An LSCC Learning Center Self-Paced Tutorial

PARTSOFSPEECH:

NOUNS andPronouns

What are the Parts of Speech?

Let’s review the various categories of words that make up the English language.

They are:– Nouns Verbs– Pronouns Adverbs– Adjectives Articles– Prepositions Conjunctions– Interjections

The good news is – this is the entire list!

The bad news is - many of these categories have multiple subgroups.

Nouns and Pronouns

Today we are going to focus on these two grammar elements.

FACTNouns and pronouns are the

only two parts of speech that

can be used as the subject of

a sentence.

Nouns

Nouns name a person, place or thing:

JAMES (person)

PLAYGROUND

(place)

SLIDE (thing)

Types of Nouns

Proper Noun James

Common Noun slide

Abstract Noun love

Collective Noun team

Plural Forms of Nouns

– Some nouns add “S” or “ES” to form the plural. These are called regular nouns.

car / cars match / matches

– Some nouns change completely. These are called irregular nouns.

goose / geese mouse / mice

– Some nouns are singular but seem to be plural. These are called collective nouns. team jury group My favorite team is playing tonight.

Pronouns Pronouns

Kinds of Pronouns

Subjective

Relative

Objective

Interrogative

Possessive

Demonstrative

Reflexive

Intensive

Pro means “for” so a pronoun is a word that is used in place of or stands for a noun.

Pronouns

FACT– The noun that a pronoun replaces is called the

antecedent. This term combines two Latin words that mean “comes before.” The noun always comes before the pronoun.

– James is my little brother. He loves to play video games.

Kinds of Pronouns

I * My You Your He His She Her It Its We Our You Your They Their

Subjective case pronouns replace a subject.

*Possessive forms accompany the noun they represent in a sentence:

My car is parked on the corner.

Kinds of Pronouns

Me *MineYou YoursHim HisHer HersIt ItsUs OursYou YoursThem Theirs

Objective case pronouns replace a noun used as an object.

*These possessive forms may stand alone in a sentence:

The car that is parked on the corner is mine.

Kinds of Pronouns

Reflexive Relative Interrogative Demonstrative

Myself That Who This

Yourself Which Whose That

Himself Who What These

Herself Whom Whom Those

Itself Whose Which

Ourselves

Yourselves

Themselves

Kinds of Pronouns

Reflexive Looks back to an earlier noun or pronoun:

James completed the project by himself.

Relative Helps define properties of a noun or pronoun:

The house that was built in 2007 burned down.

Kinds of Pronouns

Interrogative Asks a question:

Who called you after class today?

Demonstrative Points out something or someone:

That is a really good picture of you.

Kinds of Pronouns

Indefinite Singular Plural All Another Anything Anybody

Few None Something EverybodySome One Everything Somebody

Both Everyone Nothing NobodyMost Someone Much Either

Many No one Such Neither More Anyone Each Other Several

Kinds of Pronouns

Plural Indefinite – means some undetermined number: Some of the students were interested in taking a biology course.

Singular Indefinite – means one of a group of people or things, but not one specifically:

Anyone could have taken that course.

Kinds of Pronouns

Singular Indefinite Clues that the pronoun is singular:

– Begins with any or every

– Ends in one or body

Pronouns

Either and neither are singular. The logical meaning is that you are examining the antecedents one at a time:

Two dogs live on my street. Antecedent = dogs Neither dog likes cats.

Pronouns

Some final thoughts:– Pronouns must agree with antecedents.

A student must be careful to record his or her scores. (student is singular, needs singular his and her)

Students can turn in their papers any time today.(students is plural, therefore their is correct)

Pronouns

Some more final thoughts: Who or whom? When to use which one:

The easy way to test for who and whom is to replace them with he/she or him/her.

If he is correct, use who

If him is correct, use whom.

PRONOUNS

Even more final thoughts: Don’t let compounds confuse your use of I

and me:

Eliminate the extra words to check:

My dad took James and I to the game. (?)

My dad took --- I to the game. (NO!)

My dad took James and me to the game. (YES!)

Nouns and Pronouns

If you want more information about this topic:– Meet with your instructor– Visit the Learning Center– Go online to the Purdue OWL