Check here about pronouns
· A pronoun can be used to do any of the “jobs” which a noun can do in a sentence
Antecedent: word(s) which the pronoun replaces.
Kinds of Pronouns:
Personal: Most commonly used pronouns.
I, me, my, mineyou, your, yours
he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
we us, our, ours
you, your, yours
they, them, their, theirs
Interrogative: Used to ask questions
whowhose
whom
which
what
Demonstrative: Used to point things out or call attention.
thisthat
these
those
Indefinite: Do not have antecedents
another, anybody, anyone, anythingeach, either, everybody, everyone, everything
little, much, neither, nobody, no one
both, few, many, others, several
all, any, more, most, none, some
Reflexive/Intensive: Ends in –self or -selves
himselfmyself
yourself
Reciprocal:
each other
one another
We can proceed with the following description about pronouns
PERFORMER/SUBJECT PRONOUNS WHICH
PRONOUNS RECEIVE ACTION
I me
you you
he him
she her
it it
we us
they them
who whom
PRONOUN CLUE 1:
Don't be confused by who and whom. As you can see in the preceding list, who is a subject/performer and whom is
a pronoun that receives action.
If: He painted the house.
Then: Who painted the house?
If: The phone call is for him.
Then: For whom is the phone call?
PRONOUN CLUE 2:
Don't be confused by more than one subject.
If: He won the election.
Then: Macon and he won the election.
Because it is incorrect to say:
Him won the election.
It is also incorrect to say:
Macon and him won the election
PRONOUN CLUE 3:
Don't be confused by more than one word receiving the action.
If: I gave the present to her.
Then: I gave the present to Tom and her.
Because it is incorrect to say:
I gave the present to she.
It is also incorrect to say:
I gave the present to Tom and she.
If: Sam bought her lunch.
Then: Sam bought Robert and her lunch.
Because it is incorrect to say:
Sam bought she lunch.
It is also incorrect to say:
Sam bought Robert and she lunch.
PRONOUN CLUE 4:
Don't be confused by a condensed thought.
If: Elmer runs more quickly than I do.
Then: Elmer runs more quickly than I.
Because it is incorrect to say:
Elmer runs more quickly than me do.
It is equally incorrect to say:
Elmer runs more quickly than me.
PRONOUN CLUE 5:
A sentence is reversible if it has a linking word that connects the subject to a word which means the same thing as
the subject.
If: Carl is the mayor.
Then: The mayor is Carl.
If: He is the mayor.
Then: The mayor is he.
Because it is incorrect to say
Him is the mayor.
It is also incorrect to say:
The mayor is him.
PRONOUN CLUE 6:
Certain pronounsmy, your, his, her, its, our, theirmay be used as descriptive words.
Example:
I like the red hat.
I like his hat.
Descriptive pronouns are never a problem in the above context. However, errors tend to be made in sentences such
as the following:
INCORRECT:I do not like him smoking.
CORRECT:I do not like his smoking.
INCORRECT:Of course I approve of you jogging.
CORRECT:Of course I approve of your jogging.
PRONOUN CLUE 7:
Words such as to, from, between, except, among are followed by pronouns that receive action
For example:
1.Between you and me, I don't enjoy cooking.
2.The package is for her.
3.Please divide the workload among them.
4.Everyone, except us, is attending the meeting.
PRONOUN CLUE 8:
A pronoun must agree in number with the word to which it refers.
For example:
1.One of the men in the back of the room could not project his voice.
His refers to one. Both words are singular.
2.All of those women left their coats after the rally.
Their refers to all. Both words are plural.
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