Pronouns

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Personal Pronouns

Subject

Pronoun

Object

Pronoun

Possessive Adjective

Possessive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronoun

me mine

us ours

you yours

him his

her hers

it ―

them theirs

one ―

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Rules for Using Personal Pronouns

Use the pronoun according to the form requiredThe scientist showed us his invention.

The scientist showed us her invention.

The scientists showed us their invention. Use an object pronoun after a preposition

Between us, the competition is unimportant.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Rules for Using Personal Pronouns

Do not confuse its with it’sits: belonging to it (its engine=the engine of the car) it’s: a contracted form of it is (it’s raining)

Use the appropriate forms for reflexive pronounsYou have to do the assignment yourself. (one person)

You have to work among yourselves for this project. (more than one person)

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Reference

Use a pronoun to refer to a noun phrase or another pronoun (called the antecedent) mentioned earlier in your writing.

Cancer is a major illness, but not everyone who contracts cancer will die from it.

Name the highlighted word.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Reference

Cancer is a major illness, but not everyone who contracts cancer will die from it.

Cancer is the antecedent of it

and it is the pronoun reference for cancer.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Reference

The antecedent must be specified before the use of the pronoun.

Imaging is an important diagnostic tool for determining the stage and the precise locations of cancer to aid in cancer treatment plans. It can also be used to check if cancer has returned.

Imaging is the antecedent of it

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Agreement

A singular pronoun refers to a singular word or phrase

Computer technology has its pros and cons.

A plural pronoun refers to a plural form.

Different disciplines are engulfed with their own ethical concerns.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Agreement

A possessive adjective agrees in gender with its antecedent, not the noun following it. Marie Curie brought pride to her country by winning the Nobel Prize.

Environmentalists showed their displeasure by demonstrating at the recent G8 meeting.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Agreement

The following need singular pronouns

singular countable nouns collective nouns uncountable nouns indefinite pronouns

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Agreement

Types of Noun/ Pronoun

Examples Pronouns to be used

Singular countable noun

a person

a book

he or she

it

Singular collective noun

a troop

a collection

it

it

Singular indefinite pronoun

everyone, someone

each, every

he or she

he, she or it

Uncountable noun

information

equipment

it

it

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Pronoun Agreement

Plural countable nouns, compound noun phrases and some collective nouns need plural pronouns (they, them, their, theirs)

Doctors have to abide by their code of ethics.

Engineers and scientists think quite differently because of their training.

The government want their citizens to support them.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns:

are used to point out what is referred to.

are only used if there was a previous mention of the object or concept.

Common Errors: 1

It is the most common pronoun. It is commonly omitted when it functions as an

object pronoun:

You will regret. X

You will regret it.

I would appreciate if you could reply… X

I would appreciate it if you could reply…

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Errors: 2

Pronouns tend to be omitted when the reference is generally understood:

The man was holding a book in right

hand. X The man was holding a book in his right

hand.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Errors: 3

eg1471/jc/dec2008

The wrong category of pronoun can be chosen. For example, determiners instead of non-determiners.

The book is her. X

The book is hers.

Avoiding Repetition

Using pronouns instead of repetition is one way of improving your writing.

Many students work very hard. Many students spend all day on campus.

Many students work very hard. They spend all day on campus.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Reference

Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 106-113.