Pronouns
 

Introduction

Pronouns are parts of speech that substitute for nouns.  They refer to people, places, things, feelings, and qualities but not by name.  There are several types of pronouns: personal, reflexive, intensive, reciprocal, demonstrative, relative, interrogative, and indefinite.  Of all these we are most familiar with the personal pronouns.

Example:  The Ghost Haven was released last year.  It was an award-winning novel.
 
 
 

Person	Number
	Singular               Plural
1st	I                       we	person(s) speaking
2nd	you                   you	person(s) spoken to
3rd	he
	she                    they	person(s) spoken about
	it

 

Definitions
Personal pronouns:  pronouns that stand for people and things; they must agree with their antecedents in number.  Antecedent is a word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.   Example:  People must speak Standard American English if they expect equal opportunities in the business world.

There are three pronoun cases that indicate the relationship of the personal pronoun to a verb or preposition.  Standard English calls for the  subjective case for pronouns in subjects and subject complements, the possessive case for pronouns that show possession, and the objective case for pronouns in all other nominal slots.

Intensive pronoun:  a pronoun that renames a noun or pronoun for emphasis.
Examples:  I like plain M&M candies myself.
                   Myself, I would rather have cherries.
 
Reciprocal pronouns:  the pronouns one another and each other, which refer to previously named nouns.  Reciprocal pronouns also function as determiners that show possession and as objects that rename nouns or pronouns.
Examples:  Tabby and Toni care for one another.
                   They also give each other gifts.
                   Ursula and Ella keep each other's children.

Demonstrative pronouns:  pronouns that refer to things that are near or distant.  When used in a sentence, demonstratives are usually in or near the sentence in which the antecedent appears.
 

Proximity	Numbers
	Singular                                Plural
Near	this                                       these
Distant	that                                       those

Example:  That movie we watched yesterday was better than this one.
                  These pants are nicer than Billy's.
 
A singular demonstrative as an intensifier
Example:  Maine couldn't imagine being that famous.
 

Relative pronouns:  pronouns that introduce relative clauses.  Relative clauses are dependent, therefore establishing a relationship between the noun and the clause. The relative pronouns are who, which, and that.
 

• Who can be inflected to show possession or objectivity.
• When who is used to show possession, it becomes whose.

• Whenever that acts as the subject in a relative clause, it can't be omitted.  However, when it functions as the object in the clause, it can be omitted.  In the first example below, that can be omitted but not in the second example.

• What can also function as an indefinite relative pronoun if and only if it functions as a introductory for adjectival clauses.

Interrogative pronouns: pronouns that are used in questions (who, whom, whose, where, and what)
Examples:  Who was that on the phone?
                   What did you say about Bradley?
 

• Interrogative pronouns are also refered to as interrogative adjectives when they function as determiners or direct objects.  In the first example what functions as a determiner and in the second one as the subject complement.

Indefinite pronouns:  pronouns that refer to nonspecific singular and plural forms of nouns (enough, few, more, some, either, all, several, and any)
Examples:  Give me some of your candy.
                   I've seen enough.

The pronouns any, every, no, and some can be expanded as shown in the chart below.
 

	body			body
some-	thing		every-	thing
	one			one
	body			body
any-	thing		no-	thing
	one			one (two words)

Examples:  I would like for everybody to be present for the meeting.
                   Nothing seems to matter anymore.
                   Something is hiding behind the bushes.
 
 
Exercise 

  1.  If a person wants to play professional tennis,          must practice.  (they/he or she )
  2.  When was           expected to arrive at the airport?  (they/she)
  3.  Carter and I call                 the "Baldies."  (us/ourselves)
  4.  Rosa baked                a chocolate cream cheese cake.  (myself/herself)
  5.  All of the children share with                       .  (one another/we)
  6.  Tomas and Marie help do                           yard work. (each other's/they)
  7.               jeans are nice but                 shirt is nicer.  (these-those/those-this)
  8.             red convertible Mustang is that?  (who/whose)
  9.  I want                 I deserve for the job I completed.  (whenever/whatever)
10.  The letter was addressed: "To              it may concern."  (who/whom)
11.                  was at the party when I arrived.  (no one/they)
12.  Brooke waited for                in the park yesterday.  (myself/him)

 Click on here for answers.
 

Bibliography

Kolln, Martha.  Understanding English Grammar.  4th ed.  Needham, Mass: MacMillan, 1994.

Kolln, Martha and Robert Funk. Understanding English Grammar.  5th ed.  Needham, Mass: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.

Mead, Hayden, and Jay Stevenson.  The Essentials of Grammar.  New York:  Berkley, 1996.
 
Written by Jimmy Pittman
Edited by Mark Canada