Pronouns Part 1

Pronouns A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun, a group of words acting as a noun, or another pronoun. The word or group of words to which a pronoun refers is called its antecedent. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number (singular or plural) and gender (male or female).

Pronouns Common Error: Number of pronoun and antecedent do not agree. Example: When a student reaches high school, they can expect to have homework. Correction: When a student reaches high school, she (or he) can expect to have homework.

Personal Pronouns A personal pronoun refers to a specific person or thing by indicating the person speaking (the first person), the person being addressed (the second person), or any other person or thing being discussed (the third person). Personal pronouns express number. They are either singular or plural. Third-person personal pronouns express gender. He and him are masculine. She and her are feminine. It is neuter (neither masculine nor feminine).

Personal Pronouns SingularPlural First PersonI, mewe, us Second Personyouyou Third Personhe,himthey,them she,her,it

Possessive Pronouns A possessive pronoun indicates possession or ownership. It takes the place of a possessive noun. SingularPlural First Personmy,mineour,ours Second Personyour,yoursyour,yours Third Personhis,hertheir,theirs hers,its

Possessive Pronouns Some possessive pronouns are used before nouns. Other possessive forms are used by themselves. Notice that possessive pronouns do not contain an apostrophe. Used before a noun: Take your bathing suit. Used alone: That bathing suit is yours.

Reflexive Pronouns A reflexive pronoun refers, or reflects back, to a noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence. SingularPlural First Personmyselfourselves Second Personyourselfyourselves Third Personhimselfthemselves herself itself

Reflexive Pronouns A reflexive pronoun adds information and emphasis Examples: You outdid yourself when you wrote that song. The basketball players prepared themselves for the game.

Intensive Pronouns An intensive pronoun adds emphasis to another noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence. SingularPlural First Personmyselfourselves Second Personyourselfyourselves Third Personhimselfthemselves herself itself

Intensive Pronouns An intensive pronoun does not add information. I myself ate the pizza. The team itself chose the captain. Maria herself opened the door.