logging in or signing up Avoiding Pronoun Reference Errors SWVega Download Post to : URL : Related Presentations : Share Add to Flag Embed Email Send to Blogs and Networks Add to Channel Uploaded from authorPOINT lite Insert YouTube videos in PowerPont slides with aS Desktop Copy embed code: (To copy code, click on the text box) Embed: URL: Thumbnail: WordPress Embed Customize Embed The presentation is successfully added In Your Favorites. Views: 2985 Category: Education License: All Rights Reserved Like it (7) Dislike it (0) Added: October 07, 2008 This Presentation is Public Favorites: 6 Presentation Description This presentation walks students through the four types of reference errors: ambiguous, general, weak, and indefinite reference. This material is intended for students in Mr. Vega's English courses. Comments Posting comment... By: suadruby (7 month(s) ago) it was really useful thanks alot Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: sillysquirrel (21 month(s) ago) This is really useful and easy to follow- please would you consider sharing it? If so please would you sensd it to my email at jane-p@boston.ac.uk Thank you very much Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: mikoto_saea (24 month(s) ago) can i get a copy of this too? thanks. Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: arlen (30 month(s) ago) hey! can i get a copy of your powerpoint? I find it very useful for my class... pleaasssee.... Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close Premium member Presentation Transcript You know this is it! : You know this is it! Identifying and Correcting Pronoun Reference Problems Pronoun Reference : Pronoun Reference Every pronoun MUST have a clear reference; in other words, every pronoun must refer to an unquestionable antecedent. An antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers. Clear Reference : Clear Reference For example: Jonah did not know that he would be swallowed by a whale. Clear Reference : Clear Reference The pronoun “he” clearly refers back to Jonah. Antecedent Pronoun Jonah did not know that he would be swallowed by a whale. Unclear Reference : Unclear Reference Four Types of Problems Ambiguous reference General reference Weak reference Indefinite reference Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference Ambiguous (adj) - unclear due to having multiple interpretations Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference An ambiguous pronoun is unclear because it can refer to two or more antecedents. Example: Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference Example: ? ? Pronoun Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Did Jordan or Ryan get the promotion? The pronoun could refer to either. Fixing Ambiguous Reference : Fixing Ambiguous Reference Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Possible fixes (assuming Ryan got promotion): Ryan got a promotion and told Jordan about it. After getting a promotion, Ryan told Jordan about it. Ryan told Jordan that Ryan got a promotion. General Reference : General Reference A general reference pronoun refers to a “general idea” but has no specific antecedent. Examples: We sat down and talked for a while. It/This helped clear up the misunderstanding. We sat down and talked for a while, which helped clear up the misunderstanding. General Reference : General Reference In this case, neither it, this, nor which refers to a specific noun, but to the “idea” of talking. Example: We sat down and talked for a while. It/This/Which helped clear up the misunderstanding. It/This/Which refer to idea of discussion. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Replace the general pronoun with a specific noun. Example: We sat down and talked for a while. Our discussion helped clear up the misunderstanding. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Or revise the sentence completely. Example: Discussing matters at length helped clear up the misunderstanding. Our talk cleared up our misunderstanding. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the general pronoun reference in this example? Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel spoke Spanish well enough to make himself understood. This was encouraging. What does “This” refer to? Daniel’s ability to speak Spanish. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Suggested Fix #1: Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel spoke Spanish well enough to make himself understood. His fluency was encouraging. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Suggested Fix #2: Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel felt encouraged that he spoke Spanish well enough to be understood. Weak Reference : Weak Reference A pronoun with weak reference refers to an antecedent that has been suggested but not directly expressed. Weak Reference : Weak Reference Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see any. Any what? Whales However, the noun “whales” is not directly expressed. It is suggested by the words “whale-watching excursion.” Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Replace the weak pronoun with the specific noun/antecedent: Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see any. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Replace the weak pronoun with the specific noun/antecedent: Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see whales. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the weak reference in this sentence? Example: The car is certainly fast, but other performance features are more important than that. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Suggested Fix: Example: The car is certainly fast, but other performance features are more important than speed. Indefinite Reference : Indefinite Reference The use of a pronoun that refers to no particular person or thing and is unnecessary to the structure and meaning of a sentence. Indefinite Reference : Indefinite Reference Example: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. “It” refers refers to nothing and is unnecessary. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: This new atlas shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the indefinite reference in this sentence? On this Web page they offer a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Suggested Fix: On This Web page they offers a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Suggested Fix: This Web page offers a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes. You do not have the permission to view this presentation. In order to view it, please contact the author of the presentation.
Avoiding Pronoun Reference Errors SWVega Download Post to : URL : Related Presentations : Share Add to Flag Embed Email Send to Blogs and Networks Add to Channel Uploaded from authorPOINT lite Insert YouTube videos in PowerPont slides with aS Desktop Copy embed code: (To copy code, click on the text box) Embed: URL: Thumbnail: WordPress Embed Customize Embed The presentation is successfully added In Your Favorites. Views: 2985 Category: Education License: All Rights Reserved Like it (7) Dislike it (0) Added: October 07, 2008 This Presentation is Public Favorites: 6 Presentation Description This presentation walks students through the four types of reference errors: ambiguous, general, weak, and indefinite reference. This material is intended for students in Mr. Vega's English courses. Comments Posting comment... By: suadruby (7 month(s) ago) it was really useful thanks alot Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: sillysquirrel (21 month(s) ago) This is really useful and easy to follow- please would you consider sharing it? If so please would you sensd it to my email at jane-p@boston.ac.uk Thank you very much Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: mikoto_saea (24 month(s) ago) can i get a copy of this too? thanks. Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close By: arlen (30 month(s) ago) hey! can i get a copy of your powerpoint? I find it very useful for my class... pleaasssee.... Saving..... Post Reply Close Saving..... Edit Comment Close Premium member Presentation Transcript You know this is it! : You know this is it! Identifying and Correcting Pronoun Reference Problems Pronoun Reference : Pronoun Reference Every pronoun MUST have a clear reference; in other words, every pronoun must refer to an unquestionable antecedent. An antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers. Clear Reference : Clear Reference For example: Jonah did not know that he would be swallowed by a whale. Clear Reference : Clear Reference The pronoun “he” clearly refers back to Jonah. Antecedent Pronoun Jonah did not know that he would be swallowed by a whale. Unclear Reference : Unclear Reference Four Types of Problems Ambiguous reference General reference Weak reference Indefinite reference Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference Ambiguous (adj) - unclear due to having multiple interpretations Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference An ambiguous pronoun is unclear because it can refer to two or more antecedents. Example: Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Ambiguous Reference : Ambiguous Reference Example: ? ? Pronoun Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Did Jordan or Ryan get the promotion? The pronoun could refer to either. Fixing Ambiguous Reference : Fixing Ambiguous Reference Jordan told Ryan that he got a promotion. Possible fixes (assuming Ryan got promotion): Ryan got a promotion and told Jordan about it. After getting a promotion, Ryan told Jordan about it. Ryan told Jordan that Ryan got a promotion. General Reference : General Reference A general reference pronoun refers to a “general idea” but has no specific antecedent. Examples: We sat down and talked for a while. It/This helped clear up the misunderstanding. We sat down and talked for a while, which helped clear up the misunderstanding. General Reference : General Reference In this case, neither it, this, nor which refers to a specific noun, but to the “idea” of talking. Example: We sat down and talked for a while. It/This/Which helped clear up the misunderstanding. It/This/Which refer to idea of discussion. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Replace the general pronoun with a specific noun. Example: We sat down and talked for a while. Our discussion helped clear up the misunderstanding. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Or revise the sentence completely. Example: Discussing matters at length helped clear up the misunderstanding. Our talk cleared up our misunderstanding. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the general pronoun reference in this example? Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel spoke Spanish well enough to make himself understood. This was encouraging. What does “This” refer to? Daniel’s ability to speak Spanish. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Suggested Fix #1: Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel spoke Spanish well enough to make himself understood. His fluency was encouraging. Fixing General Reference : Fixing General Reference Suggested Fix #2: Example: On his second trip to Mexico, Daniel felt encouraged that he spoke Spanish well enough to be understood. Weak Reference : Weak Reference A pronoun with weak reference refers to an antecedent that has been suggested but not directly expressed. Weak Reference : Weak Reference Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see any. Any what? Whales However, the noun “whales” is not directly expressed. It is suggested by the words “whale-watching excursion.” Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Replace the weak pronoun with the specific noun/antecedent: Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see any. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Replace the weak pronoun with the specific noun/antecedent: Example: Our whale-watching excursion lasted all afternoon, but we didn’t actually see whales. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the weak reference in this sentence? Example: The car is certainly fast, but other performance features are more important than that. Fixing Weak Reference : Fixing Weak Reference Suggested Fix: Example: The car is certainly fast, but other performance features are more important than speed. Indefinite Reference : Indefinite Reference The use of a pronoun that refers to no particular person or thing and is unnecessary to the structure and meaning of a sentence. Indefinite Reference : Indefinite Reference Example: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. “It” refers refers to nothing and is unnecessary. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: In this new atlas, it shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Remove the pronoun and revise sentence accordingly: This new atlas shows the recent changes in the countries of Europe and Asia. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Your Turn! How would you fix the indefinite reference in this sentence? On this Web page they offer a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Suggested Fix: On This Web page they offers a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes. Fixing Indefinite Reference : Fixing Indefinite Reference Suggested Fix: This Web page offers a wide variety of Ethiopian recipes.