Peter Pan's Pronouns

Rule: a pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Categories of Pronouns: PERSONAL PRONOUNS Those that indicate first, second, or third person, singular or plural, with masculine, feminine, or neuter gender Nominative, objective, reflexive or intensive, and possessive pronouns Nominative or subjective pronouns Used for the subject of a sentence and for the subjective complement. Example: Subject: She is late. Subjective Compliment: Who is she? Objective pronouns Used for the direct object, indirect object, or the object of a preposition. To determine the object form is to use the pronoun that follows the preposition to. Example:

Direct object: Wendy believes me. Indirect object: Tinkerbell gave him some pixie dust. Object of preposition: The villains captured them.

Reflexive or intensive pronouns Used to refer back to the antecedent (noun or pronoun used earlier in the sentence). Reflexive pronouns are necessary for clarity of meaning and are optional forms used for emphasis. Example: Reflexive: Peter Pan found himself alone in the cave. Intensive: The siblings themselves fought off the Indians. Possessive pronouns Used to show possession of a noun, and act as adjectives because they provide more information about the noun that follows. Example: Her story became true. (determiner) The clock is his. (possessive pronoun) The dog straightened its hat. (determiner)

IMPERSONAL PRONOUNS Those that do not reflect Personal Pronoun characteristics Reciprocal, interrogative, demonstrative, and relative pronouns Indefinite pronouns Used to take the place of a noun which cannot be named specifically. Example: Anybody would want to fly. Captain Hook did nothing but boss around Smee. Many of the children on the island became homesick. Tinkerbell gave each of the children a little something to help them fly away. Reciprocal pronouns Indicate reciprocity, either singular or plural.

Example: Peter Pan and Captain Hook hate each other. They helped one another. Wendy and Tinkerbell got on each other's nerves. The group of children had to learn how to put up with one another's foibles. Interrogative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, and what when used to begin a question. Example: What is that ticking noise? Which way did he go? Whose hat is this? Demonstrative pronouns Used to point out a specific noun. There are only four: this, that, these, those. This is a predicament! These are strong ropes. That is our ticket out. Those are bows and arrows. Relative pronouns Begin a relative, or adjective, clause. Who and all of its variants are relative pronouns. The fairy who helped them did so reluctantly. The hook, which replaced his hand, was sharp and menacing. Do not bother the wild alligator that is swimming below. Exercise: Determine the pronouns in the following sentences and indicate which category of pronouns they fall under. 1. 2. 3. 4. He can fly! they shouted. Despite the Captain's orders, Smee was nice to them. Peter Pan fought the captain himself! The alligator nodded its head to the rhythm of the clock ticking.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

The children knew nothing of Princess Tiger Lily's whereabouts. The lost boys discussed their plans with one another. Shadow? Whose shadow? wondered Mr. Darling. These children must grow up at some point! Their dog, who was also their nanny, helped them clean their room. Tinkerbell found herself locked inside the drawer.

Answer Key: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. He can fly! they shouted. Nominative Despite the Captain's orders, Smee was nice to them. Objective Peter Pan fought the captain himself! Intensive The alligator nodded its head to the rhythm of the clock ticking. Possessive The children knew nothing of Princess Tiger Lily's whereabouts. Indefinite The lost boys discussed their plans with one another. Reciprocal Shadow? Whose shadow? wondered Mr. Darling. Interrogative These children must grow up at some point! Demonstrative Their dog, who was also their nanny, helped them clean their room. Relative Tinkerbell found herself locked inside the drawer. Reflexive