Transcript personal pronouns

Pronouns!
What they are and how we use
them…
What they are…
• A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one
or more nouns.
• Pronouns that are used to refer to people or
things are called personal pronouns.
– The myth amuses Kim. It amuses her.
• Some personal pronouns are subjects of
sentences; other personal pronouns are used as
the objects of verbs or prepositions.
(It-subject; her-direct object of verb)
Subject Pronoun
• A subject pronoun is a personal pronoun in
the nominative case. It is used as the subject
of a sentence.
– She especially likes “Atalanta’s Race.”
Objective Pronoun
• An object pronoun is a personal pronoun in
the objective case. It is used as the object of a
verb or preposition.
– The librarian recommended it to us.
Personal Pronouns Chart
Singular
Plural
• Subjects: I, you, he, she, it
we, you, they
• Objects: me, you, him, her, it
us, you, them
Show What You Know!!
Identifying…
List the pronouns and identify each as either a
subject (nominative case) or object (objective
case) pronoun.
1. I will tell you a story about three characters
in mythology.
2. They are named Daphne, Apollo, and Cupid.
Using…
Replace the underlined word or words with a
pronoun. Then, identify each as either a
subject (nominative case) or object (objective
case) pronoun.
1. Greek poets developed myths from old
stories.
2. Rita studied the myths for their factual
information.
3. Myths about historical events interest Dan.
How did you do??
Exchange paper with your
partner….
Checking….
List the pronouns and identify each as either a
subject (nominative case) or object (objective
case) pronoun.
1. I will tell you a story about three characters
in mythology.
2. They are named Daphne, Apollo, and Cupid.
1. I, subject; you, object (of what?!)
2. They, subject
Checking…
Replace the underlined word or words with a pronoun.
Then, identify each as either a subject (nominative
case) or object (objective case) pronoun.
1. Greek poets developed myths from old stories.
2. Rita studied the myths for their factual information.
3. Myths about historical events interest Dan.
1. They, subject
2. Them, object (of what?!)
3. Him, object (of what?!)
Pronouns and Antecedents
Read the following sentences. Can you tell to
whom the word She refers?
Arachne competes against Athena. She weaves
skillfully.
Why is this sentence confusing??
Pronouns and Antecedents
• The noun or group of words that a pronoun
refers to is called its antecedent.
• When you use a pronoun, makes sure that it
refers to the antecedent clearly.
– They have several books about Greek myths at the
library.
• The meaning of They is unclear.
• Improve by writing…
– Several books on Greek mythology are available at the library.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
• Pronouns must agree with their antecedents
in …
– number (singular or plural)
– gender (masculine [male], feminine [female], or
neuter [referring to things])
The myth of Arachne is amusing. I enjoyed it.
The bystanders see Athena. They watch her at the
loom.
Show What You Know!
• Use the correct pronoun in the blank of every
second sentence. Then write the antecedent of
the pronoun and its number.
Example: The maiden Arachne lives in Lydia. ___ is
a country in Asia.
Answer: It-Lydia, singular
1. Arachne is a skillful weaver. ___ boasts about
her weaving.
2. Arachne first forms woolen threads. ____ feel as
soft as clouds.
(Continued…)
3. People watch Arachne and admire her work.
They tell her, “Pallas Athena must have taught
____.”
4. The angry Arachne replies, “So you think my
art comes from a teacher? I tell ___ that I am
a better weaver than Athena herself!”
5. Athena and Arachne enter a contest. The
people watch the two of ___.
How did you do??
1. Arachne is a skillful weaver. ___ boasts about her
weaving. She-Arachne, Singular
2. Arachne first forms woolen threads. ____ feel as
soft as clouds. They-threads, Plural
3. People watch Arachne and admire her work. They
tell her, “Pallas Athena must have taught ____.” youArachne, Singular
4. The angry Arachne replies, “So you think my art
comes from a teacher? I tell ___ that I am a better
weaver than Athena herself!” you-people, Plural
5. Athena and Arachne enter a contest. The people
watch the two of ___. Them-Athena and Arachne,
Plural
*Using Pronouns Correctly*
• Subject pronouns in the nominative case are
used in compound subjects, and object
pronouns in the objective case 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)
(Examples of objects of prepositions…)
– Lee read a famous Roman myth to me.
– Lee read a famous Roman myth to Irma and me.
Tip!
• If you are NOT sure which form of the pronoun to
use in a compound subject or object, say the
sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the
subject or object. Your ear will tell you which
form is correct 
Lee and I read some famous Roman myths.
Check: I read some famous Roman myths.
Mythology interests Lee and me.
Check: Mythology interests me.
More…
• Also, when I is used in a compound subject,
make sure it is placed after the other parts of
the subject.
• Lee and I…not I and Lee…
• Likewise, when the pronoun me is used in a
compound object, make sure it is placed after
the other parts of the object.
• Lee and me…not me and Lee…
Last one!
• In formal writing and speech use a subject
pronoun after a linking verb (verbs that do
not show action but link the subject to further
information about the subject).
• The writer of this report was she.
• It is I.
Show What You Know!
Directions: Write the correct word or words in
parenthesis. Then identify each selected pronoun
as either a subject or object pronoun.
1. (She, Her) told the class about Roman
mythology.
2. They told Earl and (I, me) about Jupiter and
Mars.
3. Mars and (he, him) were the most important
gods.
4. The two planets were named after Mars and
(he, him).
5. Dom and (me, I) asked questions about Jupiter.
Check What You Know!
1. (She, Her) told the class about Roman
mythology. Subject
2. They told Earl and (I, me) about Jupiter and
Mars. Object
3. Mars and (he, him) were the most important
gods. Subject
4. The two planets were named after Mars and
(he, him). Object
5. Dom and (me, I) asked questions about
Jupiter. Subject
Possessive Pronouns…
• A possessive pronoun is used in the
possessive case. It shows who or what has
something. A possessive pronoun may take
the place of a possessive noun.
– Homer’s story is famous. His story is famous.
– The story is Homer’s. The story is his.
Two forms: before a noun or alone.
Before a noun…
Used alone…
• Singular: my, your,
his, her, its
• Singular: mine,
yours, his, hers, its
• Plural: our, your,
their
• Plural: ours, yours,
theirs
Possessive pronouns are NOT written
with apostrophes!!!
Show What You Know!
Directions: Write each possessive pronoun.
Determine if it comes before a noun or stands
alone.
Example: His adventures interested all types of
readers.
Answer: His—before a noun
1. Its title comes from the name Odysseus.
2. Few characters possess a personality like his.
3. The Romans renamed him Ulysses in their list
of heroes.
Check!
1. Its title comes from the name Odysseus.
2. Few characters possess a personality like his.
3. The Romans renamed him Ulysses in their list
of heroes.
1. Its – before a noun (title)
2. His – stands alone
3. Their – before a noun (list)
Show MORE of What You Know!
Directions: Replace the underlined word(s) with
a possessive pronoun.
1. Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city
of Troy was the Greeks’.
2. With Athena’s help, the Greeks defeated the
Trojans.
3. Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to
Odysseus’s home.”
Check 
1.
2.
3.
Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city of Troy was the Greeks’.
With Athena’s help, the Greeks defeated the Trojans.
Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to Odysseus’s home.”
1. Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city of
Troy was theirs.
2. With her help, the Greeks defeated the Trojans.
3. Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to your
home.”