Title: Pronouns
1Pronouns
2Personal Pronouns
- A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one
or more nouns. - The most frequently used pronouns are called
personal pronouns. They refer to people or
things.
3Subject Pronouns
- A subject pronoun is used as the
- subject of a sentence.
- She is my best friend.
- It is my dog.
- Does he know the answer?
- You and I will meet later.
4Object Pronouns
- An object pronoun is used as the
- direct/indirect object or the object of a
preposition. - Give the book to me.
- The teacher gave her a reprimand.
- I will tell you a story.
- Susan read it to them.
5List of Personal Pronouns
- Singular Plural
- I we
- you you
- he, she, it they
Subject Pronouns
me us you you him, her, it them
Object Pronouns
6ACTIVITY 1
- Write sentences using each of the subject
pronouns. Underline each subject pronoun. - Write sentences using each of the object
pronouns. Circle each object pronoun. - Total of 16 pronouns.
- You can combine subject and object pronouns in
you sentences.
7Pronouns and Antecedents
8PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
- Read the following sentences. Can you tell to
whom the word She refers? - Arachne competes with Athena. She weaves
skillfully. - The sentence is not clear because the word She
could refer to either Arachne or Athena.
Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite the
sentence. - Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves
skillfully.
9PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
- The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers
to is called its antecedent. - When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that
it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be
especially careful when you use the pronoun they.
Read the following sentence. - They have several books about Greek myths at the
library. -
10PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
- The meaning of They is unclear. The sentence can
be improved by rewriting it in the following
manner. - Several books about myths are available at the
library.
11PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
- When using pronouns, you must also make sure that
they agree with their antecedents in number
(singular or plural) and gender. The gender of a
noun may be masculine (male), feminine (female),
or neuter (referring to things). Notice how the
pronouns on the next slide agree with their
antecedents.
12PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
- 1. The myth of Arachne is amusing. I enjoyed
it. - 2. The bystanders see Athena. They watch her at
the loom. - In the first sentence, myth is the antecedent of
the pronoun it. - In the second sentence, bystanders is the
antecedent of They, and Athena is the antecedent
of her.
13Using Pronouns Correctly
- Subject pronouns are used in compound subjects,
and object pronouns are used in compound objects. - He and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. (Not
Him and Carmen) - Tell John and me about Hercules. (Not John and
I)
14Using Pronouns Correctly
- A preposition takes an object, just as many
verbs do. The object of a preposition can be
simple or compound. In either case, use an
object pronoun as the object of the preposition.
- Lee read a famous myth to me.
- Lee read a famous Roman myth
- to John and me.
15Using Pronouns Correctly
- If you are not sure of which form of the
pronoun to use, say the sentence aloud with only
the pronoun as the subject or the object. Your
ear will tell you which form is correct. - Whenever the pronoun I is part of a compound
subject, it should always be placed after the
other parts of the subject. Similarly, when the
pronoun me is part of a compound object, it
should go after the other parts of the object.
16Using Pronouns Correctly
- Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths.
(Not I and Lee) - Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not me and
Lee).
17Using Pronouns Correctly
- In formal writing and speech use a subject
pronoun after a linking verb. - The writer of this report was she.
-
- It is I.
18Possessive Pronouns
- A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that
shows who or what has something. A possessive
pronoun may take the place of a possessive noun. - Read the following sentences. Notice the
possessive nouns and the possessive pronouns that
replace them.
19Possessive Pronouns
- Homers story is famous.
- His story is famous.
- This story is Homers.
- This story is his.
- Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive
pronouns are in red.
20Possessive Pronouns
- Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is
used before a noun. The other form is used alone.
21Possessive Pronouns
- Possessive pronouns are not written with
apostrophes. The pronoun its, for example, shows
possession. The word its, on the other hand, is
a contraction of it is. Read the following
sentences. Notice the meaning of the words in
red type. - Its central character is Odysseus. (possessive
pronoun) - Its about the adventures of Odysseus.
(contraction of It is)
22Indefinite Pronouns
- An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not
refer to a particular person, place, or thing. - Does anyone know the story of Midas?
- Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or
plural.
23Some Indefinite Pronouns
Singular Plural
another everybody no one anybody everyone nothing anyone everything one anything much somebody each neither someone either nobody something both few many others several
All, any, most, none and some can be singular or
plural, depending on the phrase that follows them.
24Some Indefinite Pronouns
When an indefinite pronoun is used as the
subject, the verb must agree with it in
number. Everyone discusses the plot.
(singular) Both talk about King Minos.
(plural) All of mythology is about beliefs and
ideals. (singular) All of the myths are about
beliefs and ideals. (plural)
25Some Indefinite Pronouns
Possessive pronouns often have indefinite
pronouns as their antecedents. In such cases,
the pronouns must agree in number. Note that in
the first example the intervening prepositional
phrase does not affect the agreement. Each of the
characters has his or her motive. Several have
conflict with their rivals.
26Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another
pronoun and indicates that the same person or
thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed
by adding self or selves to certain personal
and possessive pronouns The woman found herself
a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun
27Reflexive Pronouns
Singular Plural
myself yourself himself, herself, itself ourselves yourselves themselves
Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for himself
and theirselves for themselves. Avoid using
hisself and theirselves.
28Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that adds
emphasis to a noun or pronoun already
named. George himself bought a copy of American
Tall Tales. He himself paid for the book.
29References
- Grammar 1 Module Iis Kurnia, M.Hum
- Pronouns Boyd, Sandra
- A Studentsts English Grammar Workbook Chalker,
Sylvia - Fundamentals of English Grammar Azar, Betty
Schrampfer - http//languagearts.pppst.com