Mini-Lesson Activity: Function of Pronouns + What is an Antecedent?

Name Date.Week 26: Teacher-Directed Lesson .

Pronouns Are Noun Substitutes

Pronouns take the place of nouns. They can add variety to sentencesby replacing a noun that has already been introduced to the reader.The use of pronouns gives your writing greater fluency.

Example 1: Cammy was excited for basketball to start.Cammy practiced her free throws daily.Cammy made a lot of three-point shots.

Example 2: Cammy was excited for basketball to start. She practiced herfree-throws dally, and she made a lot of three-point shots.

In Example 1 we meet Cammy. The writer Introduces Cammy in the first sentenceand repeats her name in the second and third sentences. Using the noun Cammythree times makes the passage sound awkward.

In Example 2 the noun Cammy is introduced only once. The writer substituted thepronoun she for the noun Cammy to improve the fluency.

The word Cammy is a noun. The word she is a pronoun.

Substitute a pronoun for a noun to improve the sentence fluency.Write the new sentence(s) on the lines provided. See the example below.

Ex: Choppy: Non-fiction animal books are Alex's favorites.' Alex readsabout iguanas. Alex readsabout jaguars. Alex reads about koalas.

Improved Fluency: Non-fiction animal books are Alex's favorites.He reads about iguanas, jaguars, and koalas. .

1. Kim and Tim are twins. Kim and Tim are very athletic. Kim and Tim' .play golf. Kim and Tim play tennis. ,

2. Mom, Dad, and I read the paper every day. Mom, Dad, and I like thesports section. Mom, Dad, and I like the comics.

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Mini-lesson Activity: function of Pronouns + What is an Antecedent?

Name DateWeek 26: Teacher-Directed Lesson

What is an Antecedent?

Don't let this adult-sounding word scare you! Antecedents are really quitesimple. The word antecedent is another name for the noun that the pronounrefers back to and replaces.

antecedentOlivia reads before going to sleep. She snuggles into bed with a book.

noun pronoun

She is a pronoun that refers back to Olivia.

The noun Olivia is the antecedent.

Draw a box around the pronoun. Underline the antecedent.Write the word antecedent above the noun(s) that the pronoun refers to.Draw an arrow from the ronoun to the antecedent.

awtece de.n+Ex: The game will take place on Saturday and itlwill be exciting.

a hte-ced e V\+Ex: Megan and I are bringing banners

1. Lily's kitten is very curious. She explores in the basement for hours.

2. Celia loves math, so she joined the Math Olympiad team.

3. Dad makes the best breakfasts. They are always delicious!

4. Andy and Len will mow lawns this summer, so they can earn money.

5. Tricky: Amanda left her soccer shoes at home.

She needs them for practice.

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Focus Skills: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement/I or Me/Order + Review

Name Da~Week 26: Day One-Teacher-Directed Lesson

Pronouns and Antecedents Need to Match

When you choose a pronoun to replace an antecedent, it needs to match.This is called pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Some pronouns are singular. Singular Pronouns: I, you, he, she, itSome pronouns are plural. Plural Pronouns: we, you, they

Ex 1: Tanner visited the dentist. received a new toothbrush.----

The antecedent Tanner is one person, so the antecedent is singular.Choose a singular pronoun to match a singular antecedent.Look at the list of singular pronouns above tofind a match.

Ex 2: Tyler and Tanner visited the dentist. ____ received new toothbrushes.

The antecedent Tyler and Tanner includes two people; it is plural.Choose a plural pronoun to match a plural antecedent.Look at the list of plural pronouns above to find a match.

Do you have sharp eyes? After you have completed each sentence above byadding the matching pronoun, look for three ways the sentences are different.

(9 Complete each sentence with a pronoun from the lists above.e Draw a box around the pronoun. Underline the antecedent.o Write the word entecedent above the noun(s) that the pronoun refers to.o Draw an arrow fro to the antecedent.

QV're.ced € nEx: July and August have high temperatures. I he y \ are the hottest months.

1. Stefan joined the swim team, and attended practice each week.

2. Mom and I visited Auntie at the hospital, and brought flowers.

3. Which sentence has a singular antecedent? _~ _

4. Which sentence has a plural antecedent?

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Focus Skills: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement/! .or Me/Order + Review

Name DateWeek 26: Day Two

Place each pronoun in the correct box.. *Place the pronoun you in both boxes.

they I you he she we it

Plural PronounsSingular Pronouns

o Complete each sentence with a pronoun from the choices above.o Draw a box around the pronoun. Underline the antecedent.III Write the word antecedent above the noun(s) that the pronoun refers to.o Draw an arrow from the pronoun to the antecedent.

1. Danny spelled the word correctly, and won the spelling bee.

2. Zip and Zap are our gerbils. are very active at night.

3. The sunset was beautiful. ___ glowed with reds and oranges.

4. Anna and I take ballet, and have a recital this Sunday.

Substitute a pronoun for a noun to improve the sentence fluency.Write the new sentence(s) on the lines provided.

5. Fruits and vegetables are healthy snacks. Fruits and vegetables have', .vitamins. Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber.

6. Hockey is a challenging sport. Hockey requires stamina. Hockeyrequires strength. Hockey requires teamwork.

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Focus Skills: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement/I or Me/Order + Review

Name DateWeek 26: Day Three-Teacher-Directed Lesson

Which Pronoun? or Me1. How do you decide whether to use the pronoun lor Me?

Remember this test: Take the other person out of the sentence.

Ex: Mom asked Kip and I I me to help with the dishes ..

2. Who is the other person?

Mom asked YQ!!. and one other person (Kip) to help with the dishes.

Now, take your THUMB and cover up the name (Kip + and) in the sentence.

Now the sentence reads: "Mom asked I I me to help with the dishes."

Now, it is easy to pick the correct answer for both sentences:"Mom asked meta help with the dishes.""Mom asked Kip and me to help with the dishes."

(correct)(correct) .

e Put parenthesis around (the other person + the word and) in each sentence.o Cover them with your thumb.o Finally, circle the correct pronoun for each sentence.

Ex: (Mattie an~ @ me like to play on the bars at recess.

1. Mom and I I me love chocolate.

2. Did you ask Betsy and I I me to help With the lunch totes?

3. Darin and I {me worked on the presentation yesterday.

4. Yolanda and I/ me did homework after the piano lesson.

5. The coach usually picks Jack and I I me to play forward .

. 6. Can you take Martin and I I me to the library after school?Daily Language Instruction

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Focus Skills:Pronoun-Antetedent Agreement/! or Me/Order + Review

Name DateWeek 26: Day Four-Teacher-Directed Lesson

"Use Your Manners"- A.Test for Deciding Pronoun Order

RULE:Always put the other person's name FIRST.

Do you remember when you invited someone to play after school, and yourmother told you to offer a snack to them first before you had one? Putting theother person first is just good manners. Putting the other person's name firstbefore your name is also good grammar.

Ex: I and Dad fixed the fence for Grandpa. (incorrect)Ex: Dad and I fixed the fence for Grandpa. (correct-Dad's name is first.)Ex: . I found the costumes for me and Sally .. (incorrect)Ex: I found the costumes for Sally and me. (correct-Sally's name is first.)

Circle the correct choice in the items below.

1. Anna picked ( Kim and me / me and Kim ) for the game.

2. (I and Austin / Austin and I ) went to the movie last Saturday.

3. Dad sent (me and my cousin / my cousin and me ) to get nails.

4. Our teacher asked (Adam and me / me and Adam) to help him.

5. (Trina and I / I and Trina ) have been best friends for two years.

6. (I and Sam / Sam and I ) ride our bikes in the park.

7. Mrs. Garcia asked ( me and Tim / Tim and me ) to pass out papers.

8. Sean helped (Todd and me / me and Todd) finish the project.

Write this book title correctly.

9. out of the dust318

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