Pronouns

Subject Pronouns

Object Pronouns

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

Subject Pronouns• Subject pronouns (I, you, we, they, he, she, it)

occur in the subject position of a sentence or after the verb be. NOTE: also use the subject pronoun after than, as, and that.

Examples:I am going to the store.It was she who called you. (after the verb be)We students are going to have a party.

NOTE: we, you, and us can be followed directly by a noun. In the above sentences we students makes it more clear exactly who we refers to.

Object Pronouns• Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it,

us, them) occur in the complement position, whether they complement a verb or a preposition. NOTE: You and It are the same for subject of object position. The others are different.

Examples:They called us on the telephone.The policeman was looking for him.To us, it seems like a good bargain.Mary is going to class with me.

• NOTE: remember that many prepositions can also function as other parts of speech, like adverbs or conjunctions.

Example:

Janet will make her presentation after him Preposition object pronoun

Janet will make her presentation after

Preposition

he finishes his speech.Subject pronoun

A clause contains a subject and a verb . In the clause above, he is the

subject and finishes is the verb.)

Possessive Adjectives• Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its,

our, their) are not the same as possessive pronouns. These simply modify, rather than replace nouns. Possessive forms indicate ownership. NOTE: Possessive adjectives are used to refer to parts of a body.

Examples:John is eating his dinner.This is not my book.The cat has injured its foot.NOTE: Its is not the same as It’s. It’s means it is or

it has

Possessive Pronouns• These pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs)

cannot precede a noun. They are pronouns and thus replace the noun.

NOTE: mine = my + noun; my book yours= your + noun; your pen

Examples:This is my book. This is mine.

Your teacher is the same as his teacher. Your teacher is the same as his.

Her dress is green and my dress is red. Her dress is green and mine is red.

NOTE: His and its are the same whether they precede a noun or not.

Reflexive Pronouns• These pronouns (myself, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself,

itself, ourselves, themselves) usually follow the verb and indicate that the subject is both giving and receiving the action.

NOTE: John bought him a new car. (him = another person)John bought himself a new car. (himself = John)Examples:I washed myself.

We hurt ourselves playing football.

You yourself must do this homework.

She prepared the nine-course meal herself.

John washed the dishes by himself = John washed the dishes alone

Circle the correct form of the pronoun or possessive adjective in the following sentences.

1. I go to school with (he/him) everyday.2. I see (she/her/herself) at the Union every Friday.3. She speaks to (we/us/ourselves) every morning.4. Isn’t (she/her) a nice person?5. (He/Him) is going to New York on vacation.6. (She/Her) and John gave the money to the boy.7. (Yours/Your) record is scratched and (my/mine) is too.8. I hurt (my/mine/the) leg.9. John bought (himself/herself/ hisself) a new car.10. (We/Us) girls are going camping over the weekend.

11. Mr. Jones cut (hisself/himself) shaving.12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if

you are not careful.16. Marry and (I/me) would rather go to the

movies.17. Just between you and (I/me), I don’t like this

food.18. Monday is a holiday for (we/us) teachers.19. Everyone has to do (tier/his) own research.20. (Her/hers) car does not go as fast as

(our/ours).

11. Mr. Jones cut (hisself/himself) shaving.12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if

you are not careful.16. Marry and (I/me) would rather go to the

movies.17. Just between you and (I/me), I don’t like this

food.18. Monday is a holiday for (we/us) teachers.19. Everyone has to do (tier/his) own research.20. (Her/hers) car does not go as fast as

(our/ours).