How to use pronouns

1
How to use pronouns

• or, theyre all that!

2
List of Common Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns I, me, us, we, it, he, she,
  they, them, him, her, one, you, yall (you all)
• Possessive Pronouns her, hers, his, its, mine,
  our, ours, their, theirs, your , yours, whose
• Others who, whom, which, that, everybody,
  anybody, anyone, each, either, neither, nobody,
  someone, somebody

3
Pronouns must agree in number

• Singular nouns are replaced with singular
  pronouns

• EX If an athlete wants to succeed, he or she
  must practice daily
• NOT they must practice daily.
• EX If one wants to be healthy, one should eat
  nutritious foods.
• NOT they should eat nutritious foods.
• EX If a politician wants to be re-elected,
  _______ must not insult too many people

he or she
4
Pronouns must agree in number

• Everybody, anybody, anyone, each, either,
  neither, nobody, someone, somebody, etc are
  replaced with singular pronouns

• EX Somebody should have taken his or her shower
  today.
• NOT taken their shower.
• EX Neither of the boys remembered his art
  supplies.
• NOT their art supplies.
• EX Did everyone bring _________ raincoat?

his or her
5
Pronouns must agree in number

• If you use a plural noun, you may use they as
  the pronoun.

• EX People ought to mind their manners.
• NOT his or her manners
• EX The newlyweds had their luggage confiscated
  at the airport.
• NOT his or her luggage
• EX The wolves in the pack raised ________ voices
  in a prolonged howl.

their
6
Pronouns must agree in number

• If you use an obvious gender reference, you may
  use a gender specific pronoun.

• EX Mr. Universe refused to pose in his bikini.
• NOT his or her bikini
• EX The boys mother packed his lunch.
• NOT his or her lunch
• EX A mama grizzly bear will ferociously defend
  _________ cubs.

her
7
Pronouns must agree in person

• Stick with the point of view from which you are
  writing.

• EX If at first a person doesnt succeed, he or
  she should try again.
• NOT succeed, I should or succeed, you
  should.
• EX When I tell you something, I mean what I say.
• NOT something, he means what he says.
• EX If a man wants to get to know a girl,
  _________ should not seem too desperate.

he
8
Pronouns must refer to a specific noun

• There must be no doubt as to which noun the
  pronoun is referring

• EX Although the trophy hit the hardwood floor,
  it was not damaged.
• What was not damaged? The floor or the trophy?
• Try The floor was not damaged when it was hit
  by the falling trophy.
• EX They shouldnt let students dress that way.
• Who are they?
• Try The administration shouldnt let students
  dress that way.

9
Pronouns must refer to a specific noun

• There must be no doubt as to which noun the
  pronoun is referring
• EX We have two weeks off for Christmas, which is
  fun.
• What is fun? Christmas or having two weeks off?
• Try
• EX When Maria told the mob about Janes
  activities, she was executed.
• Who was executed, Maria for telling the mob or
  Jane for her activities?
• Try When Maria told the mob about Janes
  activities, Jane was executed.

Our Christmas break, which is two weeks long,
is fun.