Transcript Pronouns and Antecedents

Mrs. Brown
Personal Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the
place of one or more nouns.
The most frequently used pronouns
are called personal pronouns. They
refer to people or things.
Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun is used as the
subject of a sentence.
She is my best friend.
It is my dog.
Does he know the answer?
You and I will meet later.
Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is used as the
direct/indirect object or the object
of a preposition.
Give the book to me.
The teacher gave her a reprimand.
I will tell you a story.
Susan read it to them.
List of Personal Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Subject Pronouns
I
you
he, she, it
we
you
they
Object Pronouns
me
you
him, her, it
us
you
them
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
Read the following sentences. Can you
tell to whom the word She refers?
Angela competes with Athena. She
weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear because the word
She could refer to either Angela or
Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a
noun or rewrite the sentence.
Angela competes with Athena. Athena
weaves skillfully.
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The noun or group of words that a
pronoun refers to is called its
antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that
it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be
especially careful when you use the pronoun
they. Read the following sentence.
They have several books about Greek
myths at the library.
Continue
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The meaning of They is unclear. The
sentence can be improved by
rewriting it in the following
manner.
Several books about myths are
available at the library.
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
1. The myth of Athena is amusing. I
enjoyed it.
2. The bystanders see Athena. They
watch her at the loom.
In the first sentence, myth is the
antecedent of the pronoun it.
In the second sentence, bystanders is
the antecedent of They, and Athena
is the antecedent of her.
Using Pronouns Correctly
Subject pronouns are used in
compound subjects, and object
pronouns 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)
Continue
Using Pronouns Correctly
Lee and I read some ancient
Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me.
(Not me and Lee).
Continue
Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is a
pronoun that shows who or what
has something. A possessive
pronoun may take the place of a
possessive noun.
Read the following sentences. Notice
the possessive nouns and the
possessive pronouns that replace
them.
Continue
Possessive Pronouns
Homer’s story is famous.
His story is famous.
This story is Homer’s.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are
in red.
Continue
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The
pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word
it’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of it is.
Read
the following sentences. Notice the meaning of the
words in red type.
Its central character is Odysseus.
(possessive pronoun)
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus.
(contraction of It is)
Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that
does not refer to a particular person,
place, or thing.
Does anyone know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular
or plural.
Continue
Some Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
another
anybody
anyone
anything
each
either
everybody
everyone
everything
much
neither
nobody
Plural
no one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something
both
few
many
others
several
All, any, most, none and some can be
singular or plural, depending on the phrase
that follows them.
Continue
Some Indefinite Pronouns
When an indefinite pronoun is used as the
subject, the verb must agree with it in number.
Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)
Both talk about King Minos. (plural)
All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)
All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)
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Some Indefinite Pronouns
Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns
as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns
must agree in number. Note that in the first
example the intervening prepositional phrase does
not affect the agreement.
Each of the characters has his or her motive.
Several have conflict with their rivals.
Continue
Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another
pronoun and indicates that the same person or
thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed
by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and
possessive pronouns
The woman found herself a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun
Continue
Reflexive Pronouns
Singular
myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself
Plural
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for
himself and theirselves for themselves.
Avoid using hisself and theirselves.
Continue