1. Cohesive links
- pronouns
May Horverak 2014

2. pronouns Schoolhouse Rock video about pronouns:
Pronouns = Function words replacing nouns or referring to sentences/parts of sentences (substantiv)
Tupac wrote a song about life in the ghetto.
He wrote about a girl named Brenda.
It is about a girl named Brenda.
What does «he» refer to, and what does «it» refer to
In topic sentences, use the full reference, not a pronoun (like here, «Tupac»)
May Horverak 2014

3. Demonstrative pronouns
Demonstrates what is referred to, something close or something more distant
This song is about…
Tupac writes about a girl that ends her life in the ghetto. This shows that life may not be fair.
Tupac sings about the struggles of life. Obama talks about what Americans believe in. These perspectives may be said to contradict each other. (Used as a determiner in front of a noun)
Obama’s speech is about a need to progress and develop. That/this may give some hope about the future.
Exercise: Write 5 similar examples on the same topic.
Close
Distant
One
This
That
More than one
These
Those
May Horverak 2014

4. Relative pronouns
Who: used about people; I like the woman who fixes my hair.
Which: used about things/animals; I love animals which have soft fur.
That: about people and things, (only in defining relative clauses);
I like books that are long.
May Horverak 2014

5. Relative clauses
Defining: the relative clause is necessary to identify somebody/something (no commas)
The man who stole the car was arrested yesterday.
The first book that Dickens wrote is not his best book.
Non-defining: the relative clause adds extra information, but is not necessary to identify who/what we talk about (use comma before and after the relative clause)
John, who stole the car, was arrested yesterday.
Oliver Twist, which was written by Dickens, is a very good book.
May Horverak 2014

6. Exercises Identify the relative pronouns in Obama’s speech
What do the relative pronouns refer to?
Some useful advice: if you have the digital version of the text, press Control + B to get up the navigation tool. Type «who» and press enter, then type «which» and press enter.
Write 10 sentences about American values and social issues, using both «who» and «which»
May Horverak 2014