of verb + object(s) Negative Subject + to be + not + going to + base form of verb + object(s) Question (Question Word) + to be + subject + going to + base form of verb? We are going to study French next semester. Where are you going to stay in France? She isn't going to take a vacation this year. Used for planned decisions. Planned decisions are decisions made BEFORE the moment of speaking. I'm going to study Languages at university next year. We're going to stay at the Hilton in New York next week. Used for predicting an action that you see is about to happen: Watch out! You're going to hit that car! Look at those clouds. It's going to rain. Used for future intentions: I'm going to be a policeman when I grow up. Katherine is going to study English when she goes to University.