1. Pronoun References and Cases By Lauren McNabb and Jay Angus

2. Pronoun Reference What does the pronoun refer to, aka the antecedent Antecedent is the word that the pronoun is referring to Different Problems  Ambiguous Reference  Implied Reference  Modifiers  Broad Reference  Indefinite Reference  You

3. Ambiguous References Could refer to several antecedents Ex-Jane told Katie that she had pretty hair She could refer to Katie or Jane So to fix it, replace the pronoun with the noun Ex-Jane told Katie that Katie had pretty hair.

4. Implied Reference Pronouns must refer to an antecedent in the sentence, not one implied. Ex-After my dog peed on the carpet I had to wash it. To fix, specify the antecedent, or replace the pronoun with the noun Ex- After my dog peed on the carpet, I had to wash the carpet.

5. Modifiers Modifiers, such as possessives, cannot be used as an antecedent Ex- In Stephen King's novels, he has a sense of the macabre. Fix by removing the pronoun Ex-In novels, Stephen King has a sense of the macabre.

6. Broad Reference This, That, Which, and It Pronouns need to refer to specific antecedents not whole ideas or sentences. Ex- The dog pees on the carpet. This is becoming commonplace. To fix this replace the pronoun Ex-The dog pees on the carpet. The dog peeing on the carpet is becoming commonplace.

7. Indefinite Reference They, It, You Do not use they to refer to persons who have not been specifically mentioned. Ex-They put the dog outside. To fix this specify the “they” Ex-Bill and Sue put the dog outside.

8. You You is only used in very informal writing, almost never appropriate. Ex-You know the frustration with a dog that keeps peeing inside Ex- Most people know the frustration with a dog that keeps peeing inside.

9. Pronoun Case According to grammatical function

10. Subjective Case When the pronoun functions as a subject. Ex- Jane and I went to the store. Or as a subject complement  Words following linking verbs that complete the meaning of the subject. Ex- Jane said that Katie and her were going to the store.

11. Objective Case When the pronoun is the object of the verb Direct Object  Ex-Jane found milk and bought it. Indirect Object  Ex-Jane handed me the milk. Object of the Pronoun  Ex-Jane bought milk for Katie's cat.

12. Compound Word Groups When faces with compound word groups surrounding the pronoun, strip away everything besides the pronoun to determine if the pronoun is proper.

13. Appositive Noun Phrases that rename nouns or pronouns  Ex- The shopping divas, Jane and I, collapsed on the couch.

14. We or Us before a noun Choose the pronoun that would be appropriate if the noun were omitted.  Ex- Us girls love to shop. We Girls love to shop.

15. Comparisons with Then or As Sentence parts are often omitted. So to test the pronoun complete the sentence  Ex- Katie's cat yowls, but the cat is not as loud as others.

16. Subjects and Objects of infinitive Infinitives are to + the base of a verb. (to run, to dance, etc) When it is the subject of an infinitive, the pronoun must be in the objective case. Ex-Katie's cat yowled for her to feed it.