1. Fundamentals of Composition
Pronouns
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2. A pronoun is a word that can replace a noun.
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10.2a
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3. A pronoun is a word that can replace a noun. Susan is an opera singer.
She is an opera singer.
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4. A pronoun is a word that can replace a noun. Susan is an opera singer.
She is an opera singer.
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5. The noun that the pronoun refers to is called the antecedent.
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6. Although Maxine practiced diligently, she could not do the hula very well.
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7. Antecedent
Although Maxine practiced diligently, she could not do the hula very well.
Pronoun
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8. Examples of Personal Pronouns as Subjects
Singular Plural
First Person I we
Second Person you you
Third Person he, she, it they
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9. She and I are best friends.
Personal Pronouns
She and I are best friends.
It was they at the door.
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10. She and I are best friends.
Personal Pronouns
She and I are best friends.
It was they at the door.
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11. She and I are best friends.
Personal Pronouns
She and I are best friends.
It was they at the door.
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12. Examples of Personal Pronouns as Objects
Singular Plural
First Person me us
Second Person you you
Third Person him, her, it them
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13. The music annoyed him. Mary gave us the money. I live near him.
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14. The music annoyed him. Mary gave us the money. I live near him.DO
The music annoyed him. Mary gave us the money. I live near him. S V S V IO DO
Obj of Prep
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15. Possessive Pronouns Singular Plural mine ours yours yours
his hers theirs its
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16. The possessive pronoun is used to show ownership.
Possessive Pronouns
The possessive pronoun is used to show ownership.
Remember that possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes to show possession as do nouns.
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17. Correct:
Truly yours
Incorrect:
Truly your’s
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18. Compound Personal Pronouns
Singular Plural
First Person myself ourselves
Second Person yourself yourselves
Third Person himself themselves itself oneself
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19. Compound Personal Pronouns
A compound personal pronoun is formed by adding self or selves to certain personal pronouns.
my + self = myself
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20. She is majoring in engineering. Someone is majoring in engineering.
Indefinite Pronouns
Pronouns which do not refer to a definite person, place, or thing are called indefinite pronouns.
She is majoring in engineering.
Someone is majoring in engineering.
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21. She is majoring in engineering. Someone is majoring in engineering.
Indefinite Pronouns
Pronouns which do not refer to a definite person, place, or thing are called indefinite pronouns.
Definite
She is majoring in engineering.
Indefinite
Someone is majoring in engineering.
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22. Singular Indefinite Pronouns
another
anybody
anymore
anything
one
somebody
each
either
everyone
everybody
everything
neither
nobody
no one
someone
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23. Singular indefinite pronouns should be used with singular verbs.
Everyone (enjoy enjoys) the staff picnic.
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24. Everyone (enjoy enjoys) the staff picnic.
Singular indefinite pronouns should be used with singular verbs.
Singular Subject
Everyone (enjoy enjoys) the staff picnic.
Singular Verb
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25. One of the men forgot (his their) report.
In referring back to these pronouns as an antecedent, refer back with a singular pronoun.
One of the men forgot (his their) report.
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26. One of the men forgot (his their) report.
In referring back to these pronouns as an antecedent, refer back with a singular pronoun.
Singular Subject
One of the men forgot (his their) report.
Singular Pronoun
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27. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
both
few
many
several
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28. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.
Both of the generals (is are) assigned to the task force.
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29. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.
Plural Subject
Plural Verb
Both of the generals (is are) assigned to the task force.
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30. Many of the students forgot (their his her) class schedules.
Plural indefinite pronouns are referred back to, when used as antecedents, by plural pronouns.
Many of the students forgot (their his her) class schedules.
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31. Many of the students forgot (their his her) class schedules.
Plural indefinite pronouns are referred back to, when used as antecedents, by plural pronouns.
Plural Subject
Many of the students forgot (their his her) class schedules.
Plural Pronoun
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32. Demonstrative Pronouns
this
that
them
those
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33. Demonstrative pronouns are used to emphasize a particular noun or identify a particular noun, place, or thing.
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34. Demonstrative pronouns are used to emphasize a particular noun or identify a particular noun, place, or thing.
That is my house.
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35. Interrogative Pronouns
who
whose
whom
which
what
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36. Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions.
What did you get for Father’s Day?
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37. Pronouns Used with Nouns
A pronoun may be used with a noun. In this case, the use of the noun in the sentence determines the case (subject or object) of the pronoun.
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38. We dancers need to keep fit.
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39. We dancers need to keep fit.
Subj Pro S
We dancers need to keep fit.
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40. The boss congratulated us sales representatives on our fine performance.
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41. The boss congratulated us sales representatives on our fine performance.
Obj Pro
Object
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42. Pronouns Used in Comparisons
Sometimes a comparison is made using a clause which begins with than or as. If the comparison is left incomplete, you must complete it in order to decide whether the pronoun used is in the objective or subjective case.
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43. Jack can read faster than (I me).
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44. Jack can read faster than (I me).
Jack can read faster than I (can read).
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45. Kathy saves more of her allowance than I (save).
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46. The accident cost us more than (they them).
“The accident cost us more than (they cost).”
We would not say:
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47. Between you and (I me), Sally seems upset today.
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48. Between you and (I me), Sally seems upset today.
Preposition
Object
Between you and (I me), Sally seems upset today.
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49. Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and an object of the preposition.
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50. Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and an object of the preposition.
Therefore, the pronoun must be in the objective case.
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51. Incorrect Forms of Pronouns
Words such as theirselves, hisself and ourselfs are not correct pronoun forms.
DO NOT use them in your writing.
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52. Correct Forms of Pronouns
themselves
himself
ourselves
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53. Correct Forms of Pronouns
We bought the boat ourselves.
Correct:
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54. Correct Forms of Pronouns
We bought the boat ourselves.
Correct:
Incorrect:
We bought the boat ourselfs.
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55. Correct Forms of Pronouns
Sam prepared the meal by himself.
Correct:
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56. Correct Forms of Pronouns
Sam prepared the meal by himself.
Correct:
Incorrect:
Sam prepared the meal by hisself.
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57. Correct Forms of Pronouns
The students planned the program themselves.
Correct:
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58. Correct Forms of Pronouns
The students planned the program themselves.
Correct:
Incorrect:
The students planned the program theirselves.
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