problems with pronouns

Problems with Pronouns

Pronouns are:

words that take place of nouns

can be a subject or an object

agree with the nouns they are replacing

Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun

SUBJECT OBJECT

I

You

He

She

It

They

We

me

you

him

her

it

them

us

• A subject pronoun is used as subject of a verb.

• An object pronoun is used as object of a verb or

object of preposition.


Example:

Sally gave the book to John.

She gave it to him.

Sally is replaced by she as the subject.

Book is replaced by it as the object of verb.

John is replaced by him as the object of preposition.


Exercise:

C 1. The worst problem with it is that he cannot

afford it.

I 2. They saw Steve and I (me) at the movies last

night after class.

I 3. Perhaps you would like to go to the seminar

with they (them) and their friends.

C 4. The mother took her son to the doctor’s

office because he was feeling sick.


I 5. I did not know that you and her (she) were

working together on the project.

C 6. She did not buy the sweater because it

had a small hole in it.

C 7. The man leading the seminar gave me all

the information I needed to make a decision.

I 8. The cords connecting the computer to its

printer need to be replaced before them

(they) wear down.


C 9. He is going to the party with you and me if

you do not mind.

I 10. You and her (she) ought to return the

books to the library because they are already

overdue.

Distinguish Possessive Adjectives& Pronouns

Possessive Adjectives Possessive Pronouns

my

your

his

her

its

our

their

mine

yours

his

hers

-

ours

theirs

• A possessive adjective describes a noun that

MUST be accompanied by a noun.

• A possessive pronoun is used as a noun that

CAN’T be accompanied by a noun.

Distinguish Possessive Adjectives& Pronouns

Example:

They lent me their book.

adjective

Their is followed by book because a possessive

adjective describes a noun.

They lent me theirs.

pronoun

Theirs is not followed by a noun because a

possessive pronoun is already a noun.

Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns

Exercise:

I 1. If she borrows your coat, then you should be

able to borrow her (hers).

C 2. Each pot and pan in her kitchen has its own

place on the shelf.

I 3. Mary and Mark invited theirs (their) parents

to see their new apartment.

C 4. When my roommate paid her half of the rent,

I paid mine.


I 5. All students need to bring theirs (their) own

pencils and answer sheets to the exam.

C 6. All her secretaries are working late tonight to

finish her report.

C 7. The horse trotting around the track won its

race a few minutes ago.

I 8. Before the report is finalized, the information

in their notes and our (ours) must be proofed.


C 9. She worked all day cooking food and making

decorations for her son’s birthday party.

I 10. The weather in the mountains this weekend

will be extremely cold, so please take yours

(your) heavy jackets.

Check Pronoun Reference forAgreement

Pronoun Agreement

1. Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the noun it

refers to.

2. Generally check back in the sentence for agreement.

After checking the subject and object pronouns

and the possessives are used correctly, it is

needed to check THEM for agreement.

Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement

Example:

The boys will cause trouble if you let him.

Though him is correctly used as an object

pronoun, but it is incorrectly referred to boys.

Therefore, him should be replaced with them.

Everyone must give their name.

Though their is correctly used as a possessive

adjective, but it is incorrectly referred to

everyone. It should be replaced with his or her.


Exercise:

I 1. If a person really wants to succeed, they

(she/he) must always work hard.

C 2. If you see the students from math class,

could you return their exam papers to them?

I 3. Some friends and I went to see a movie, and

afterwards we wrote a critique about them (it).


I 4. If you have a problem, you are welcome to

discuss it with me before you try to resolve them

(it).

C 5. I know you had a terrible time last week, but

you must try to forget it.

C 6. At the start of the program, each student

needs to see his advisor about his schedule.

I 7. In spite of its (their) small size, these video

recorders produce excellent tapes.


I 8. Whatever the situation, you should reflect

profoundly about them (it) before coming to a

decision.

C 9. The people I admire most are those who

manage to solve their own problems.

I 10. If anyone stops by while I am at the

meeting, please take a message from them

(her/him).

Exercise Skill 21-23

I 1. Helicopters are being used more and more in

emergency situations because of its (their)

ability to reach out-of-the-way places.

I 2. The worker was fired by the chemical

company because his (he) refused to work with

certain dangerous chemicals.

C 3. If you have car trouble while driving on the

freeway, you should pull your car over to the

side of the freeway and wait for help.


I 4. The administration will not install the new

security system because they (it) cost so much.

C 5. Some parents prefer to send their children to

private schools because they believe the

children will be better educated.

C 6. The air traffic controller was not blamed for

the accident because he had strictly followed

the correct procedures.


I 7. The new student has been assigned to work

on the project with you and I (me).

I 8. Many different kinds of aspirin are on the

market, but theirs (their) effectiveness seems to

be equal.

C 9. You must bring a tent and a sleeping bag for

your trip to the Sierras.

C 10. Each of team members had their new

uniform.

TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23

B 1. Superman made their (its) comic debut in 1983 in

A B C D

Action Comics.

C 2. Commercial letters of credit are often used to finance

A

export trade, but them (they) can have other uses.

B C D


C 3. When children experience too much frustration,

A B

its (their) behavior ceases to be integrated.

C D

C 4. On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot as

A B

his (he) was leaving a Washington hotel.

C D


A 5. Although the destruction that it causes (they) is often

A

terrible, cyclones benefit a much wider belt than they

B C D

devastate.

B 6. President Andrew Jackson had an official cabinet,

A

but him (he) preferred the advice of his informal advices,

B C D

the Kitchen Cabinet.


C 7. After Clarence Day’s book Life with Father was

A

rewritten as a play, they (it) ran for six years on Broadway.

B C D

C 8. Almost half of the Pilgrims did not survive theirs (their)

A B C

first winter in the New World.

D


C 9. There was no indication from the Senate that he (it)

A B C

would agree with the decision made in the House.

D

D 10. A baby learns the meanings of words as they are

A

spoken by others and later uses him (them) in sentences.

B C D

problems with pronouns

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