Pronouns Intro to Lit

Why pronouns? One wouldn’t say, “Michael said Michael lost Michael’s watch.” Rather, one should say, “Michael said he lost his watch.” Pronouns are words that stand for nouns or for words that take the place of nouns

Pronouns Antecedents are nouns (or words that take the place of nouns) for which the pronouns stand Antecedents do not always appear before their pronouns; sometimes, the antecedent follows its pronoun

Examples Noun first: Sabrina unpacked her computer and turned it on. Going to classes might keep you busy, but it is necessary. Pronoun first: After he graduated, Brandon got the job he always dreamed of in Florida. I am sure that she did her homework; Sally is usually very studious.

Personal Pronouns refer to – the person speaking (first person) – the person spoken to (second person) – the person, place, or thing spoken about (third person)

Personal Pronouns SingularPlural First PersonI, me, my, minewe, us, our, ours Second Personyou, your, yours Third Personhe, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its they, them, their, theirs

Examples When Paul drove up, everyone piled into his car. During the storm, the house lost its antenna. Why are you going to sleep, Tom? With their suitcases packed, the Joneses left forever.

Reflexive and Intensive Reflexive: ends in –self or –selves and indicated that someone or something performs an action to, for, or upon itself points back to a noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence Essential to meaning of sentence. Intensive: ends in –self or –selves and “intensifies” by adding emphasis to a noun or pronoun in the same sentence Non-essential. Can be omitted and still makes sense

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns SingularPlural First personmyselfourselves Second personyourselfyourselves Third personhimself, herself, itselfthemselves

Reflexive and Intensive Examples Reflexive – Joy helped herself to some turkey. – Sally and John poured themselves the milk. – The boy could smell himself from a mile away. Intensive – The mayor herself attended the carnival – Frank fixed the refrigerator himself. – I graded the papers myself.

Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative: directs attention to specific people, places, or things may come before or after their antecedents – This is the person we want to hire. – These are the books we will read. SingularPlural this, thatthese, those

RelativePronouns Relative: begins a subordinate clause and connects it to another idea in the sentence I ate the cupcake that was on the table. James is the student who was late today. We visited Grandmother, whose house is in NY. Relative Pronouns that which who whom whose

Interrogative Pronouns Interrogative: is used to begin a question an interrogative pronoun may or may not have a specific antecedent EX: What do you mean? EX: Which of the kids dressed up as a ghost? Interrogative Pronouns what which who whom whose

Indefinite Pronoun refers to a person, place, or thing that may or may not be specifically named although indefinite pronouns do not require specific antecedents, they often have them – no specific: Several have visited Williamsburg. – specific: One of the students prepared a report.

Indefinite Pronouns SingularPluralBoth another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, little, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something both few many others several all any more most none some