Adapted for use by L. JohnsonSandra Boyd

Personal PronounsA 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 thedirect/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 PluralI we

you you

he, she, it they

Subject Pronouns

me us

you you

him, her, it them

Object Pronouns

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

Read the following sentences. Can you tell to whom the word She refers?

Arachne competes with Athena. She weaves skillfully.

The sentence is not clear because the word She could refer to either Arachne or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite the sentence.

Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.

PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.

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PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

When using pronouns, you must also make sure that they agree with their antecedents in number (singular or plural) and gender. The gender of a noun may be masculine (male), feminine (female), or neuter (referring to things). Notice how the pronouns on the next slide agree with their antecedents.

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PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS

1. The myth of Arachne 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.

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.

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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.

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Possessive PronounsPossessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used

before a noun. The other form is used alone.

ours

yours

theirs

mine

yours

his, hers, its

Used

alone

our

your

their

my

your

his, her, its

Used before nouns

PluralSingular

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Possessive PronounsPossessive 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)

Reflexive Pronouns

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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

Using Pronouns Correctly If you are not sure of which form of the

pronoun to use, say the sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the subject or the object. Your ear will tell you which form is correct.

Whenever the pronoun I is part of a compound subject, it should always be placed after the other parts of the subject. Similarly, when the pronoun me is part of a compound object, it should go after the other parts of the object.

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Using Pronouns Correctly

Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)

Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not me and Lee).

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Using Pronouns Correctly A preposition takes an object, just as

many verbs do. The object of a preposition can be simple or compound. In either case, use an object pronoun as the object of the preposition.

Lee read a famous myth to me. Lee read a famous Roman myth to John and me.

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Using Pronouns CorrectlySubject 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)

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