1. Pronouns
Sandra Boyd

2. Personal Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns.
The most frequently used pronouns are called personal pronouns. They refer to people or things.

3. You and I will meet later.
Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun is used as the
subject of a sentence.
She is my best friend.
It is my dog.
Does he know the answer?
You and I will meet later.

4. The teacher gave her a reprimand.
Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is used as the
direct/indirect object or the object of a preposition.
Give the book to me.
The teacher gave her a reprimand.
I will tell you a story.
Susan read it to them.

5. List of Personal Pronouns
Singular Plural
I we
you you
he, she, it they
Subject Pronouns
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Object Pronouns

6. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
Read the following sentences. Can you tell to whom the word She refers?
Arachne competes with Athena. She weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear because the word She could refer to either Arachne or Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a noun or rewrite the sentence.
Arachne competes with Athena. Athena weaves skillfully.

7. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be especially careful when you use the pronoun they. Read the following sentence.
They have several books about Greek myths at the library.
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8. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The meaning of They is unclear. The sentence can be improved by rewriting it in the following manner.
Several books about myths are available at the library.

9. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
When using pronouns, you must also make sure that they agree with their antecedents in number (singular or plural) and gender. The gender of a noun may be masculine (male), feminine (female), or neuter (referring to things). Notice how the pronouns on the next slide agree with their antecedents.
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10. PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
1. The myth of Arachne is amusing. I enjoyed it.
2. The bystanders see Athena. They watch her at the loom.
In the first sentence, myth is the antecedent of the pronoun it.
In the second sentence, bystanders is the antecedent of They, and Athena is the antecedent of her.

11. Using Pronouns Correctly
Subject pronouns are used in compound subjects, and object pronouns are used in compound objects.
He and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. (Not Him and Carmen)
Tell John and me about Hercules. (Not John and I)
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12. Using Pronouns Correctly
A preposition takes an object, just as many verbs do. The object of a preposition can be simple or compound. In either case, use an object pronoun as the object of the preposition.
Lee read a famous myth to me.
Lee read a famous Roman myth
to John and me.
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13. Using Pronouns Correctly
If you are not sure of which form of the pronoun to use, say the sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the subject or the object. Your ear will tell you which form is correct.
Whenever the pronoun I is part of a compound subject, it should always be placed after the other parts of the subject. Similarly, when the pronoun me is part of a compound object, it should go after the other parts of the object.
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14. Using Pronouns Correctly
Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not me and Lee).
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15. Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows who or what has something. A possessive pronoun may take the place of a possessive noun.
Read the following sentences. Notice the possessive nouns and the possessive pronouns that replace them.
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16. Possessive Pronouns Homer’s story is famous. His story is famous.
This story is Homer’s.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are in red.
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17. Possessive Pronouns Used before nouns Used alone ours yours theirs
Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used before a noun. The other form is used alone.
ours
yours
theirs
mine
his, hers, its
Used
alone
our
your
their my
his, her, its
Used before nouns
Plural
Singular
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18. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word it’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of it is. Read the following sentences. Notice the meaning of the words in red type.
Its central character is Odysseus. (possessive pronoun)
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus. (contraction of It is)

19. Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another pronoun and indicates that the same person or thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive pronouns
The woman found herself a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun
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20. Reflexive Pronouns Singular Plural myself yourself
himself, herself, itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for himself and theirselves for themselves. Avoid using hisself and theirselves.
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