1. Nouns and pronouns
“Nouns are the stuff in writing. In terms of writer’s craft, the well-chosen noun can be all the difference between bug and cockroach, or the writer saying “stuff” instead of a list of items that reveal something about a character or setting. Naming names gives the reader an exact image on which to focus.”
- Jeff Anderson

2. Nouns people, places, things and ideas
Nouns are naming words
- a noun names something
-most nouns fall into four main groups: people, places, things, and ideas
PEOPLE
PLACES
THINGS
IDEAS
veterinarian
Lake Mead
bumblebee
strength
Dr. Robinson
classroom
collar
honesty
Americans
kennel
motorcycle
willingness
leader
Bunker Hill
notebook
obedience

3. Recognizing compound nouns
A compound noun is one noun made by joining two or more words - they are written in three different ways: as single words, as hyphenated words, and as two or more separate words
COMPOUND NOUNS
SINGLE WORDS
HYPHENATED WORDS
SEPARATE WORDS
crossbar
by-product
dinner jacket
firefighter
right-hander
pole vault
thunderstorm
middle-distance
pen pal
classroom
mother-in-law
chief justice

4. Using common and proper nouns
All nouns can be divided into two large groups: common nouns and proper nouns.
A common noun names any one of a class of people, places, things or ideas.
- common nouns are not capitalized
A proper noun names a specific person, place, thing or idea.
- proper nouns are always capitalized
COMMON NOUNS
PROPER NOUNS
inventor
Alexander Graham Bell
village
Tarrytown
story
“The Tell-Tale Heart”
organization
American Red Cross
idea
Germ Theory of Disease

5. pronouns
A pronoun is a word that take the place of a noun or group of words acting as a noun
- they are used rather than repeating a noun again and again
- pronouns make sentences clearer and more interesting
WITH NOUNS: Aunt Jenny was late because Aunt Jenny had waited for Aunt Jenny’s computer technician.
WITH PRONOUNS: Aunt Jenny was late because she had waited for her computer technician.
Sometimes a pronoun takes the place of a noun in the same sentence.
EXAMPLES: My father opened his files first.
pronoun
Many people say exercise has helped them.

6. Pronouns continued…
A pronoun can also take the place of a noun used in an earlier sentence.
EXAMPLES: My father opened his first. He couldn’t wait any longer.
pronoun
Students must take a science class. They can choose biology or ecology.
A pronoun may take the place of an entire group of words.
EXAMPLES: Trying to make the team is hard work. It takes hours of practice every day.

7. Antecedents of pronouns
An antecedent is the noun (or group of words acting as a noun)to which a pronoun refers.
EXAMPLES: The firefighters described how they did their jobs.
antecedent pronoun pronoun
Finally, the rescue worker reappeared. She seemed to be unharmed.
antecedent pronoun
How Kim was rescued is amazing. It is a story that will be told often.
antedecent pronoun
Although he was known as an expert software developer, Darryl enjoyed
pronoun antecedent
selling computer.

8. Antecedents of pronouns continued…
Some kinds of pronouns do not have any antecedent.
EXAMPLES: Everyone knows what the truth is.
indefinite pronoun
Who will represent the class at the town-wide school meeting?
interrogative pronoun
The pronouns everyone and who do not have a specific antecedent because their meaning is clear without one.

9. Recognizing personal pronouns
The pronouns used most often are personal pronouns.
Personal pronouns refer to (1) the person speaking or writing, (2) the person listening or reading, or (3) the topic (person, place, thing, or idea) being discussed or written about.
The first person pronouns I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, and ours refer to the person or persons speaking or writing.
EXAMPLES: I like the new design.
Please give us an example.

10. Recognizing personal pronouns continued…
The second-person pronouns you, your, and yours refer to the person or persons spoken or written to.
EXAMPLES: You will see the photo.
Your friend is at the door.
The third-person pronouns he, him, his, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, and theirs refer to the person, place or thing, or idea being spoken or written about.
EXAMPLES: He wants to listen to the radio show.
They wrote letters to the editor.

11. Recognizing personal pronouns continued…
Some personal pronouns show possession. Although they can function as adjectives, they are still identified as personal pronouns because they take the place of possessive nouns.
EXAMPLES: Mary’s town paper comes out weekly.
possessive noun
Her town paper comes out weekly.
possessive pronoun
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
SINGULAR
PLURAL
First person
I, me, my, mine
we, us, our, ours
Second person
you, your, yours
Third person
he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
they, them, their, theirs

12. Demonstrative pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun points to a specific person, place, or thing
- there are two singular and two plural demonstrative pronouns
This and these point to what is near the speaker or writer.
That and those point to what is more distant.
NEAR: This is the desk where I sit.
These are my favorite books.
FAR: Is that the cafeteria down the hall?
Those are my sandwiches.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
SINGULAR
PLURAL
this
that
these
those

13. Indefinite pronouns
An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that is not specifically named.
EXAMPLES: Everything is ready for the field trip.
Everyone wants to see the medical center.
Anyone can learn to play tennis.
Something fell out of the cabinet when I opened it.
Indefinite pronouns can function as adjectives or the subject of a sentence.
- if it functions as an adjective, it is called an indefinite adjective
ADJECTIVE: Both students want to be nurses.
SUBJECT: Both want to be nurses.

14. Indefinite pronouns continued…
A few indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on their use in the sentence.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
SINGULAR
PLURAL
SINGULAR or PLURAL
another
much
both
all
anybody
neither
few
any
anyone
nobody
many
more
anything
no one
others
most
each
nothing
several
none
either
one
some
everybody
other
everyone
somebody
everything
someone
little
something