Pronouns
What is a Pronoun?
In grammar, a pronoun is defined as a word or phrase that may be substituted for a noun or noun phrase, which once replaced, is known as the pronoun’s antecedent. How is this possible? In a nutshell, it’s because pronouns can do everything that nouns can do. A pronoun can act as a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, and more.
Without pronouns, we’d have to keep on repeating nouns, and that would make our speech and writing repetitive, not to mention cumbersome. Most pronouns are very short words. Examples include:
· He
· She
· They
· It
· We
· Who
As mentioned, pronouns are usually used to replace nouns, however they can also stand in for certain adverbs, adjectives, and other pronouns. Anytime you want to talk about a person, animal, place or thing, you can use pronouns to make your speech or writing flow better.
Types of Pronouns
Pronouns can be divided into numerous categories including:
· Personal pronouns – those associated with a certain person, thing, or group; all except you have distinct forms that indicate singular or plural number
· Reflexive pronouns – those preceded by the adverb, adjective, pronoun, or noun to which they refer, and ending in –self or –selves
· Relative pronouns – those which refer to nouns mentioned previously, acting to introduce an adjective (relative) clause
· Intensive pronouns – those ending in –self or –selves and that serve to emphasize their antecedents
Pronoun Rules
There are a few important rules for using pronouns. As you read through these rules and the examples in the next section, notice how the pronoun rules are followed. Soon you’ll see that pronouns are easy to work with.
· Subject pronouns may be used to begin sentences. For example: We did a great job.
· Subject pronouns may also be used to rename the subject. For example: It was she who decided we should go to Hawaii.
· Indefinite pronouns don’t have antecedents. They are capable of standing on their own. For example: No one likes the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.
· Object pronouns are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. These include: you, me, him, her, us, them, and it. For example: David talked to her about the mistake.
· Possessive pronouns show ownership. They do not need apostrophes. For example: The cat washed its whiskers.
Demonstrative Pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to point to something specific within a sentence. These pronouns can indicate items in space or time, and they can be either singular or plural.
When used to represent a thing or things, demonstrative pronouns can be either near or far in distance or time:
· Near in time or distance: this, these
· Far in time or distance: that, those
Because there are only a few demonstrative pronouns in the English language, there are just three simple rules for using them correctly. Remember them and you will have no difficulty using these surprisingly interesting parts of speech.
· Demonstrative pronouns always identify nouns, whether those nouns are named specifically or not. For example: “I can’t believe this.” We have no idea what “this” is, but it’s definitely something the writer cannot believe. It exists, even though we don’t know what it is.
· Demonstrative pronouns are usually used to describe animals, places, or things, however they can be used to describe people when the person is identified, i.e., This sounds like Mary singing.
· Do not confuse demonstrative adjectives with demonstrative pronouns. The words are identical, but demonstrative adjectives qualify nouns, whereas demonstrative pronouns stand alone.
Demonstrative pronouns can be used in place of a noun, so long as the noun being replaced can be understood from the pronoun’s context. Although this concept might seem a bit confusing at first, the following examples of demonstrative pronouns will add clarity.
Demonstrative Pronouns Examples
In the following examples, demonstrative pronouns have been italicized for ease of identification.
This was my mother’s ring.
That looks like the car I used to drive.
These are nice shoes, but they look uncomfortable.
Those look like riper than the apples on my tree.
Such was her command over the English language.
None of these answers are correct.
Neither of the horses can be ridden.
Demonstrative Pronouns List
· Such
· This
· That
· These
· Those
· None
· Neither
Relative Pronouns
A relative pronoun is one which is used to refer to nouns mentioned previously, whether they are people, places, things, animals, or ideas. Relative pronouns can be used to join two sentences.
There are only a few relative pronouns in the English language. The most common are which, that, whose, whoever, whomever, who, and whom. In some situations, the words what, when, and where can also function as relative pronouns. Because there are only a few of them, there are also just a few rules for using relative pronouns. Keep them in mind as you write.
· Relative clauses are typically introduced by relative pronouns, and that the relative pronoun can function as a possessive pronoun, an object, or a subject.
· When relative pronouns introduce restrictive relative clauses, no comma is used to separate the restrictive clause from the main clause.
· In American English, the relative pronoun whom is used rarely. You may notice this in conversations, but it is best to use the term when writing to ensure that your work is grammatically correct.
Relative Pronouns Examples
The following sentences contain examples of relative pronouns. The relative pronoun in each example is italicized.
1. The cyclist who won the race trained hard.
2. The pants that I bought yesterday are already stained.
3. The four team leaders, whomever the committee selects, will be at tomorrow’s meeting.
4. Spaghetti, which we eat at least twice a week, is one of my family’s favorite meals.
5. Where did you buy the dress what you wore last week?
6. The book, when it was finally returned, was torn and stained.
7. The store on the corner, where we usually buy all of our art supplies, burned to the ground.
List of Relative Pronouns
· Who
· Whom
· That
· Which
· Whoever
· Whomever
· Whichever
Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that is preceded by the adverb, adjective, pronoun, or noun to which it refers, so long as that antecedent is located within the same clause.
In English grammar, a reflexive pronoun indicates that the person who is realizing the action of the verb is also the recipient of the action. While this might seem strange at first glance, the following examples of reflexive pronouns and the accompanying list of reflexive pronouns will help you gain thorough understanding. In fact, you will probably notice that you yourself use reflexive pronouns frequently when speaking or writing.
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns
In the following examples of reflexive pronouns, the reflexive pronoun in each sentence is italicized.
1. I was in a hurry, so I washed the car myself.
2. You’re going to have to drive yourself to school today.
3. He wanted to impress her, so he baked a cake himself.
4. Jennifer does chores herself because she doesn’t trust others to do them right.
5. That car is in a class all by itself.
6. We don’t have to go out; we can fix dinner ourselves.
7. You are too young to go out by yourselves.
8. The actors saved the local theatre money by making costumes themselves.
Reflexive Pronouns List
As you read through the following list of reflexive pronouns, consider ways to use them in sentences like the ones in the preceding section.
· Myself
· Yourself
· Herself
· Himself
· Itself
· Yourselves
· Ourselves
· Themselves
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are those designating possession. They may also be used as substitutes for noun phrases, and they are typically found at the end of a sentence or clause. There are only a few possessive pronouns in the English language, and there are only two specific rules for using them correctly. Keep these rules in mind when using possessive pronouns, and you’ll discover that writing properly is easier.
· Like its name suggests, a possessive pronoun indicates ownership.
· Possessive pronouns do not contain apostrophes.
A possessive pronoun is used to avoid repeating information that has already been made clear. These useful pronouns make sentences less confusing, as you’ll see when you read the following sentences containing examples of possessive pronouns.
Examples of Possessive Pronouns
The following sets of sentences illustrate how possessive pronouns provide clarity. Possessive pronoun examples are italicized.
1. This is my cat, not your cat. (Sounds repetitive)
2. This cat is mine, not yours.
3. I didn’t have my book so Jenny lent me her book. (Sounds repetitive)
4. I didn’t have my book, so Jenny lent me hers.
5. Your car is a lot faster than my car. (Sounds repetitive)
6. Your car is a lot faster than mine.
Common Noun Examples
Possessive pronouns are often accompanied by common nouns. The following are some examples of common nouns that are frequently used in the same sentences as possessive pronouns.
1. I
2. It
3. You
4. Me
5. This
6. That
7. Him
8. Her
9. They
10. We
11. Them
In the following example sentences, the common noun is in bold, and the possessive pronoun is in italics.
· I lost my watch.
· This is her birthday.
· I’m going to give you your money back
Possessive Pronouns List
The following list of possessive pronouns is accompanied by a list of corresponding subjects. While other subjects may be substituted, the following examples give the possessive pronouns context.
Subject
|
Possessive Pronoun
|
It
|
Its
|
I
|
My, Mine
|
You
|
Your
|
She
|
Her, Hers
|
He
|
His
|
We
|
Our, Ours
|
They
|
Their, Theirs
|
You (plural)
|
Yours
|
Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun is a pronoun that is associated primarily with a particular person, in the grammatical sense.
When discussing “person” in terms of the grammatical, the following rules apply:
· First person, as in “I”
· Second person, as in “you”
· Third person, as in “It, he, she”
Personal pronouns may take on various forms depending on number (singular or plural for the most part). They may also take different forms depending on case, gender, or formality. It is important to note that personal pronouns may refer to objects, animals, or people.
Personal pronouns provide us with the following information:
· The person – Who is speaking?
· The number – Is the pronoun plural or singular?
· The gender – Is the pronoun feminine, masculine, or neuter?
Examples of Personal Pronouns
The word “he” is an example of a personal pronoun. He is third person (because he is the person being spoken about), singular, and masculine. The word “we” is another example of a personal pronoun. We is first person (because we are speaking as a group), plural, and neuter.
In the following examples, personal pronouns are italicized.
1. You need to stop lying to me.
2. We would love for you to join us.
3. Come look at my cat! He has climbed to the top of that tree.
Personal Pronouns as Subject Pronouns
When a personal pronoun takes the place of a noun as the subject of a sentence, it is both a personal pronoun and a subject pronoun. What is a subject pronoun? In essence, it’s any pronoun that is used to replace a common or proper noun as a sentence’s subject.
If you are using a personal pronoun to talk about a person, animal, place, or thing that also happens to be the subject of a sentence, then it is classified as both a personal pronoun and a subject pronoun.
Personal Pronouns as Object Pronouns
When a personal pronoun is the direct or indirect object of a verb, or when it is used as the object of a preposition, it is called an object pronoun. What is an object pronoun? It’s any pronoun that is affected by the action the subject of the sentence takes.
The personal pronouns that are used as object pronouns are different than the personal pronouns that are used as subject pronouns, but they are just as important. There are seven object pronouns that also happen to be personal pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, and them.
How Are Subject Pronouns and Object Pronouns Related to Personal Pronouns?
Like all personal pronouns, subject pronouns and object pronouns are used to eliminate repetition within sentences. Additionally, they are always associated with a specific person, group, animal, or inanimate object.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between subject and object pronouns. It can be helpful to remember that a subject is what a sentence is about, while an object is affected by the action of the subject.
Just like other personal pronouns, subject pronouns and object pronouns can take on different forms depending on number, i.e. whether they are singular or plural. Additionally, they can be used with any of the three grammatical persons, i.e. first-person, second-person, or third-person.
Finally, subject pronouns and object pronouns are related to one another and all other personal pronouns in that the words used may differ depending on the natural or grammatical gender of the words they refer to.
Examples of Sentences Containing Both Subject Pronouns & Object Pronouns
1. I want you to read this book.
2. You are the fastest runner on the team, and we’re depending on you.
3. They talked to me about acting in the play.
4. We enjoyed hearing her sing.
Comparing Subject and Object Pronouns
Use the following table to compare subject and object pronouns. Notice that some subject pronouns are identical to certain object pronouns.
Subject Pronoun
|
Object Pronoun
|
It
|
It
|
You
|
You
|
What
|
What
|
I
|
Me
|
He
|
Him
|
She
|
Her
|
We
|
Us
|
Who
|
Whom
|
They
|
Them
|
Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is a type of personal pronoun that is normally used as a grammatical object, either as the direct or indirect object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition. These pronouns always take the objective case, whether they are indirect object pronouns or direct object pronouns.
The seven basic pronouns take on different forms when used as object pronouns rather than as subject pronouns:
· I becomes Me
· You becomes You (tnis rule applies for singular and plural use)
· He becomes Him
· She becomes Her
· It becomes It
· We becomes Us
· They becomes Them
If you know how to find the object of a sentence, then you will find it very easy to identify an object pronoun when you see one. To find the object of a sentence, locate the nouns and verbs and mentally separate them from the rest of the words the sentence contains. Both the subject and object of the sentence will be nouns or pronouns. The subject will be the one doing the action the verb describes. The object is the noun or pronoun receiving the action. Making things even simpler, when the object is not a noun, it’s an object pronoun.
Just like subject pronouns, object pronouns can be singular or plural, masculine, feminine, or gender neutral. The masculine or feminine subject pronoun is used whenever the gender is known. When referring to the weather, temperature, time, an inanimate object or a child or animal of undetermined gender, the neuter form “it” can be used.
Object Pronoun Examples
In the following examples, the subject is in bold, the verb is in italics, and the object pronoun is in bold and is underlined.
1. Bob took her to work Monday.
2. Will you please tell them to come in?
3. He told you a lie about where he was Saturday.
4. Our grandparents gave us candy and our teeth are just fine.
Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun is exactly what it sounds like: a pronoun that takes the place of a noun as the subject of a sentence. Remember, a sentence’s subject is the person or thing that performs the action of a verb. When you take an even closer look, you’ll see that a subject pronoun is used as the subject of a verb, while an object pronoun is usually used as a grammatical object.
Subject pronouns can be singular or plural, and they can be masculine, feminine, or gender neutral. The masculine or feminine subject pronoun is used when gender is known; when referring to an inanimate object, the gender-neutral form “it” is used. The subject pronoun “it” can be used to refer to animals of unspecific gender, and it is also appropriate to use the subject pronoun “it” to describe a baby of unknown gender. “It” is also used to talk about the weather, temperature, or time.
If you can find the subject of a sentence, then you can find a subject pronoun just as easily! Let’s go back to basics for a moment. Every complete sentence has a subject, a verb, and an object. The subject (or subject pronoun) is always a person, thing, place, or idea, or the plural of one of those, i.e. people, things, places, or ideas. The object or object pronoun is always on the receiving end of the action.
One of the easiest ways to identify a subject or subject pronoun is to remember that it is always going to be the who or what that has a direct effect on the action that’s taking place.
Subject Pronoun Examples
In the following examples, you can see exactly how this method works. The subject pronoun is in bold and is underlined, the verb is in italics, and the object is in bold.
1. We gave them a head start in the race.
2. You told Jerry that his score was among the best; that made him feel better.
3. She lost weight by cutting out junk food.
4. They drank water from a spring that ran right out of the mountainside.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are those referring to one or more unspecified objects, beings, or places. They are called “indefinite” simply because they do not indicate the exact object, being, or place to which they refer.
Indefinite pronouns include partitives such as any, anybody, anyone, either, neither, nobody, no, someone, and some; they also include universals such as every, all, both, and each; finally, they include quantifiers including any, some, several, enough, many, and much. Many indefinite pronouns can also function as determiners.
There are just two important rules for using indefinite pronouns correctly. Remember these and you will find that writing comes easier for you.
· Indefinite pronouns are never plural. They are always singular.
· Because indefinite pronouns are singular, the pronouns or verbs used to refer to them should also be singular.
Examples of Indefinite Pronouns
In the following examples, the indefinite pronouns are italicized.
1. Many are called, but few are chosen.
2. Somebody ate my sandwich!
3. Everyone says she is beautiful inside and out.
4. No one wants to hear about my health problems.
5. Either choice has its advantages.
Indefinite Pronouns List
1. Anybody
2. Anyone
3. Anything
4. Each
5. Each one
6. Either
7. Neither
8. Everybody
9. Everyone
10. Everything
11. Nobody
12. No one
13. Nothing
14. Somebody
15. Someone
16. Something
17. Both
18. Many
19. Few
20. All
21. Most
22. None
23. Some
Interrogative Pronouns
An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun which is used to make asking questions easy. There are just five interrogative pronouns. Each one is used to ask a very specific question or indirect question. Some, such as “who” and “whom,” refer only to people. Others can be used to refer to objects or people. Once you are familiar with interrogative pronouns, you’ll find that it’s very easy to use them in a variety of situations.
Interrogative pronouns can also be used as relative pronouns, which may be found in questions or indirect questions. You’ll know for certain that a pronoun is classified as an interrogative when it’s used in an inquiring way, because interrogative pronouns are found only in question and indirect questions.
The five interrogative pronouns are what, which, who, whom, and whose.
· What – Used to ask questions about people or objects. Examples:
o What do you want for dinner?
o I wonder what we’re doing tomorrow.
o What is your friend’s name?
o What time are we supposed to be there?
· Which – Used to ask questions about people or objects. Examples:
o Which color do you prefer?
o Which of these ladies is your mother?
o She asked which train to take.
o Which seat would you like?
· Who – Used to ask questions about people. Examples:
o Who is that?
o Who was driving the car?
o I’m wondering who will be at the party.
o Who is going to take out the trash?
· Whom – This interrogative pronoun is rarely seen these days, but when it shows up, it is used to ask questions about people. Examples:
o Whom did you speak to?
o Whom do you prefer to vote for?
o You should ask whom to call.
o Whom do you live with?
· Whose – Used to ask questions about people or objects, always related to possession. Examples:
o Whose sweater is this?
o Whose parents are those?
o I wonder whose dog knocked our garbage can over.
o Whose phone is that?
In some cases, interrogative pronouns take on the suffix –ever. A few can also take on the old-fashioned suffix –soever, which is rarely seen in writing these days. For example:
- Whatever
- Whatsoever
- Whichever
- Whoever
- Whosoever
- Whomever
- Whomsoever
- Whosever
Interrogative pronouns are very easy to remember and use. Memorize them to make things even simpler.
Examples of Interrogative Pronouns
Sentences containing interrogative pronouns are always questions, so they always end with a question mark. In the following examples, interrogative pronouns have been italicized for ease of identification.
1. What do you want for your birthday?
2. Which shirt do you think looks better on me?
3. Who do you think will win the playoff game?
4. To whom are you speaking?
5. Whose socks are those?
Reciprocal Pronouns
A reciprocal pronoun is a pronoun which is used to indicate that two or more people are carrying out or have carried out an action of some type, with both receiving the benefits or consequences of that action simultaneously. Any time something is done or given in return, reciprocal pronouns are used. The same is true any time mutual action is expressed.
There are only two reciprocal pronouns. Both of them allow you to make sentences simpler. They are especially useful when you need to express the same general idea more than once.
· Each other
· One another
Reciprocal pronouns are easy to use. When you want to refer to two people, you will normally use “each other.” When referring to more than two people, for example the students in a lecture hall, you will normally use “one another.”
Examples of Reciprocal Pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns help prevent repetition within sentences. In the following examples, reciprocal pronouns have been italicized for ease of identification.
1. Maria and Juan gave each other gold rings on their wedding day.
2. Maria and Juan kissed each other at the end of the ceremony.
3. Terry and Jack were talking to each other in the hallway.
4. We give each other gifts during the holidays.
5. The students congratulated one another after giving practice speeches.
6. The kids spent the afternoon kicking the ball to one another.
7. The defendants blamed one another for the crime they were charged with.
Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is almost identical to a reflexive pronoun. It is defined as a pronoun that ends in self or selves and places emphasis on its antecedent by referring back to another noun or pronoun used earlier in the sentence. For this reason, intensive pronouns are sometimes called emphatic pronouns.
You can test a word to see whether it’s an intensive pronoun by removing it from the sentence and checking to see if the sentence has the same impact.
Reflexive vs. Intensive Pronouns
You can tell the difference between a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun easily: Intensive pronouns aren’t essential to a sentence’s basic meaning. Understanding this basic difference will help to prevent you from confusing the two.
Both intensive and reflexive pronouns end in the suffix –self or –selves, however reflexive pronouns are always objects that refer to a sentence’s subject. The following example shows a reflexive pronoun in action:
Jim made himself coffee.
Without the reflexive pronoun himself, it would be impossible for the reader to know who Jim made coffee for.
In the next example, himself is used as an intensive pronoun. The reader would be able to understand the sentence’s complete meaning without this pronoun, but it serves to add emphasis:
Jim made coffee for the king himself.
Here, himself refers to the king rather than to Jim. The reader is meant to be impressed that Jim made coffee for the king.
Common Intensive Pronouns
The following list contains the most commonly used examples of intensive pronouns.
· Himself
· Herself
· Yourself
· Themselves
· Ourselves
Intensive pronouns might not be necessary, but they serve the important function of making your writing more interesting as well as more meaningful, particularly in formal situations. Use them sparingly to ensure that the emphasis they provide isn’t lost.
Intensive Pronoun Examples
Intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis to statements. In the following examples, the intensive pronouns have been italicized for ease of identification.
1. Jesse wondered aloud whether he himself was the only one seeing what was happening.
2. Maria knew that she herself could make a positive impact on the world, if only she put her mind to it.
3. You yourself can easily transform your body: All it takes is a proper diet and plenty of exercise.
4. The team knew that they themselves were responsible for playing their best.
5. We ourselves are the ones who make the greatest impact upon the world we live in.
Demonstrative Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun to fill the blank, remembering that demonstratives include the words this, that, these and those.
1. I really like watching old shows. _________ are some of the best things on TV.
A. Those
B. That
C. This
2. Please hand me __________ .
A. those
B. that
C. this
D. these
3. __________ is some of the nicest weather we’ve had lately.
A. Those
B. That
C. This
D. These
Indefinite Pronoun Exercises
Choose one of the following indefinite pronouns to fill each blank: something, everyone, anywhere
4. After the parade, __________ met up in the town square.
A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere
5. Would you like __________ to drink.
A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere
6. I searched all over, but couldn’t find my notes __________ .
A. something
B. everyone
C. anywhere
Interrogative Pronoun Exercises
Select an interrogative pronoun to fill the blank in each sentence.
7. __________ flavor do you prefer?
A. Whom
B. Which
C. Who
8. I heard someone at the door but wasn’t sure __________ it was.
A. what
B. which
C. whom
9. __________ do you want for lunch?
A. what
B. which
C. who
Intensive Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct intensive pronoun to fill the blank, remembering that they always end in –self or –selves.
10. I slipped on the sidewalk and hurt _________ .
A. himself
B. themselves
C. myself
11. The kids rode the rollercoaster by _________ .
A. themselves
B. herself
C. himself
12. She bought _________ a new car.
A. himself
B. myself
C. herself
Personal Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct personal pronoun to fill each blank.
13. _________ am learning to speak better English.
A. I
B. Me
C. You
14. Thanks for the package! Please leave _________ on the table.
A. them
B. them
C. it
15. Ben was surprised when _________ discovered that his friends were hiding in the living room.
A. she
B. he
C. they
Possessive Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct possessive pronoun to fill each blank.
16. I lost _________ phone last night.
A. mine
B. my
C. ours
17. They bought new furniture for _________ house.
A. mine
B. their
C. ours
18. We’re going to get _________ test results today.
A. mine
B. yours
C. our
Reciprocal Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct reciprocal pronoun to fill the blank, remembering that reciprocal pronouns include each other and one another.
19. Dan and I waved hello to _________.
A. each other
B. one another
20. The students talked to _________.
A. each other
B. one another
21. The two boys threw the ball back and forth to _________.
A. each other
B. one another
Reflexive Pronoun Exercises
Choose the correct reflexive pronoun to fill the blank.
22. I’m always talking to _________.
A. themselves
B. myself
C. herself
23. John likes to do things by _________.
A. myself
B. ourselves
C. himself
24. You can do it _________.
A. yourself
B. himself
C. themselves
Relative Pronoun Exercises
25. The tallest child, _________ was also oldest, was also most outgoing.
A. who
B. that
C. whose
26. I don’t recognize the song _________ is playing.
A. which
B. that
C. who
27. I rode my bike, _________ has a headlight, home in the dark.
A. that
B. whom
C. which
Answers
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