Pronouns

They can because they think they can. Virgil

What is a Pronoun?

A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns. - Holt, Elements of Literature definition.

Types of pronouns:

Personal Reflexive

Possessive Demonstrative

Indefinite

Why do we need to use pronouns?

To avoid repetition of nouns in sentences

Gretchen was writing a paper for a class. Gretchen did not like Gretchens teacher, so Gretchen did not spend much time on Gretchens paper. The teacher tried to help Gretchen become a better writer, but Gretchen was not willing to listen to Gretchens teacher. The teacher spoke to Gretchen about this, and Gretchen told the teacher that Gretchen did not think writing would matter to Gretchen. Gretchen was going to be a famous singer and would not have to write. What should the teacher tell Gretchen?

Antecedents

Every pronoun should have a CLEAR antecedent, the word that the pronoun stands for in the sentence.

Clear - Even when Bailey behaved badly, he was rarely punished. Unclear Bailey spoke to Uncle Willie. He was angry. [Who was angry]

Antecedents

Pronouns and their Antecedents must agree in number, gender, and person.

Number Singular (One) or Plural (More than One) Gender Masculine (Male or Unknown) or Feminine (Female) Person First (Speaker), Second (Spoken to), or Third (Spoken About)

Personal Pronouns
What
A

is a personal pronoun?

personal pronoun takes the place of people or things.

Personal Pronouns

Singular
First Person I, Me Second Person

Plural
First Person

We, Us You They, Them

Second Person

You

Third Person

Third Person

He, Him, She, Her, It

Find the correct antecedent for the given pronoun.

Bill reminded Susan that he wanted to meet her friend. The car was in the garage. It had a flat tire. UNC and West Virginia will play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. They will play in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Review

http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/pronouns.php

Possessive Pronouns
What

is a possessive pronoun?

Personal

pronouns that are used to show ownership.

Possessive Pronouns

Singular
First Person My, Mine Second Person Your, Yours Third Person Her, Hers, His, Its

Plural
First Person Our, Ours Second Person Your, Yours Third Person Their, Theirs

Its v. Its
Its

Its

Means belonging to it

Means it is

Examples

Examples

The car still has its lights on. The dog ate its food.

Its getting late outside. Do you think its too late to study?

Your v. Youre
Your

Youre

Means belonging to you

Means you are

Examples

Examples

Dont forget your coat. Do you have your homework.

Youre not going over there tonight. I cant believe youre not going to study.

Their v. Theyre v. There

Their
Means belonging to them

Theyre
Means they are Example Theyre not here.

Examples

I went to their house. Do you still have their phone ___________________ number?

There

Means referring to a place Example How did you get over there?

Choose the correct pronoun

The living room is hers to clean not (my, mine, me). A gray wolf calls to (it, its, its) mother by howling. Since (your, youre, yours) car is in the shop, (I, me) have to drive you.

Review

http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/posspron.php

Reflexive Pronouns
What

is a reflexive pronoun? Reflexive pronouns are pronouns that refer to the subject and direct the action of the verb back to the subject.

Reflexive Pronouns
Singular

Plural

First Person

Myself

First Person

Second Person

Ourselves

Yourself
Himself, Herself, Itself

Second Person

Third Person

Yourselves
Themselves

Third Person

Reflexive Pronouns

Make sure to match the reflexive pronoun with the proper number, person, and gender of the subject it is referring to. We wouldnt say:
We did the homework by myself. (We and myself doesnt agree in number. We is plural and myself is singular.) He did the work herself. (He and herself doesnt agree in gender. He is masculine, while herself is feminine.) I wrote the story herself. (I and herself doesnt agree in person. One is first person and the other is third person.

Review

http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/reflexives.php
http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/reflexivepronouns.php

Demonstrative Pronouns
What
A

is a demonstrative pronoun?

demonstrative pronoun points out a person, place, thing, or idea.

Demonstrative Pronouns

This Near the speaker (Singular) That Far from speaker (Singular) These Near the speaker (Plural)

Those Far from speaker (Plural)

Demonstrative Pronouns

(This, These) is a delicious papaya. (That, Those) is the uniform once worn by Satchel Paige. Bring (this, that) wagon over there to me. (That, Those) are the stamps I collected over twenty years.

Indefinite Pronouns

What is an indefinite pronoun?

An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, place, or thing that is not specifically named.

Indefinite Pronouns

All Any Both Each Either Everybody Everything Few

Many None No one Nobody One Several Some Somebody

Choose which indefinite pronoun would fit each sentence

Would (someone, any) please let us know if they are still friends? Bailey did (everything, few) well. (Nobody, Many) of the pickles ended up in his pockets. Is there (everybody, anybody) who knows the answer?