Pronouns

What is a pronoun? A pronoun replaces nouns or other pronouns in a sentence so that you do not have to repeat them. In the following sentence, her is a pronoun that replaces Traci: Traci gave me her number. The noun or pronoun that a pronoun replaces is called the antecedent. In the previous sentence, Traci is the antecedent of her.

The Trans sold their house. Keep the following points in mind about pronouns. (See your textbook for more specific details and advice.) A pronoun must agree with (match) the noun it refers to in number: Both must be singular (one) or plural (more than one). In the following sentence, the pronoun their agrees with the Trans because both are plural: The Trans sold their house. If a pronoun refers to a singular noun, it must also match that noun in gender: he for masculine nouns, she for feminine nouns, and it for genderless nouns. In the following sentence, his agrees with Mike because both are singular and masculine: Mike likes his coffee hot. Indefinite pronouns (like anybody, everyone, and somebody) often take singular verbs.

Collective nouns (like audience, class, and group) are often singular, unless the people in a group are acting separately. A pronoun should refer to only one noun, and it should be clear what that noun is. UNCLEAR Manuel told Robert that he had to work. [Which one of them had to work?] CLEAR Manuel told Robert to work. A pronoun should replace the subject of a sentence, not repeat it. INCORRECT The letter carrier, he came at noon. CORRECT The letter carrier came at noon.

A subject pronoun serves as the subject of a verb: She likes canoeing. An object pronoun either receives the action of the verb (Carol took me to the store) or is part of a prepositional phrase (Raul gave the watch to me). Possessive pronouns show ownership: That car is mine.

Be careful with pronoun usage in the following types of sentences: Those with more than one subject or object: Lula and I work together. Lula works with Joe and me. Those presenting comparisons: Collette drives faster than I. Collette likes Tina more than me. (The previous sentence means Collette likes Tina more than she likes me.) Those with who or whom. Who is always a subject; whom is always an object. Rick is the man who works at my company. Rick is the man to whom I sent the memo.

1. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The company laid off all of __________ employees. A) them B) their’s C) their D) none of the above

1. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The company laid off all of __________ employees. ANSWER: A) them B) their’s C) their D) none of the above; the correct answer is its.

2. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The twins decided to wear _______ new shoes out of the store. A) his B) their C) their’s D) none of the above

2. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The twins decided to wear _______ new shoes out of the store. ANSWER: A) his B) their C) their’s D) none of the above

3. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. My brother Juan practiced ______ guitar for two hours every day. A) his B) its C) her D) none of the above

3. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. My brother Juan practiced ______ guitar for two hours every day. ANSWER: A) his B) its C) her D) none of the above

4. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. No one wants to have _______ identity stolen. A) their B) his or her C) its D) none of the above

4. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. No one wants to have _______ identity stolen. ANSWER: A) their B) his or her C) its D) none of the above

5. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Each of the sisters had _______ own bedroom. A) their B) her C) its D) none of the above

5. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Each of the sisters had _______ own bedroom. ANSWER: A) their B) her C) its D) none of the above

6. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. After deliberating for only twenty minutes, the jury reached _______ verdict. A) their B) his C) its D) none of the above

6. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. After deliberating for only twenty minutes, the jury reached _______ verdict. ANSWER: A) their B) his C) its D) none of the above

7. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The audience booed when ___ realized that the singer was tone-deaf and hoarse. A) it B) he C) they D) none of the above

7. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The audience booed when ___ realized that the singer was tone-deaf and hoarse. ANSWER: A) it B) he C) they D) none of the above

8. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Many of the products we use in America today ______ were manufactured abroad. A) they B) it C) he D) none of the above

8. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Many of the products we use in America today ______ were manufactured abroad. ANSWER: A) they B) it C) he D) none of the above; no pronoun is necessary in this sentence.

9. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. _______ gave the gift to Sonya. A) me B) I C) him D) none of the above

9. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. _______ gave the gift to Sonya. ANSWER: A) me B) I C) him D) none of the above

10. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Our son likes to make a mess, but ___ hates to take a bath. A) him B) they C) he D) none of the above

10. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Our son likes to make a mess, but ___ hates to take a bath. ANSWER: A) him B) they C) he D) none of the above

11. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. After Grace explained what was wrong, I was able to help _____ solve the problem. A) her B) she C) they D) none of the above

11. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. After Grace explained what was wrong, I was able to help _____ solve the problem. ANSWER: A) her B) she C) they D) none of the above

12. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. John is very proud of _____ family’s history. A) him B) his C) theirs D) none of the above

12. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. John is very proud of _____ family’s history. ANSWER: A) him B) his C) theirs D) none of the above

13. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The dog brought the ball back to Claudia and ____. A) I B) they C) me D) none of the above

13. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The dog brought the ball back to Claudia and ____. ANSWER: A) I B) they C) me D) none of the above

14. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. April and _____ go to the movies every Saturday night. A) I B) me C) us D) none of the above

14. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. April and _____ go to the movies every Saturday night. ANSWER: A) I B) me C) us D) none of the above

15. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Vera runs faster than _____. A) I B) me C) them D) none of the above

15. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Vera runs faster than _____. ANSWER: A) I B) me C) them D) none of the above

16. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. No students have worked harder this semester than _______. A) us B) we C) me D) none of the above

16. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. No students have worked harder this semester than _______. ANSWER: A) us B) we C) me D) none of the above

17. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Math comes more easily to Bashar than it does to ______. A) we B) me C) I D) none of the above

17. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Math comes more easily to Bashar than it does to ______. ANSWER: A) we B) me C) I D) none of the above

18. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Johnny Depp is the actor _____ played Edward Scissorhands. A) who B) whom C) whose D) none of the above

18. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. Johnny Depp is the actor _____ played Edward Scissorhands. ANSWER: A) who B) whom C) whose D) none of the above

19. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The person with ____ you spoke no longer works at this office. A) who B) whom C) who’s D) none of the above

19. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. The person with ____ you spoke no longer works at this office. ANSWER: A) who B) whom C) who’s D) none of the above

20. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. From _____ did you get your unique fashion sense? A) who B) whose C) whom D) none of the above

20. Choose the correct pronoun to complete this sentence. From _____ did you get your unique fashion sense? ANSWER: A) who B) whose C) whom D) none of the above