1. Pronouns
Mrs. Brown

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

3. You and I will meet later.
Subject Pronouns
A subject 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.
Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is used as the
direct/indirect object or the object of a preposition.
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
Singular Plural
I we
you you
he, she, it they
Subject Pronouns
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Object Pronouns

6. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
Read the following sentences. Can you tell to whom the word She refers?
Angela competes with Athena. She weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear because the word She could refer to either Angela or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite the sentence.
Angela competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.

7. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be especially careful when you use the pronoun they. Read the following sentence.
They have several books about Greek myths at the library.
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8. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The meaning of They is unclear. The sentence can be improved by rewriting it in the following manner.
Several books about myths are available at the library.

9. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
1. The myth of Athena is amusing. I enjoyed it.
2. The bystanders see Athena. They watch her at the loom.
In the first sentence, myth is the antecedent of the pronoun it.
In the second sentence, bystanders is the antecedent of They, and Athena is the antecedent of her.

10. Using Pronouns Correctly
Subject pronouns are used in compound subjects, and object pronouns are used in compound objects.
He and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. (Not Him and Carmen)
Tell John and me about Hercules. (Not John and I)
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11. Using Pronouns Correctly
Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not me and Lee).
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12. Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows who or what has something. A possessive pronoun may take the place of a possessive noun.
Read the following sentences. Notice the possessive nouns and the possessive pronouns that replace them.
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13. Possessive Pronouns Homer’s story is famous. His story is famous.
This story is Homer’s.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are in red.
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14. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word it’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of it is. Read the following sentences. Notice the meaning of the words in red type.
Its central character is Odysseus. (possessive pronoun)
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus. (contraction of It is)

15. Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular person, place, or thing.
Does anyone know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.
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16. Some Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
Plural
another everybody no one
anybody everyone nothing
anyone everything one
anything much somebody
each neither someone
either nobody something
both
few
many
others
several
All, any, most, none and some can be singular or plural, depending on the phrase that follows them.
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17. Some Indefinite Pronouns
When an indefinite pronoun is used as the subject, the verb must agree with it in number.
Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)
Both talk about King Minos. (plural)
All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)
All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)
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18. Some Indefinite Pronouns
Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns must agree in number. Note that in the first example the intervening prepositional phrase does not affect the agreement.
Each of the characters has his or her motive.
Several have conflict with their rivals.
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19. Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another pronoun and indicates that the same person or thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive pronouns
The woman found herself a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun
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20. Reflexive Pronouns Singular Plural myself yourself
himself, herself, itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for himself and theirselves for themselves. Avoid using hisself and theirselves.
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