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Pronouns. Subject Object Possessive Reflexive Comparisons. 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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PronounsSubjectObjectPossessiveReflexiveComparisons
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? 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? 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 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: 1. Subject pronouns2. Object pronouns3. Possessive pronouns4. Reflexive pronouns5. Comparisons with
pronouns
1. Subject Pronouns
Used as the subject of 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
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
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
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
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
Frequently used with prepositions
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 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 It: Pour water on it right
away. Us: Take a picture of us. Them: The book is about them.
it
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
Used to show ownership
Possessive PronounsTo “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 Used to show ownership
My, Mine Your, Yours His, Her/Hers, Its
Whose
Our, Ours Your, Yours
Their, Theirs
Possessive PronounsBut possessive pronouns automatically show ownership of something.
They are already possessive!
Possessive Pronouns
Therefore…
Possessive Pronouns
NEVER need apostrophes!
Possessive Pronouns
NO: Our’sYour’s Her’s Their’s
Possessive Pronouns Bob hit my car. He did not
realize the car was mine.
My car!
Possessive Pronouns Tina says she has your
phone, but I thought yours was broken.
Possessive Pronouns Lee organized her own files.
No files are as neat as hers.
Possessive Pronouns Everyone stays at our house.
Visitors can easily recognize which house is ours.
Our house!
Possessive Pronouns Their grandmother was so
confused that she did not know which house was theirs.
I can never find their house!
Possessive Pronouns The teacher did not know
whose assignment was missing.
its vs. it’s
it’s = it isits = it owns something
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
who’s = who is
whose = who owns something
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?
MineNot mines or mine’s!
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
Use mine, not mines to show possession
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 PronounsUsed to "reflect" a subject noun or pronoun
Reflexive Pronouns Myself Yourself Himself Herself Ourselves Themselves
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 PronounsNEVER use a
reflexive pronoun alone!
Reflexive PronounsWRONG: No one dances like myself.CORRECT: I performed the
dance myself. WRONG: Myself and my friend have
done that. CORRECT: I did that myself.
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!
Reflexive warning: Beware of PHONY
Pronouns!!!
PHONY Pronouns: hisself theirself theirselves ourself themself Don’t be
fooled!
Pronouns in Comparisons
Comparisons When you compare, you may use the word “than” Better than… Taller than… Older than… More qualified than…
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 Jim could not believe Mary was
taller than he was! Jim could not believe Mary was
taller than he.
Comparisons My husband hears better than I
can hear.
My husband hears better than I can.
My husband hears better than I.
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 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 When comparing
characteristics, use SUBJECT pronouns. I, he, she, we, they
Comparisons When comparing characteristics, use
SUBJECT pronouns: The boss denies that employees know
more about the company than he does.
know more = a characteristiche = subject pronoun
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?
See if you can select the correct pronoun
usage in the following sentences…
Which is correct?a) John bought dinner for my
brother and I. b) John bought dinner for my
brother and me.c) John bought dinner for my
brother and myself.
Answer: b
John bought dinner for my brother and me.
John bought dinner for me.
a) Serena is the only woman in her family who graduated from college.
b) Serena is the only woman in her family whom graduated from college.
Which is correct?
Serena is the only woman in her family who graduated from college.
who (a subject) belongs with a verb who graduated
Answer: a
a) I still have the corsage from the party my husband and I attended in 2001.
b) I still have the corsage from the party my husband and me attended in 2001.
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 I attended in 2001.
Answer: a
a) The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge us students face.
b) The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge we students face.
Which is correct?
The recent increase in textbook prices is yet another financial challenge we students face.
…another financial challenge we face.
Answer: b
a) Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place theirselves into.
b) Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place themselves into.
c) Students sign up for credit cards without realizing the debt they place themself into.
Which is correct?
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 pronounsDon’t forget to review pronouns in your textbook!
Pronouns: Subject § Object § Possessive §
Reflexive §ComparativeEnd of presentation.
