Pronouns

words that take the place of nouns

(Antecedent=the noun that the pronoun replaces)

Purpose of a Pronoun1. Maggie loves to swim. Maggie also loves

to ski.

2. Marcus ran to the store. Marcus ran to the store to get dinner. Then, Marcus cooked his dinner. Finally, Marcus ate his dinner.

3. This is a good book. I will loan the book to you.

4. My dad planted flowers. After my dad watered the flowers, the flowers grew tall.

Personal Pronouns

• I, me, mine, we, us, ours, he, she, it, him, her, his, its, hers, you, you (pl.), yours, they, them, theirs

• Qualities of pronoun– Person– Number– Gender– Case

The Person of Pronoun

• First person – the speaker

I, me, we, us

• Second person – the person spoken to

you

• Third person – the person/thing spoken about

he, him, she, her, it, they, them

The Number of a Pronoun

• Singular – replaces singular noun

I, me, you, he, him, she, her, it

• Plural – replaces plural noun

We, us, you, they, them

The Gender of a Pronoun

• Masculine – male

He, him, I, me, we, us, they, them, you

• Feminine – female

She, her, I, me, we, us, they, them, you

• Neuter – object

It, they, them

1. A student can learn to depend on their own merit for success. 

2. Take the radio out of the car and fix it.

3. If the fans don’t buy all the peanuts, pack them away until the next game.

4. We get so tired of listening to him drone on about this stuff that you want to fall out of your chair.

Pronoun Case

1. Tom and me will buy the gift for her.

2. It was them who called last night.

3. That was her in the bright yellow car.

4. Buffy and me live the furthest away.

5. Mom gave the book to Suzy and I.

Nominative Case Pronoun

• Subjects or Subjective Complement

I, we, he, she, they

• Tom and (I , me) went fishing yesterday.

• That was (he , him) in the duck costume.

Objective Case Pronouns

• Direct Object, Indirect Object, Object of the preposition

Me, us, him, her, them

• Please give Betsy and (she/her) the book.

• My mom asked my brother and (I/me) to be quiet.

• We received a card from Suzy and (he/him).

Possessive Pronouns• Do not use apostrophes. Only pronoun

contractions use apostrophes.Mine, ours, yours, theirs, his, hers, its• Its=possessive• It’s=it is• Their = possessive• They’re = they are• Your = possessive• You’re = you are

1. Were going to Mexico this weekend. Its going to be fun.

2. Did you finish you’re homework?

3. Their having lunch at Chipotle.

4. Martha took Bens book. Who took her’s?

Compound Pronoun• Myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves,

herself, himself, itself, themselves

• Can only be used when antecedent is present

• Himself and I are running the marathon.

• The class and myself will decorate the gym.

VIE p. 311-313

• Write down one interrogative pronoun.

• Which interrogative pronoun is only used in nominative case?

• Which interrogative pronoun is only used in objective case?

Interrogative Pronouns• Who – persons (nominative case)

• Whom – persons (objective case)

• Which –persons or things

• What – things/asking for information

• Whose – shows possession (don’t confuse with who’s = who is)

1. What painter do you like best?2. Whom was awarded the medal?3. To who will you give the cookie?4. For who is the letter?5. Whom invited the ants to our picnic?6. Who should we ask for the money?

Distributive Pronouns• Refers to each person, place, or thing, separately.• Each, Either, Neither (p. 314) – ALWAYS SINGULAR

IN NUMBER

1. I think that neither of the clocks (is/are) correct.

2. Neither of your brothers (has/have) red hair like you.

3. Each of the students is responsible for (his/their) own

work.

Indefinite Pronouns• Refers to no specific person, place, or thing

• (p. 315). Some are singular some are plural and some can be singular or plural.

1. Everyone receives a good grade for (her/their) work.

2. Everything on the bookcases is in (its/it’s/their) proper spot.

Avoid double negative!

1. Didn’t (nobody/anybody) see my book?

2. Wasn’t (nothing/anything) left in the store?