Pronouns

1. Pronouns • Agree in number ( singular or plural) • Agree in gender (masculine or feminine) • Agree in case (form)

2. 1. Agree in numbersingular=singularplural=plural • A singular antecedent should be referred to by a singular pronoun. • Sandra let the waves lap against her ankles while she gazed at the clouds. • Each of the boys offered his help.

3. 1. Agree in numbersingular=singularplural=plural • A plural antecedent should be referred to by a plural pronoun. • Mom picked up both girls at school and drove them to their soccer game.

4. 2. Agree in gendermasculine=masculinefeminine=feminine • A feminine noun should be referred to by a feminine pronoun. • I gave Karen my notes to review because she misplaced hers.

5. 2. Agree in gendermasculine=masculinefeminine=feminine • A masculine noun should be referred to by a masculine pronoun. • If Jake calls, please tell him that his meeting has been cancelled.

6. 3. Agree in case (form) • Pronoun Case is a simple matter. There are 3 cases (forms): • Subjective Case: pronouns as subjects. • Objective Case: pronouns used as objects of verbs or prepositions. • Possessive Case: pronouns which express ownership.

7. Nominative Case • I, you, she, he, it, we, they, who, whoever • Nominative pronouns are used whenever a pronoun is used as subject • Example: Amy and I are going water skiing. (The pronoun “I” is part of the subject; thus it is in the nominative case).

8. Objective Case • Me, you, her, him, it, us, them, whom, whoever • Objective pronouns follow action verbs and are sometimes direct objects answering the questions, “what?” or “whom?” after the action verb. • Ex: I heard him in the courtyard. ( In this example, “him answers the question, “Heard Whom?” so the pronoun is in the objective case.)

9. Possessive Case • My, mine, your, yours, her, hers, his, its, our, ours, their, theirs, whose • Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership or attachment: • Ex: His watch is very expensive. (In this example, “His” answers the question: Who owns the watch?)

10. Pronoun Case (form) The pronouns: This That These Those and Which do not change form.

11. Some problems of case: • In compound structures, where there are two pronouns or a noun and a pronoun, drop the other noun for a moment. Then you can see which case you want. • NOT: Bob and me travel a good deal. • (Would you say, “me travel a good deal”?) • NOT: He gave the flowers to Jane and I. • (would you say, “he gave the flowers to I”?)

12. Problems w/case: Comparisons • Comparisons usually follow as OR than: • He is taller than I. ( am tall) • This helps you as much as ( it helps) me. • She is as noisy as I ( am).

13. I-6 Identify Correct Pronoun Case • Some people confuse their pronouns. Remember how the pronoun is used in the sentence to determine the correct form. • Example:Carlotta and me are going swimming today. (In this sentence, “me” is incorrectly used. Because the pronoun is part of the subject, a nominative form should be used. “I” should replace “me”.

14. In formal and semi-formal writing: • Use the subjective form after a form of the verb to be. • Formal: It is I. • Informal: It is me. • Use whom in the objective case. • Formal: To whom am I talking? • Informal: Who am I talking to

15. An object or animal should be referred to by a neuter pronoun. • Mr. Lane read the petition and then signed it.

16. When pronouns are used to replace nouns in sentences: • The pronouns must be in the same case as the nouns they replace.

17. Nominative (Subject) case pronouns replace nominative case nouns and pronouns. • Megan and Tim have known each other for years. • Correct: She and he have known each other for years. • Correct: They have known each other for years. • Incorrect: Her and him have known each other for years.

18. Megan, Tim, and I have known each other for years. • Correct: They and I have known each other for years. • Correct: We have known each other for years. • Incorrect: Them and me have known each other for years.

19. Objective Case (form) pronouns replace objective case nouns. • I have known Megan and Tim since kindergarten. • Correct: I have known her and him since kindergarten. • Correct: I have known them since kindergarten. • Incorrect: I have known she and he since kindergarten.

20. Possessive pronouns • Possession is usually indicated with an apostrophe. • Personal pronouns DO NOT need an apostrophe to show possession because they are already possessive. • DO NOT confuse contractions with similar possessive pronouns.

21. It’s (meaning “it is”) • Correct: The cat licked its paw. • Incorrect: The cat licked it’s paw.

22. They’re (meaning “they are”) • Correct: Their room is at the end of the hall. • Incorrect: They’re room is at the end of the hall.

23. You’re (meaning “you are”) • Correct: Tina and I are saving your seat so hurry back. • Incorrect: Tina and I are saving you’re seat so hurry back.

24. Keep in mind that possessive pronouns that have apostrophes are misspelled • Correct: The yellow coat is hers. • Incorrect: The yellow coat is her’s.

25. The reflexive pronouns: • Myself, herself, himself, ourselves, and themselves are used to emphasize or reinforce subjects, verbs, and objects in sentences. • They are never used alone as subjects, and there are no such words as • hisself OR theirselves.

26. Choose the sentence written correctly • Both Denny and me asked the waitress for menus. • My best friends and they get along very well. • Melina and him borrowed my car to go to the movies. • Where are you and her going in such a hurry? • Remember that pronouns used in the subject must be in the nominative case. The personal pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we, and they are nominative case.

27. Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error • Each of the boys is responsible for cleaning and caring for their equipment. • Mom took one look at the puppy and immediately decided to bring it home. • Mr. Ramirez challenged us to race him to the corner. • Jen and Lena were on the basketball team, but they spent most of the season sitting on the bench. • HINT: Check each pronoun and its antecedent. Which pronoun does not agree with its antecedent in number?

28. Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is correct. • 1. Ricky’s iguana loves sunning itself on the rock in it’s terrarium. • I put my packages in the truck so this bag must be your’s. • Mary quickly brushed the ant off her sandwich. • The mare wandered away from his stall. • HINT: Look for a possessive pronoun that is in the same case and gender as its antecedent and that is spelled correctly. Keep I mind that possessive pronouns do not need apostrophes to show ownership.

29. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. • Jane and ____ love to go to thrift shops and yard sales to find bargains. • Me • Them • Myself • I • HINT: Try saying the sentence with just the pronoun as the subject to see which one is grammatically correct.

30. Thursday • Complete # 1-5 on your own paper from the Coach AHSGE • Workbook; page 109.Lesson Practice. • Turn in at the end of the period. • Make sure your name, date and name of the activity are on your paper.