using you,one,and they as impersonal pronouns

USING 'YOU,ONE,AND THEY'USING 'YOU,ONE,AND THEY'AS IMPERSONAL PRONOUNS

By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjarhttp://www.kau.edu.sa/SBANJER http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 1

YOUONE THEY

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 2

IMPERSONAL PRONOUNS

The impersonal pronounsconsidered here ( YOU, ONE,and THEY) share twofundamental properties:(i) they only refer to humans,(i) they only refer to humans,(ii) they allow generic readings.

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 3

EXAMPLES

One should always be polite.How does one get to 5th Avenue from here?You should always be polite.

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 4

You should always be polite.How do you get to 5th avenue from here?

Means “any person, people in

general.”

ONE

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR5

YOU

EXAMPLES

1. One should take care of one’s health.2. One should take care of his health.3. One should take care of his or her health.

BRITISH+

FORMAL AMERICAN

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 6

3. One should take care of his or her health.

AWKWARD

AMERICAN

=‘some people

orsomebody’

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 7

Dr. SHADIA Y. BANJAR 8