1. Pronouns
Sandra Boyd
Adapted by Chris Schmidt Jan. 2011

2. Personal Pronouns A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
The most frequently used pronouns are called personal pronouns. They refer to people or things.

3. You and I will meet later.
Subjective Pronouns
A subjective pronoun is used as the
subject of a sentence.
She is my best friend.
It is my dog.
Does he know the answer?
You and I will meet later.

4. The teacher gave her a reprimand.
Objective Pronouns
An objective pronoun is used as an object in the sentence.
Please give the book to me.
The teacher gave her a reprimand.
I will tell you a story.
Susan read it to them.

5. List of Personal Pronouns
Subjective Pronouns
Objective Pronouns I
you
he she it me
him her it
Singular we
you
they us
them
Plural

6. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
Read the following sentences.
Who is She?
Arachne competes with Athena.
She weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear. She could refer to either Arachne or Athena.

7. Revise the confusion.
Sometimes, you must repeat a noun or rewrite the sentence.
Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully. OR
Arachne competes with Athena who weaves skillfully.

8. The lady told me to call her. Dogs like to chase their tails.
ANTECEDENTS
The noun that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.
The lady told me to call her.
Dogs like to chase their tails.

9. When you use a pronoun, it must refer clearly to its antecedent.
Be especially careful
when you use it!
Examples:
It is cold out. It?
It doesn’t matter to me. It?

10. They have several books about Greek myths at the library. They?
When you use a pronoun, it must refer clearly to its antecedent. Be especially careful when you use they!
Example:
They have several books about Greek myths at the library. They?

11. The meaning of They is unclear. Improve it by rewriting it.
They have several books about Greek myths at the library.
The library has several books about Greek myths.

12. Using Pronouns Correctly
Subjective pronouns may be used in compound subjects
He and Carmen wrote a letter.
(Not Him and Carmen)

13. Using Pronouns Correctly
Objective pronouns may be used in compound objects.
Please tell John and me about Hercules.
(Not John and I)

14. Using Pronouns Correctly
If you are not sure of which form of the pronoun to use…
say the sentence aloud with only one pronoun at a time.
Your ear will tell you which form is correct.

15. Using Pronouns Correctly
When using I and me with other names, mention yourself last!
Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me (Not me and Lee).

16. mine yours his hers its ours theirs
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes!
mine yours his hers its ours theirs

17. (Not it’s, which is a contraction of it is).
The Pronoun its
The pronoun its is a possessive pronoun.
(Not it’s, which is a contraction of it is).
Its main character is Odysseus.
(possessive pronoun)
Not
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus.
(contraction of It is)

18. Are you ready for the test?
The President and (she, her) went with the Vice-President and (they, them).
The bus driver asked Ann and (he, him) to sit on the seat across from John and (they, them).
My sisters and (I, me) are older than (he, him) is.

19. Can you write them from memory?
Subjective
Objective I
you
he she it we
they me
you
him her it us
them
__________________saw ___________________.