Pronouns :Pronouns Subject Object Possessive Reflexive Comparisons


What is a pronoun? :What is a pronoun? A pronoun is a type of word that takes the place of a noun. For example: Lee Ann and Marcus study together. They learn the material much better by quizzing one another on it. “They” took the place of “Lee Ann and Marcus”


Why use pronouns? :Why use pronouns? Pronouns are used in writing and speech as a way of keeping the flow of the words smooth by reducing repeated use of the full subject or object word. The next slide contains a paragraph without pronouns—note how tedious writing and speech can become…


Why use pronouns? :Why use pronouns? Lee Ann and Marcus study together. Lee Ann and Marcus learn the material much better by quizzing one another on it. When the teacher noticed how Lee Ann and Marcus had improved Lee Ann’s and Marcus’s grades, the teacher asked Lee Ann and Marcus what strategy Lee Ann and Marcus used. Lee Ann and Marcus explained how Lee Ann and Marcus devised a quizzing method that really helped Lee Ann and Marcus understand the material better. (did you actually read all that? Too many uses of “Lee Ann and Marcus”!)


Using Pronouns :Using Pronouns Whenever you use a pronoun, you need a NOUN that the pronoun refers to. The NOUN can appear in a sentence before the pronoun is used. Pronouns cannot be used without first mentioning the noun they are meant to replace. For example: “They say that bananas are the perfect food.” They? Who is that? We don’t know!  Could “they” = monkeys? Maybe!


These notes will review 5 different uses for pronouns: :These notes will review 5 different uses for pronouns: Subject pronouns Object pronouns Possessive pronouns Reflexive pronouns Comparisons with pronouns


1. Subject Pronouns :1. Subject Pronouns Used as the subject of a sentence.


Subject pronounsUsed with the verb in a sentence: :Subject pronounsUsed with the verb in a sentence: I You He, she, it Who We You (plural) They


Subject pronouns:used with the verb :Subject pronouns:used with the verb I  Ken and I went home. you  You drive very well. he/she/it  He won the game. She fell asleep. It is lost.


Subject pronouns:used with the verb :Subject pronouns:used with the verb we  We enjoyed the movie. they  They usually meet here. who  Who ate the last cookie?  I don’t know who ate the last cookie.


Subject pronouns:who vs. whom :Subject pronouns:who vs. whom Q: When should I use “who” vs. “whom”? A: “Who” is a subject and is used with a verb. (see examples on the next slide)


Subject pronouns:who vs. whom :Subject pronouns:who vs. whom who  Who wrote this letter?  I don’t know who wrote the letter. “whom” is an object and can be found with prepositions such as “to, for, from, about” etc…  To whom was the letter addressed?


2. Object Pronouns :2. Object Pronouns Frequently used with prepositions


Object PronounsFrequently used with prepositions (For example: to, for, from, with, about, of…) :Object PronounsFrequently used with prepositions (For example: to, for, from, with, about, of…) Me You Him, Her, It Whom Us You (plural) Them


Object Pronouns :Object Pronouns Me: Mary gave the list to John and me. (“gave it to I” does not sound correct) You: This is for you. Her: Save some for Louis and her. (“save some for she” does not sound correct)


Object Pronouns :Object Pronouns It: Pour water on it right away. Us: Take a picture of us. Them: The book is about them. it


Object Pronouns :Object Pronouns Whom: To whom did you send the letter? About whom was he speaking? I don’t know whom to blame. You don’t know whom the present is from.


3. Possessive Pronouns :3. Possessive Pronouns Used to show ownership


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns To “possess” means to own or to have. Most of the time, when something belongs to someone, we use an apostrophe to show ownership: The boy’s hat Jane’s house


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns But possessive pronouns automatically show ownership of something. They are already possessive!


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Therefore…


Slide 22:Possessive Pronouns NEVER need apostrophes!


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns NO: Our’s Your’s Her’s Their’s


Possessive Pronouns Used to show ownership :Possessive Pronouns Used to show ownership My, Mine Your, Yours His, Her/Hers, Its Whose Our, Ours Your, Yours Their, Theirs


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Bob hit my car. He did not realize the car was mine. My car!


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Tina says she has your phone, but I thought yours was broken.


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Lee organized her own files. No files are as neat as hers.


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Everyone stays at our house. Visitors can easily recognize which house is ours. Our house!


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns Their grandmother was so confused that she did not know which house was theirs. I can never find their house!


Possessive Pronouns :Possessive Pronouns The teacher did not know whose assignment was missing.


its vs. it’s :its vs. it’s


it’s = it isits = it owns something :it’s = it isits = it owns something


Possessive: its vs. it’s :Possessive: its vs. it’s it’s = it is Wrong: When I picked up the book, it’s cover came off. Correct: When I picked up the book, its cover came off. its = it owns something


whose vs. who’s :whose vs. who’s


who’s = who iswhose = who owns something :who’s = who iswhose = who owns something


Possessive: whose vs. who’s :Possessive: whose vs. who’s who’s = who is WRONG: Do you know who’s laptop this is? CORRECT: Do you know whose laptop this is?


Mine :Mine Not mines or mine’s!


Mine :Mine Use “mines” ONLY if you are describing one of the following: Many mines have been found here All of these mines have been closed. This mine’s main tunnel collapsed.


Possessive: mine vs. mines :Possessive: mine vs. mines Use mine, not mines to show possession


Possessive: mine vs. mines :Possessive: mine vs. mines Yes: You can borrow mine. Yes: That car is mine. No: You can borrow mines. No: That car is mines.


Reflexive Pronouns :Reflexive Pronouns Used to "reflect" a subject noun or pronoun


Reflexive Pronouns :Reflexive Pronouns Myself Yourself Himself Herself Ourselves Themselves


Reflexive Pronouns :Reflexive Pronouns Reflexive pronouns are used to refer to a previously stated subject in the sentence. Example: The winner praised herself. She praised herself. You fixed it yourself.


Reflexive Pronouns :Reflexive Pronouns NEVER use a reflexive pronoun alone!


Reflexive Pronouns :Reflexive Pronouns WRONG: No one dances like myself. CORRECT: I performed the dance myself. WRONG: I myself have done that. CORRECT: I did that myself.


Reflexive PronounsSubject…reflexive :Reflexive PronounsSubject…reflexive I….myself You…yourself. He…himself. Her…herself. It…itself. We…ourselves. You…yourselves. They…themselves. In order to use a reflexive, you must have a subject too!


PHONY Pronouns: :PHONY Pronouns: hisself theirself          theirselves ourself themself Don’t be fooled!


Pronouns in Comparisons :Pronouns in Comparisons


Comparisons :Comparisons When you compare, you may use the word “than” Better than… Taller than… Older than… More qualified than…


Comparisons :Comparisons Example: Jane is more qualified than I am for the job. Jane is more qualified than I am. Jane is more qualified than I.


Comparisons :Comparisons Jim could not believe Mary was taller than he was! Jim could not believe Mary was taller than he.


Comparisons :Comparisons My husband hears better than I can hear. My husband hears better than I can. My husband hears better than I.


Comparisons :Comparisons Although Harry looks like he could be my father, he is actually younger than I am. Although Harry looks like he could be my father, he is actually younger than I.


Comparisons :Comparisons My son can stay awake much later than I can stay awake. My son can stay awake much later than I can. My son can stay awake much later than I.


Comparisons :Comparisons When comparing characteristics, use SUBJECT pronouns. I, he, she, we, they


Comparisons :Comparisons When comparing characteristics, use SUBJECT pronouns: The boss denies that employees know more about the company than he does. know more = a characteristic he = subject pronoun


Comparisons :Comparisons You may hear people say: “He’s older than me” or… “Ann sings better than him.” These are incorrect because they are comparing characteristics rather than the people themselves.


Which pronoun to use? :Which pronoun to use? See if you can select the correct pronoun usage in the following sentences…


Which is correct? :Which is correct? John bought dinner for my brother and I. John bought dinner for my brother and me. John bought dinner for my brother and myself.


Answer: b :Answer: b John bought dinner for my brother and me. John bought dinner for me.


Which is correct? :Serena is the only woman in her family who graduated from college. Serena is the only woman in her family whom graduated from college. Which is correct?


Answer: a :Serena is the only woman in her family who graduated from college. who (a subject) belongs with a verb who graduated Answer: a


Which is correct? :I still have the corsage from the party my husband and I attended in 2001. I still have the corsage from the party my husband and me attended in 2001. Which is correct?


Answer: a :I still have the corsage from the party my husband and I attended in 2001. I still have the corsage from the party I attended in 2001. Answer: a


Which is correct? :The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge us students face. The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge we students face. Which is correct?


Answer: b :The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge we students face. …another financial challenge we face. Answer: b


Which is correct? :Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place theirselves into. Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place themselves into. Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place themself into. Which is correct?


Answer: b :Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place themselves into. Remember that theirselves and themself are not actually words – they’re phony pronouns! Answer: b


Review your pronouns :Review your pronouns Don’t forget to review pronouns in your textbook!


Pronouns: Subject § Object § Possessive § Reflexive §Comparative :Pronouns: Subject § Object § Possessive § Reflexive §Comparative End of presentation.