Teacher Nary

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.

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.

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.

List of Personal Pronouns

Singular

Plural

Subject Pronouns

I
you
he, she, it

we
you
they

Object Pronouns

me
you
him, her, it

us
you
them

ACTIVITY 1
1. Write sentences using each of the
subject pronouns. Underline
each subject pronoun.
2. Write sentences using each of the
object pronouns. Circle each
object pronoun.
Total of 16 pronouns.
You can combine subject and object
pronouns in you sentences.

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.

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.
Continue

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.

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.
Continue

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.

ACTIVITY 2

Do exercise 3, page 397 of your

English Textbook.
Follow directions carefully.

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)

Continue

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.

Continue

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.

Continue

Using Pronouns Correctly

Lee and I read some ancient Roman myths. (Not I
and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me. (Not me and Lee).

Continue

Using Pronouns Correctly

In formal writing and speech use a subject pronoun after a linking
verb.
The writer of this report was she.
It is I.

Continue

ACTIVITY 3

Do exercise 4 and 5, page 399 of

your English Text. You do not
have to write the sentences.

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.
Continue

Possessive Pronouns
Homers story is famous.
His story is famous.
This story is Homers.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are
in red.
Continue

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used

before a noun. The other form is used alone.

Used
before
nouns
Used
alone

Singular

Plural

my
your
his, her, its
mine
yours
his, hers, its

our
your
their
ours
yours
theirs
Continue

Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The
pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word

its, 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)

Its about the adventures of Odysseus.

(contraction of It is)

Activity 4
Do exercises 6 and 7, page 401 of
your English text. You do not
have to write the sentences.

Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a
particular person, place, or thing.
Does anyone know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.

Continue

Some Indefinite Pronouns

Singular
another
anybody
anyone
anything
each
either

everybody
everyone
everything
much
neither
nobody

Plural
no one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something

both
few
many
others
several

All, any, most, none and some can be

singular or plural, depending on the phrase
that follows them.
Continue

Some Indefinite Pronouns

When an indefinite pronoun is used as the
subject, the verb must agree with it in number.
Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)
Both talk about King Minos. (plural)
All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)
All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)

Continue

Some Indefinite Pronouns

Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns
as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns
must agree in number. Note that in the first
example the intervening prepositional phrase does
not affect the agreement.

Each of the characters has his or her motive.

Several have conflict with their rivals.
Continue

Activity 5

Do exercise 8 and 9 in your

English text, page 403. You do
not have to write the sentences.
Continue

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

Continue

Reflexive Pronouns
Singular
myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself

Plural
ourselves
yourselves
themselves

Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for

himself and theirselves for themselves.
Avoid using hisself and theirselves.
Continue

Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that adds
emphasis to a noun or pronoun already named.

George himself bought a copy of American Tall

Tales.

He himself paid for the book.

Continue

Activity 6

Do exercises 10 and 11, page 405 of your

English Text. You do not have to write
the sentences.
Continue