1. This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes
This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2012 by Robin L. Simmons.
chomp!
chomp!

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 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.
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.

6. Sample Item 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 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?

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

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

9. 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!

10. 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!

11. Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, 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.

12. Item 1
We were starving but decided to make the long drive home because the choices at the food court would have poisoned you. us
her
them
No change is necessary.
We were starving but decided to make the long drive home because the choices at the food court would have poisoned you. us
her
them
No change is necessary.
We were starving but decided to make the long drive home because the choices at the food court would have poisoned you. us
her
them
No change is necessary.

13. Item 2 Today you can buy fried chicken in minutes at a A
fast food drive-thru. But in the 1800s, a woman had B
to slaughter, pluck, and cook the bird herself to C
serve chicken for dinner.
a woman
they
ourselves
No change is necessary.
Today you can buy fried chicken in minutes at a
fast food drive-thru. But in the 1800s, you had
to slaughter, pluck, and cook the bird herself to
serve chicken for dinner.
she
a woman
ourselves
No change is necessary.
Today you can buy fried chicken in minutes at a A
fast food drive-thru. But in the 1800s, you had B
to slaughter, pluck, and cook the bird herself to C
serve chicken for dinner.
she
a woman
ourselves
No change is necessary.

14. Item 3
When a student has disappointed a professor, you can always try smiling in class or offering a compliment to get back on the teacher’s good side.
students have
I have
you have
No change is necessary.
When a student has disappointed a professor, you can always try smiling in class or offering a compliment to get back on the teacher’s good side.
students have
I have
you have
No change is necessary.
When a student has disappointed a professor, you can always try smiling in class or offering a compliment to get back on the teacher’s good side.
students have
I have
you have
No change is necessary.

15. Item 4 Athletes need to stay hydrated. They can choose A
plain water from a fountain, but you might prefer a B
drink that adds electrolytes so that their C
performance is optimal.
You
they
our
No change is necessary.
Athletes need to stay hydrated. They can choose
plain water from a fountain, but you might prefer a
drink that adds electrolytes so that their
performance is optimal.
You
they
our
No change is necessary.
Athletes need to stay hydrated. They can choose A
plain water from a fountain, but you might prefer a B
drink that adds electrolytes so that their C
performance is optimal.
You
they
our
No change is necessary.

16. Item 5
Fritz refuses to buy books until after the semester has begun. The texts professors require on the syllabus are often not necessary for your success in class. my
our
his
No change is necessary.
Fritz refuses to buy books until after the semester has begun. The texts professors require on the syllabus are often not necessary for your success in class. my
our
his
No change is necessary.
Fritz refuses to buy books until after the semester has begun. The texts professors require on the syllabus are often not necessary for your success in class. my
our
his
No change is necessary.

17. Item 6 I refuse to drive on the interstate at rush hour. A
Too many drivers are whipping in and out of lanes,
careless about how their behavior affects you.
B C
We should refuse my me
No change is necessary.
I refuse to drive on the interstate at rush hour A
Too many drivers are whipping in and out of lanes,
careless about how their behavior affects you.
B C
We should refuse my me
No change is necessary.
I refuse to drive on the interstate at rush hour.
Too many drivers are whipping in and out of lanes,
careless about how their behavior affects you.
We should refuse my me
No change is necessary.
We should refuse my me
No change is necessary.

18. Item 7
If they are daring, they should try this bacon-maple ice cream sundae that I made. The combination of salty and sweet might appeal to you. me
them
her
No change is necessary.
If you are daring, try this bacon-maple ice cream sundae that I made. The combination of salty and sweet might appeal to you. me
them
her
No change is necessary.
If you are daring, try this bacon-maple ice cream sundae that I made. The combination of salty and sweet might appeal to you. me
them
her
No change is necessary.

19. Item 8 You can fix your money problems with a little A
financial discipline. You must pay yourself first,
B C
putting a few dollars into savings before tackling
any of the other bills. We
People
themselves
No change is necessary.
You can fix your money problems with a little
financial discipline. You must pay yourself first,
putting a few dollars into savings before tackling
any of the other bills. We
People
themselves
No change is necessary.
You can fix your money problems with a little A
financial discipline. You must pay yourself first,
B C
putting a few dollars into savings before tackling
any of the other bills. We
People
themselves
No change is necessary.

20. Item 9
Malcolm and Dwayne are in competition for Yolanda’s love. Buying flowers would win you a woman’s affection.
them
him us
No change is necessary.
Malcolm and Dwayne are in competition for Yolanda’s love. Buying flowers would win you a woman’s affection.
them
him us
No change is necessary.
Malcolm and Dwayne are in competition for Yolanda’s love. Buying flowers would win you a woman’s affection.
them
him us
No change is necessary.

21. Item 10 Professional race car drivers listen closely to their A
engines. You can anticipate performance B
variations based on sounds a regular driver would C
miss.
your
They we
No change is necessary.
Professional race car drivers listen closely to their
engines. You can anticipate performance
variations based on sounds a regular driver would
miss.
your
They we
No change is necessary.
Professional race car drivers listen closely to their A
engines. You can anticipate performance B
variations based on sounds a regular driver would C
miss.
your
They we
No change is necessary.

22. The End.