Pronoun Reference pronoun noun

Agenda Definition Pronouns--Overview Different classes of pronouns  Personal, Demonstrative, Relative, Indefinite, Reflexive,Reciprocal. Common mistakes More Information

Definition A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun. Pronouns have nouns or pronouns to which they refer, called antecedents.  Pronouns must agree in number, person and gender with their antecedent. Correct: If a student misses the class, s/he will be dropped. Incorrect: If a student misses the class, they will be dropped.

Definition (continued)  Pronouns must always refer to a specific noun in a previous discussion. Example: Clear: When Steve was out of school, he ed Professor Smith every day. Unclear: Steve ed Professor Smith every day, when he was out of school.

Pronouns--Overview 1.Pronouns must always refer to one noun or a combined noun. 2.Pronouns must conform with the referent in  Number (singular or plural)  Case (subject, object, possessive, etc.)

Personal Pronouns--subject Point to the person or thing directly mentioned previously with the same number and case. This person or thing is the agent (=the subject) in a sentence. We are using copper because it is inexpensive and very popular. singular subject

singular object The team gave John a second chance because the system made it hard for him to succeed. Personal Pronouns--object Point to the person or thing directly mentioned previously with the same number and case. This person or thing is the object in a sentence.

plural ownership The team members gave John a second chance because their requirements made it hard for him to succeed. Personal Pronouns--possessive Point to the person or thing directly mentioned previously with the same number and case. This person or thing owns the noun that follows it in a sentence.

On the first layer, we are using copper because it bonds well with the silicone. We are using copper on the first layer because it bonds well with the silicone. 1.Confusion of reference Correct: Common Mistakes What bonds??? Remove confusing referent Always check that the pronoun points to only ONE referent and that this referent is the closest to the pronoun.

Users need to understand that they will risk injury when mishandling the device. Common Mistakes 2. Confusion of number Correct: The user needs to understand that they will risk injury when mishandling the device. user = singular they = plural The user needs to understand that s/he will risk injury when mishandling the device. Users = plural they = plural user = singular s/he = singular

Kate and I are preparing the lecture. Me and Kate are preparing the lecture Common Mistakes 3.Confusion of case Correct: Me = object case Kate = subject case I = subject case Kate = subject case When a pronoun and a noun are combined, choose the case of the pronoun that would be appropriate if the noun were not there.

referent We are using copper and silver because these are the most appropriate metals for our purposes. Demonstrative Pronouns Are used to point out a specific person or thing (this--these, that--those) Should be used as adjectives, with a referent noun in the sentence! referent Smith and Jones propose a different etching method. This approach is new and still not very popular.

Relative Pronouns Relative pronouns relate groups of words to nouns or other pronouns. (who, whoever, which and that) –Always use who instead of that or which in reference to a person. Correct: Who is the student who designed this circuit? Incorrect: Who is the student that designed this circuit?

Indefinite Pronouns Refer to an indefinite person or thing Often used with “of”  errors occur with subject-verb agreement (number) –Singular: everybody, anybody, somebody, each, every, none, one –Plural: all, some, many, few Incorrect: Each of the metals bond well with the silicone. Each = subject = singular bond = verb = plural ??? Correct: Each of the metals bonds well with the silicone. singular

1.Confusion of reference Correct: Common Mistakes In their article, Smith and Jones propose a new solution to an old problem. This is yet unexplored. What is yet unexplored??? In their article, Smith and Jones propose a new solution to an old problem. This approach is yet unexplored. Add referent for clarity Never use “this” by itself at the beginning of a sentence. Always add the referent directly after “this.”

All users need to understand that they will risk injury when mishandling the device. Each of the users needs to understand that s/he will risk injury when mishandling the device. Each of the users need to understand that they will risk injury when mishandling the device. Common Mistakes 2. Confusion of number Correct: each = singular need, they = plural

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