1. chomp!
chomp!
This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2016 by Robin L. Simmons.

2. Or am I talking about someone else?
Pronoun Shift
Do I mean you, the reader?
Or am I talking about someone else?

3. This presentation covers maintaining consistency in pronoun point - of - view.

4. A pronoun shift item on an objective test might look like this . . .

5. Sample Item We ordered with care at the expensive A
restaurant because we didn’t want the shame B
of not having enough money to pay our bill. C
You should order
we didn’t
your
No change is necessary.
We ordered with care at the expensive A
restaurant because you don’t want the shame B
of not having enough money to pay our bill. C
You should order
we didn’t
your
No change is necessary.
We ordered with care at the expensive
restaurant because you don’t want the shame
of not having enough money to pay our bill.
You should order
we didn’t
your bill
No change is necessary.
You don’t is a shift in person, which option B corrects.
Is we ordered, you don’t, or our a problem?

6. Don’t Mix Pronoun Persons.
Shawna refuses to try mountain climbing because you can get stuck in a blizzard and freeze to death.
she
Grizzly!
Bear sound from
If you were the one who froze, I’d be okay with mountain climbing!

7. Pronoun Persons First Person I me my, mine myself we us our, ours
ourselves
Second Person
you
your, yours
yourself, yourselves
Third Person
he, she, it
him, her
his, hers, its
himself, herself, itself
they
them
their, theirs
themselves
Know your persons!

8. Second-person pronouns must refer to the reader.
You must study to do well on your test. Preparation is the key to your success.
You must study to do well on your test. Preparation is the key to your success.
Yes, this means you, the reader!

9. The End.

10. Quick Test
Directions: On the exercise handout, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.”
Show me what you know.