OMMS Pronouns

What are they? Pronouns take the place of nouns. They are used to avoid repeating a noun again and again. They make sentences clear and more interesting.

Examples Aunt Jenny was late because Aunt Jenny had waited for Aunt Jenny’s computer technician. Now use pronouns to clear up this sentence. Aunt Jenny was late because she had waited for her computer technician.

Antecedents of Pronouns An antecedent is the noun (or group of words acting as a noun) to which a pronoun refers. The firefighters described how they did their jobs. Firefighters is the antecedent

Another example Finally, the rescue worker reappeared. She seemed to be unharmed. (rescue worker is the antecedent.)

More examples. How Kim was rescued is amazing. It is a story that will be told often. What is the pronoun antecedent? What is the pronoun?

Answer. How Kim was rescued is amazing. It is a story that will be told often. How Kim was rescued is the antecedent. It is the pronoun.

Personal Pronouns These pronouns refer to 1. the person speaking or writing 2. the person listening or reading 3. the topic (person, place, thing, or idea) being discussed or written out.

Examples YOU will see the photo. HE wants to listen to the radio. HER town paper comes out weekly.

Personal Pronouns SubjectiveSINGULARPLURAL First PersonIWe Second PersonYou Third PersonHe, she, itThey ObjectiveSINGULARPLURAL First PersonMeUs Second PersonYou Third PersonHim, Her, ItThem

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns The ending –self or –selves can be added to some pronouns to form reflexive or intensive pronouns. These two types of pronouns look the same, but they function differently within a sentence.

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns SINGULARPLURAL First personmyselfourselves Second personyourselfyourselves Third personhimself, herself, itselfthemselves The Third Person Masculine Pronoun is NEVER HISSELF. This is ALWAYS INCORRECT.

Reflexive Pronoun A reflexive pronoun directs the action of the verb toward its subject. Reflexive pronouns point back to a noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence. Example: Joy helped herself to some turkey. (reflexive – herself) They poured themselves some milk. (themselves – reflexive)

Intensive Pronoun An INTENSIVE pronoun is used for emphasis. An intensive pronoun will appear directly after a noun or another pronoun. EXAMPLE: “He wondered, as he had many times wondered before, whether he himself was a lunatic.” (George Orwell, 1984)

Demonstrative Pronouns These pronouns point to people, places, and things just like you would point to them with your finger. There are 2 singular and 2 plural pronouns. SINGULARPLURAL this thatthese those

Examples This is the desk where I sit. These snacks are my favorites. Is that the cafeteria down the hall? Those sandwiches belong to me.

Relative Pronouns A relative pronoun begins a subordinate clause and connects it to another idea in the same sentence. RELATIVE PRONOUNS that which who whom whose

Independent Clause and Subordinate Clauses INDEPENDENT CLAUSESSUBORDINATE CLAUSES Here is the book.that Betsy lost. Dino bought our old house.which needs many repairs. She is a singerwho has an unusual range. Is this the manwhom you saw earlier? She is the onewhose house has a fire alarm. This is the showthat he describes in the newspaper. Tippy found the ballthat was under the chair.

Interrogative Pronouns To “interrogate” means to question. An interrogative pronoun is used to begin a question. All 5 start with a W. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS what which who whom whose

Examples What did the doctor say? Which is the best treatment? Who wants to date him? From whom will you receive the best advice? Whose is this painting?

Indefinite Pronouns An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that is NOT specifically named. Everything is ready for the field trip. Everyone wants to see the medical center. Anyone can learn to play tennis. Something fell out of the cabinet when I opened it.

But…. They can also function as an adjective or as the subject of a sentence. If it functions as an adjective it is called an indefinite adjective. Both students want to be nurses. (adj.) Both want to be nurses. (subject)

A few can be singular or plural SINGULARPLURALSINGULAR OR PLURAL another muchbothall anybody neitherfewany anyone nobodymanymore anything no oneothersmost each nothingseveralnone everybody other everyone somebody everything someone little something