PronounsPronouns

““TheyThey can because can because theythey think think theythey can.” can.”

VirgilVirgil

What is a Pronoun?What is a Pronoun?

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

Types of pronouns:Types of pronouns: PersonalPersonal PossessivePossessive

IndefiniteIndefinite ReflexiveReflexive DemonstrativeDemonstrative

Why do we need to use Why do we need to use pronouns?pronouns?

To avoid repetition of nouns in sentencesTo avoid repetition of nouns in sentences Gretchen was writing a paper for a class. Gretchen did not Gretchen was writing a paper for a class. Gretchen did not

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

AntecedentsAntecedents

Every pronoun should have a Every pronoun should have a CLEARCLEAR antecedent, antecedent, the word that the the word that the pronoun stands for in the pronoun stands for in the sentencesentence.. Clear - Even when Clear - Even when BaileyBailey behaved behaved

badly, badly, hehe was rarely punished. was rarely punished. Unclear – Bailey spoke to Uncle Willie. Unclear – Bailey spoke to Uncle Willie.

HeHe was angry. was angry. [Who was angry][Who was angry]

AntecedentsAntecedents

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

Number – Singular (One) or Plural (More than Number – Singular (One) or Plural (More than One)One)

Gender – Masculine (Male or Unknown) or Gender – Masculine (Male or Unknown) or Feminine (Female)Feminine (Female)

Person – First (Speaker), Second (Spoken to), or Person – First (Speaker), Second (Spoken to), or Third (Spoken About) Third (Spoken About)

Personal PronounsPersonal Pronouns

What is a personal pronoun?What is a personal pronoun? A personal pronoun takes the A personal pronoun takes the

place of people or things.place of people or things.

Personal PronounsPersonal Pronouns

SingularSingular

First PersonFirst Person I, MeI, Me

Second PersonSecond Person YouYou

Third PersonThird Person He, Him, She, He, Him, She,

Her, ItHer, It

PluralPlural

First Person First Person We, UsWe, Us

Second PersonSecond Person You You

Third PersonThird Person They, ThemThey, Them

Find the correct antecedent for Find the correct antecedent for the given pronoun. the given pronoun.

Bill reminded Susan that Bill reminded Susan that hehe wanted wanted to meet to meet herher friend. friend.

The car was in the garage. The car was in the garage. ItIt had a had a flat tire. flat tire.

UNC and West Virginia will play in the UNC and West Virginia will play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Meineke Car Care Bowl. TheyThey will will play in Charlotte, North Carolina. play in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Possessive PronounsPossessive Pronouns

What is a possessive What is a possessive pronoun?pronoun? Personal pronouns that are Personal pronouns that are

used to show ownership. used to show ownership.

Possessive PronounsPossessive Pronouns

SingularSingular

First PersonFirst Person My, MineMy, Mine

Second PersonSecond Person Your, YoursYour, Yours

Third PersonThird Person Her, Hers, His, Her, Hers, His,

ItsIts

PluralPlural

First PersonFirst Person Our, OursOur, Ours

Second PersonSecond Person Your, YoursYour, Yours

Third PersonThird Person Their, TheirsTheir, Theirs

Its v. It’sIts v. It’s

Its Its Means belonging to Means belonging to

itit ExamplesExamples

The car still has its The car still has its lights on.lights on.

The dog ate its The dog ate its food.food.

It’sIt’s Means it isMeans it is

ExamplesExamples It’s getting late It’s getting late

outside.outside. Do you think it’s Do you think it’s

too late to study?too late to study?

Your v. You’reYour v. You’re

YourYour Means belonging to Means belonging to

youyou ExamplesExamples

Don’t forget your Don’t forget your coat.coat.

Do you have your Do you have your homework. homework.

You’reYou’re Means you areMeans you are

ExamplesExamples You’re not going You’re not going

over there tonight.over there tonight. I can’t believe I can’t believe

you’re not going to you’re not going to study.study.

Their v. They’re v. There Their v. They’re v. There

TheirTheir Means belonging to themMeans belonging to them

ExamplesExamples I went to their house.I went to their house. Do you still have their Do you still have their

phone number?phone number?

They’reThey’re Means they areMeans they are

ExampleExample They’re not here.They’re not here.

______________________________________ ThereThere Means referring to a placeMeans referring to a place

ExampleExample How did you get over How did you get over

there?there?

Choose the correct pronounChoose the correct pronoun

The living room is hers to clean not The living room is hers to clean not (my, mine, me).(my, mine, me).

A gray wolf calls to (it, its, it’s) A gray wolf calls to (it, its, it’s) mother by howling.mother by howling.

Since (your, you’re, yours) car is in Since (your, you’re, yours) car is in the shop, (I, me) have to drive you. the shop, (I, me) have to drive you.

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Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

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

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

SingularSingular

First PersonFirst Person MyselfMyself

Second PersonSecond Person YourselfYourself

Third PersonThird Person Himself, Himself,

Herself, ItselfHerself, Itself

PluralPlural

First PersonFirst Person OurselvesOurselves

Second PersonSecond Person YourselvesYourselves

Third PersonThird Person ThemselvesThemselves

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns Make sure to match the reflexive pronoun Make sure to match the reflexive pronoun

with the proper number, person, and with the proper number, person, and gender of the subject it is referring to.gender of the subject it is referring to. We wouldn’t say:We wouldn’t say:

WeWe did the homework by did the homework by myselfmyself. . (We and myself doesn’t agree in number. We (We and myself doesn’t agree in number. We is plural and myself is singular.)is plural and myself is singular.)

HeHe did the work did the work herselfherself. . (He and herself doesn’t agree in gender. He (He and herself doesn’t agree in gender. He is masculine, while herself is feminine.) is masculine, while herself is feminine.)

II wrote the story wrote the story herselfherself. . (I and herself doesn’t agree in person. One is (I and herself doesn’t agree in person. One is first person and the other is third person. first person and the other is third person.

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Demonstrative PronounsDemonstrative Pronouns

What is a demonstrative What is a demonstrative pronoun?pronoun? A demonstrative pronoun points A demonstrative pronoun points

out a person, place, thing, or out a person, place, thing, or idea. idea.

Demonstrative PronounsDemonstrative Pronouns

This – Near the speaker (Singular)This – Near the speaker (Singular)

That – Far from speaker (Singular)That – Far from speaker (Singular)

These – Near the speaker (Plural)These – Near the speaker (Plural)

Those – Far from speaker (Plural)Those – Far from speaker (Plural)

Demonstrative PronounsDemonstrative Pronouns

(This, These) is a delicious papaya.(This, These) is a delicious papaya. (That, Those) is the uniform once (That, Those) is the uniform once

worn by Satchel Paige.worn by Satchel Paige. Bring (this, that) wagon over there to Bring (this, that) wagon over there to

me. me. (That, Those) are the stamps I (That, Those) are the stamps I

collected over twenty years.collected over twenty years.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

What is an indefinite pronoun?What is an indefinite pronoun? An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, An indefinite pronoun refers to a person,

place, or thing that is not specifically place, or thing that is not specifically named.named.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

AllAll AnyAny BothBoth EachEach EitherEither EverybodyEverybody EverythingEverything FewFew

ManyMany NoneNone No oneNo one NobodyNobody OneOne SeveralSeveral SomeSome SomebodySomebody

Choose which indefinite Choose which indefinite pronoun would fit each pronoun would fit each

sentencesentence Would (someone, any) please let us Would (someone, any) please let us

know if they are still friends? know if they are still friends? Bailey did (everything, few) well.Bailey did (everything, few) well. (Nobody, Many) of the pickles ended (Nobody, Many) of the pickles ended

up in his pockets.up in his pockets. Is there (everybody, anybody) who Is there (everybody, anybody) who

knows the answer?knows the answer?