Pronouns and Antecedents

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Pronouns and Antecedents

• TN Language Arts Checks for Understanding
• 0601.1.1 0701.1.1 0801.1.1

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The following should be copied into student
notebooks. This is information that will be
needed throughout the year, both in grammar
exercises and in writing, editing, and revising.
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A pronoun is used in place of a noun or another
pronoun. The word a pronoun stands for is called
the antecedent.Kelly loves to read. She reads
more science fiction than mysteries. (She is the
pronoun. She takes the place of Kelly so Kelly is
the antecedent.).
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Subject pronouns can serve as the subject or
predicate noun of a sentence.I, you, he, she,
it, they, we
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Object pronouns serve as objects of prepositions,
direct objects, and indirect objects. me,
you, him, her, it, them us
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Possessive pronouns show possession.my, mine,
his, hers, its, your, yours, our, ours, their,
theirs, your, yours
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Reflexive pronouns emphasize the subject and
serve a function in the sentence (objects,
complements). Note The words hisself,
theirself, and theirselves do NOT exist!myself,
herself, himself, ourselves, themselvesIntensive
pronouns are the same as reflexive, but they
serve no use in the sentence.
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Indefinite pronouns refer to unidentified person,
places, or things.
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SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT PRONOUNS AND WRITING

• First person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us,
  our, ours) should almost never be used in
  expository writing, unless it is a direct
  quotation.
• Second person pronouns (you, your, yours) should
  be treated like a plague. Pretend you are
  stranded on a deserted island and you have a
  stockpile of food that is has to last until the
  next cruise ship passes in six months. Second
  person pronouns are rodents that are trying to
  steal your food. You must rid the island (your
  writing) of the rats (second person pronouns)!