Pronouns and Antecedents The job of a pronoun is to take the place of a noun in a sentence. The job of a pronoun is to take the place of a noun in a sentence. The radio is old, but it works well. The radio is old, but it works well. it takes the place of radio. it takes the place of radio. Without pronouns, here’s how the sentence would read: Without pronouns, here’s how the sentence would read: The radio is old, but the radio works well. The radio is old, but the radio works well. A little redundant, isn’t it? A little redundant, isn’t it? The noun that the pronoun refers to is called the antecedent. The noun that the pronoun refers to is called the antecedent. So…in the sentence, the antecedent is… So…in the sentence, the antecedent is…

More on antecedents Antecedents can come anywhere in a sentence. Antecedents can come anywhere in a sentence. Although she was late, the announcer walked slowly. Although she was late, the announcer walked slowly. The antecedent for she is… The antecedent for she is… announcer. announcer.

One more thing… Sometimes you have to look in a previous sentence to find an antecedent. Sometimes you have to look in a previous sentence to find an antecedent. The tapes were left uncovered. Are they dusty? The tapes were left uncovered. Are they dusty? The antecedent for they is… The antecedent for they is… tapes tapes

Finding the Antecedent Let’s Practice 1. aagr.htm aagr.htm aagr.htm 2. aagr2.htm aagr2.htm aagr2.htm

Pronouns Have to Agree with Their Antecedents in… Gender Gender Henry – he Henry – he Sheila – she Sheila – she computer – it computer – it Number Number Lily – she Lily – she Chris and Beth – they Chris and Beth – they Kim and I – we Kim and I – we Person Person 1st – I, me, mine 1st – I, me, mine 2nd – you, yours 2nd – you, yours 3rd – he, she, they 3rd – he, she, they

Subject Pronouns Singular Singular I You You He, she, it He, she, it Plural Plural We You They

Subject Pronouns Use a subject pronoun as the subject in the sentence. Use a subject pronoun as the subject in the sentence. We played football all day. We played football all day. They took the car for a drive. They took the car for a drive. Use a subject pronoun after a linking verb. Use a subject pronoun after a linking verb. What a great football player is he! What a great football player is he! It was she. It was she.

Subject Pronouns The greatest astronauts were __________. The greatest astronauts were __________. You and ______ both think we should go on to Mars. You and ______ both think we should go on to Mars. The biggest supporters were ______ and I. The biggest supporters were ______ and I. The first astronaut on Mars will be _____. The first astronaut on Mars will be _____. ____ watched the movie about their journey. ____ watched the movie about their journey. It was ________ who won our respect and admiration. It was ________ who won our respect and admiration. they I he/she They he/she

Object Pronouns Singular Singular Me Me You You Him, Her, it Him, Her, it Plural Plural Us You Them Copy these onto your graphic organizer!

Object Pronouns Use an object pronoun as a direct or indirect object. Use an object pronoun as a direct or indirect object. The baseball hit him in the shin. (D.O.) The baseball hit him in the shin. (D.O.) Tom gave her a necklace for her birthday. (I.O.) Tom gave her a necklace for her birthday. (I.O.) Use an object pronoun as the object of a preposition. Use an object pronoun as the object of a preposition. Between you and me, that was a cheap necklace Tom gave her. Between you and me, that was a cheap necklace Tom gave her. I can’t believe Tom gave that cheap necklace to her. I can’t believe Tom gave that cheap necklace to her.

Direct Object Questions Answer: What? What? Who? Who? Always a NOUN or PRONOUN Always comes AFTER an action verb

Indirect Object Questions Answer: To what? To what? For what? For what? To whom? To whom? For whom? For whom? Usually a pronoun Always comes AFTER an action verb, but before the DO.

Sentence Patterns Subject + *Action Verb +DO Subject + *Action Verb + IO + DO * Only Action Verbs have objects

Your turn! Choose the correct pronoun. 1. The travelers revisited the Khan and brought (he, him) many gifts from Europe. 2. (Us, We) have long been curious about Spanish explorers. 3. Still popular are Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and (he, him). 4. Her admirers include Ben and (I, me). 5. Mrs. De Guire assigned Sue and (she, her) to write a report.

Possessive Pronouns – Used Alone Singular Singular Mine Mine Yours Yours His, hers His, hers Plural Plural Ours Yours Theirs

Possessive Pronouns – Used BEFORE nouns Singular Singular My My Your Your His, her, its His, her, its Plural Plural Our Your Their

Possessive Pronouns Can be used alone Can be used alone That toy is mine! That toy is mine! Isn’t that doll in the corner hers? Isn’t that doll in the corner hers? Can be used with a noun Can be used with a noun My keys are hanging on the coat rack. My keys are hanging on the coat rack. The teacher told us to bring our books. The teacher told us to bring our books. DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES in possessive pronouns! DO NOT USE APOSTROPHES in possessive pronouns!

Your turn! Choose the correct possessive pronoun. That book is not (my, mine) book. That book is not (my, mine) book. That book is not (my, mine). That book is not (my, mine). The book has lost (its, it’s) cover. The book has lost (its, it’s) cover. (It’s, Its) coming apart. (It’s, Its) coming apart. (Your, You’re) book is broken. (Your, You’re) book is broken. (Your, You’re) going to repair it. (Your, You’re) going to repair it. Have you picked up (there, their) mail yet? Have you picked up (there, their) mail yet?

Demonstrative Pronouns ThisThese Near ThatThoseFar Singular Plural Singular Plural  Is this animal I’m sitting on a horse or a mule?  That animal over there is a donkey.  These rabbits are eating carrots out of my hand.  Are those animals across the road buffalos?

More on demonstrative pronouns When used alone, they are pronouns. These are busy streets. These are busy streets. These refers to streets; it isn’t used before a noun, so it’s a pronoun. These refers to streets; it isn’t used before a noun, so it’s a pronoun. These streets are busy. These streets are busy. These is used before a noun (streets), so it functions as an adjective. These is used before a noun (streets), so it functions as an adjective.

Indefinite Pronouns SingularPluralSingular/Plural anybodyeveryonebothall anyoneeverythingfewany anythingneithermanymost eachnobodyseveralnone eitherno onesome everybodynothing

Indefinite Pronouns They often do not have antecedents. They often do not have antecedents. All, any, most, none, and some can be singular or plural. Look for what the pronoun is representing. All, any, most, none, and some can be singular or plural. Look for what the pronoun is representing. All of the fuel has been used. All of the fuel has been used. All of what? All of what? All of the fuel – fuel is singular; you need a singular verb All of the fuel – fuel is singular; you need a singular verb All of the flights have been canceled. All of the flights have been canceled. All of what? All of what? All of the flights – flights are plural; you need a plural verb. All of the flights – flights are plural; you need a plural verb. If an indefinite pronoun is used before a noun, then it functions as an adjective. If an indefinite pronoun is used before a noun, then it functions as an adjective. Each plane is ready. (Used as an adjective) Each plane is ready. (Used as an adjective) Each of the planes is ready. (Used as a pronoun) Each of the planes is ready. (Used as a pronoun)

Give it a try! Choose the correct verb for each sentence with an indefinite pronoun. Choose the correct verb for each sentence with an indefinite pronoun. Someone (is, are) traveling to Japan. Someone (is, are) traveling to Japan. Most of the food (has, have) been eaten. Most of the food (has, have) been eaten. Several in this row (has, have) tickets to London. Several in this row (has, have) tickets to London. Most of the passengers (has, have) finished their meals. Most of the passengers (has, have) finished their meals. Everyone (enjoy, enjoys) the Fourth of July celebration. Everyone (enjoy, enjoys) the Fourth of July celebration. Many of the people (cheer, cheers) at the fireworks. Many of the people (cheer, cheers) at the fireworks.

Pronouns The Who and Whom 1.Get out a clean sheet of paper and number 1-12 for the maintenance quiz 2.When you are finished, finish your homework!!!!!

Interrogative Pronouns What – What did he say? What – What did he say? Which – Which dog is yours? Which – Which dog is yours? Whose – Whose dog is this? Whose – Whose dog is this? Who – Who is that man? Who – Who is that man? Whom – Whom did that dog bite? Whom – Whom did that dog bite?

What’s up with who/whom? If the sentence needs a subject, use who. If the sentence needs a subject, use who. Who is restraining that dog? Who is restraining that dog? Who knows the whole story? Who knows the whole story? If the sentence needs an object, use whom. If the sentence needs an object, use whom. Whom will the dog bite next? Whom will the dog bite next? He gave the dog to whom? He gave the dog to whom?

A few hints… Turn the question into a statement: If you could substitute he or she in the sentence, then you would use who. If you could substitute he or she in the sentence, then you would use who. (Who, Whom) knows the story? (Who, Whom) knows the story? She knows the story. Who knows the story. She knows the story. Who knows the story. Who knows the story? Who knows the story? If you could substitute him or her in the sentence, then you would use whom. If you could substitute him or her in the sentence, then you would use whom. (Who, Whom) will we pick? (Who, Whom) will we pick? We will pick him. We will pick whom. We will pick him. We will pick whom. Whom will we pick? Whom will we pick?

Pronoun Problems

We and Us Sometimes We and Us are followed by a noun that identifies the pronoun. We workers were tired after the job. We workers were tired after the job. The supervisor gave us workers a break. The supervisor gave us workers a break.

We and Us Rules: Mark out the noun next to We or Us. Mark out the noun next to We or Us. We is used as a subject pronoun. We is used as a subject pronoun. Us is used as an object pronoun. Us is used as an object pronoun.

We and Us 1.For decades, (we, us) carpenters used the wood from chestnut tress to build houses. 2.Chestnuts were a nutritious food for both (we, us) country dwellers and wildlife. 3.Us/We chestnut tress are very generous.

Unclear Pronoun Reference Be sure that each pronoun refers clearly to only one person, place or thing. For example: Unclear Unclear Sara and Anne want to become tree farmers. She works after school at an orchard. Sara and Anne want to become tree farmers. She works after school at an orchard. Who is she? Sara or Anne? Who is she? Sara or Anne? Clear Clear Sara and Anne want to become tree farmers. Anne works after school at an orchard Sara and Anne want to become tree farmers. Anne works after school at an orchard

Using Pronouns in Compound Use the subject pronoun I, she, he, we, or they in a compound subject or after a linking verb. Use the subject pronoun I, she, he, we, or they in a compound subject or after a linking verb. Greg and she decided to learn about it. Greg and she decided to learn about it. The researchers are Polly and I. The researchers are Polly and I. Use the object pronoun me, her, him, us, or them in a compound object after an action verb or after a preposition. Use the object pronoun me, her, him, us, or them in a compound object after an action verb or after a preposition. Her story has fascinated Polly and me. Her story has fascinated Polly and me. The research was divided between Greg and him. The research was divided between Greg and him.

Practice 1. Meriwether Lewis is a favorite topic for Polly and (I, me). 2. In 1803, President Jefferson sent (he, him) and William Clark to explore thousands of miles of wilderness. 3. Both Sacajawea and (he, him) translated their conversations with Native Americans. 4. Lewis, Clark, a band of soldiers, and (she, her) headed west when she was around Greg, Polly, and (I, me) learned that she was very important to the expedition.

Interrupting Phrases Don’t be confused by words between a pronoun and its antecedent! Don’t be confused by words between a pronoun and its antecedent! Sacajawea,, never lost her way. Sacajawea, who guided Lewis and Clark, never lost her way.