Pronouns

1
Pronouns

• A matter of agreement

2
Pronouns

• A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.
• Pronouns may refer to the person speaking This
  is a first-person pronoun.
• I, mine, we, our
• They may refer to the person spoken to. These are
  second-person pronouns.
• you, your
• They may refer to other people, places, or
  things. These are called third-person pronouns.
• she, him, its, they, their

3
Pronouns

• As the previous examples show, a pronoun usually
  refers to a person. Thus, the largest group of
  pronouns is made up of personal pronouns.
• They can be singular
• I, me, mine, my, he, she, it, him, her, its
• Or they can be plural
• we, us, our, ours, they, them, their, theirs

4
Pronouns

• Pronouns can also be classified by gender
  feminine pronouns refer to females (she, her)
  masculine pronouns refer to males (he, his, him).
  Pronouns that refer to things (and often animals)
  are in the neuter gender.

5
Pronouns

• What are the pronouns used in place of the
  italicized nouns in the following sentences?
• A crane lifted the boulder and loaded it onto a
  truck.
• Mark said, I was born in Michigan.
• The paramedics finally arrived, and they
  immediately took charge.

6
Pronouns

• The antecedent of a pronoun is the noun or other
  pronoun for which the pronoun stands. A pronoun
  must agree with its antecedent in number and
  gender.
• The mean girls coordinated their wardrobes.
• Sam loves his imaginary girlfriend.
• Emma put a beat-down on her swimming opponent.

7
Pronouns

• Agreement in number rules
• If the antecedent of a pronoun is singular, use a
  singular pronoun. If the antecedent is plural,
  use a plural pronoun.
• Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more
  singular antecedents joined by or or nor.
• Did either Jon or Jason think that his
  brilliant writing would be read generations from
  now?

8
Pronouns

• If the antecedents joined by or or nor are not
  both singular, the pronoun agrees with the
  antecedent nearer the verb.
• Neither this poem nor other poems by Ayesha use
  strict rhythm for their effect.
• Use either a singular or plural pronoun to refer
  to a collective noun antecedent, depending on the
  meaning you intend.
• The class will present its program of modern
  verse.
• The class will read their chosen poems aloud.

9
Pronouns

• Correct or incorrect?
• Everybody should write their own poem.
• Everybody should write your own poem.
• Everybody should write his or her own poem.

10
Pronouns

• Agreement in person
• A personal pronoun must be in the same person as
  its antecedent. The words one, everyone, and
  everybody are in the third person. They are
  referred to by he, his, him, she, her, or hers.

11
Pronouns

• Some pronouns do not refer to a definite person
  or thing. These are called indefinite pronouns.
• another, each, anybody, anything, anyone, either,
  everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody,
  no one, one, somebody, someone

12
Pronouns

• Use singular possessive pronouns with singular
  indefinite pronoun antecedents.
• Everyone has his or her favorite poet.
• Neither of the poets Kelsey or Maya would
  think of herself as a writer of simple poetry.
• Use plural possessive pronouns with plural
  indefinite pronoun antecedents.
• Both of the poets have had their poems reprinted.
• Many of us wish our poems were as good as theirs.

13
Pronouns Examples

• A person should be responsible for themselves.
• A person should be responsible for himself or
  herself.
• Whomever would do that is definitely not a good
  friend, and they obviously should not be trusted.
• Whomever would do that is definitely not a good
  friend, and he or she obviously should not be
  trusted.

14
Pronouns examples

• I believe that it is easy for one to turn a blind
  eye to their personal shortcomings.
• I believe that it is easy for one to turn a
  blind eye to his or her personal shortcomings.
• This person might be so used to plagiarizing work
  that when they write up a report, it is mostly
  copied work.
• This person might be so used to plagiarizing work
  that when he or she writes up a report, it is
  mostly copied work.

15
Pronouns examples

• Even if that person does get a bad grade on the
  test or assignment, in the long run they will
  feel better about themselves for not cheating.
• Even if people do not get a bad grade on the
  test or assignment, in the long run they will
  feel better about themselves for not cheating.

16
Pronouns examples

• I once let a friend copy my homework because they
  forgot to do it.
• I once let a friend copy my homework because he
  forgot to do it.
• If someone doesnt listen to their friends about
  cheating, they may lose their social status among
  friends.
• If someone doesnt listen to his or her friends
  about cheating, he or she may lose social status
  among friends.
• Eventually, everyone is going to have to fend for
  themselves.
• Eventually, everyone is going to have for
  himself or herself.

17
Pronouns examples

• High school students need more patience, or they
  need different friends. They need different
  friends because his or her stealing might be a
  result of his or her acquaintance peer pressuring
  the student.
• High school students need more patience, or they
  need different friends. They need different
  friends, because their stealing might be a result
  of their acquaintances peer pressuring them.

18
Parallel structure

• When we talk about parallel structure, we're
  dealing with a balancing act. The idea isn't too
  hard, but most people don't think about it.
• So what are we balancing? . . . pairs of words or
  series of words. Look at the following

19
Parallel structure

• Pairsa and ba or b
• Seriesa, b, and ca, b, or c
• Think of the letters as standing for words or
  groups of words. Any words or groups of words
  that you plug in have to be the same kinds of
  words or word patterns. That's all there is to
  it! Let's see how the "formula" works

20
Parallel structure

• Pairs running and jumping, bothered and
  bewildered, open or shut, laughing or crying (all
  are verbs)
• Series broken, bedraggled, and bone-tired (all
  are adjectives)an old shoe, a stuffed bear, and
  a chewed-up blanket (all are nouns)
• When you write your sentences using parallel
  structure, your ideas come across more clearly
  because they're easier to read. Compare the
  following sentences
• Non-parallel structure Peggotty's toys were an
  old shoe, a bear that was stuffed, and she had
  chewed up an old blanket.
• Parallel structure Peggotty's toys were an old
  shoe, a stuffed bear, and a chewed-up blanket.
• See how the second sentence is smoother and more
  balanced?
• Adapted from Big Dogs Grammar
  http//aliscot.com/bigdog/parallel.htm

21
Parallel structure

• Peggotty's toys were an old shoe, a stuffed bear,
  and a chewed-up blanket.
• We have three groups of words that are parallel
  in their construction adjective/noun
• old shoe, stuffed bear, chewed-up blanket.