An LSCC Learning Center Self-Paced Tutorial PARTS OF SPEECH: NOUNS and Pronouns An LSCC Learning Center Self-Paced Tutorial

What are the Parts of Speech? Let’s review the various categories of words that make up the English language. They are: Nouns Verbs Pronouns Adverbs Adjectives Articles Prepositions Conjunctions Interjections The good news is – this is the entire list! The bad news is - many of these categories have multiple subgroups.

Nouns and Pronouns Today we are going to focus on these two grammar elements. FACT Nouns and pronouns are the only two parts of speech that can be used as the subject of a sentence.

Nouns Nouns name a person, place or thing: JAMES (person) SLIDE (thing) PLAYGROUND (place)

Types of Nouns Proper Noun Common Noun Abstract Noun Collective Noun James Common Noun slide Abstract Noun love Collective Noun team

Plural Forms of Nouns Some nouns add “S” or “ES” to form the plural. These are called regular nouns. car / cars match / matches Some nouns change completely. These are called irregular nouns. goose / geese mouse / mice Some nouns are singular but seem to be plural. These are called collective nouns. team jury group My favorite team is playing tonight.

Pronouns Pronouns Kinds of Pronouns Subjective Relative Objective Pro means “for” so a pronoun is a word that is used in place of or stands for a noun. Kinds of Pronouns Subjective Relative Objective Interrogative Possessive Demonstrative Reflexive Intensive

Pronouns FACT The noun that a pronoun replaces is called the antecedent. This term combines two Latin words that mean “comes before.” The noun always comes before the pronoun. James is my little brother. He loves to play video games.

Kinds of Pronouns I * My You Your He His She Her It Its We Our Subjective case pronouns replace a subject. I * My You Your He His She Her It Its We Our You Your They Their *Possessive forms accompany the noun they represent in a sentence: My car is parked on the corner.

Kinds of Pronouns Me *Mine You Yours Him His Her Hers It Its Us Ours Objective case pronouns replace a noun used as an object. Me *Mine You Yours Him His Her Hers It Its Us Ours Them Theirs *These possessive forms may stand alone in a sentence: The car that is parked on the corner is mine.

Kinds of Pronouns Reflexive Relative Interrogative Demonstrative Myself That Who This Yourself Which Whose That Himself Who What These Herself Whom Whom Those Itself Whose Which Ourselves Yourselves Themselves

Kinds of Pronouns Reflexive Looks back to an earlier noun or pronoun: James completed the project by himself. Relative Helps define properties of a noun or pronoun: The house that was built in 2007 burned down.

Kinds of Pronouns Who called you after class today? Interrogative Asks a question: Who called you after class today? Demonstrative Points out something or someone: That is a really good picture of you.

Kinds of Pronouns Indefinite Singular Plural All Another Anything Anybody Few None Something Everybody Some One Everything Somebody Both Everyone Nothing Nobody Most Someone Much Either Many No one Such Neither More Anyone Each Other Several

Kinds of Pronouns Plural Indefinite – means some undetermined number: Some of the students were interested in taking a biology course. Singular Indefinite – means one of a group of people or things, but not one specifically: Anyone could have taken that course.

Kinds of Pronouns Singular Indefinite Clues that the pronoun is singular: Begins with any or every Ends in one or body

Pronouns Either and neither are singular. The logical meaning is that you are examining the antecedents one at a time: Two dogs live on my street. Antecedent = dogs Neither dog likes cats.

Pronouns Some final thoughts: Pronouns must agree with antecedents. A student must be careful to record his or her scores. (student is singular, needs singular his and her) Students can turn in their papers any time today. (students is plural, therefore their is correct)

Pronouns Some more final thoughts: Who or whom? When to use which one: The easy way to test for who and whom is to replace them with he/she or him/her. If he is correct, use who If him is correct, use whom.

PRONOUNS Even more final thoughts: Don’t let compounds confuse your use of I and me: Eliminate the extra words to check: My dad took James and I to the game. (?) My dad took --- I to the game. (NO!) My dad took James and me to the game. (YES!)

Nouns and Pronouns If you want more information about this topic: Meet with your instructor Visit the Learning Center Go online to the Purdue OWL