Pronouns

English II A

Pronouns

• A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns.– The noun a pronoun stands for is called the

antecedent• The students complained to the principal about the

dress code. They said he had not consulted them about it.

– “students” is the antecedent of the pronouns they and them.

– What is the antecedent of the pronoun “he”?– What is the antecedent of the pronoun “it”?

Personal Pronouns

• personal pronouns refer to the person speaking (first person), the person spoken to (second person), or the person or thing spoken about (third person).

Singular Plural

first person I, me, mine, my

we, us, our, ours

second person

you, your, yours

you, your yours

third person he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its

they, them, their, theirs

Reflexive vs. Intensive Pronouns

• reflexive pronouns refer to the subject of the sentence, directing the action of the verb back to the subject.

• intensive pronouns emphasize the antecedent, a noun, or another pronoun.

singular plural

first person myself ourselves

second person

yourself yourselves

third person himself, herself, itself

themselves

Examples

• Mary excused herself from the table. [reflexive]• I gave myself an ulcer worrying about the

English test. [reflexive]• Tom Hanks himself wrote the script. [intensive]• The troops themselves helped save the

hostages.– Intensive pronouns usually appear right next to the

word they represent.

Demonstrative Pronouns

• demonstrative pronouns point out a noun or other pronoun.– this, that, these, those

• These are the pictures from our vacation. • Is this the one you want.

Interrogative Pronouns

• interrogative pronouns introduce a question.– who, whom, which, what, whose

• What is the capital of Hawaii?• Whose turn is it?

Relative Pronouns

• A relative pronoun introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause.– that, which, who, whom, whose.

• The college that I chose is in Texas.• Mrs. Hogan tries to change the way that

sophomores view biology.

Indefinite Pronouns

• An indefinite pronoun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that may or may not be specifically named.

all both few nobody several

another each many none some

any either more no one somebody

anybody everybody most nothing someone

anyone everyone much one something

anything everything neither other such

Examples

• All of the members voted. [antecedent = members]

• Did everyone get the lesson on pronouns? [no antecedent—inferred that I am speaking to my Advanced Comp class]– Many indefinite pronouns can also be used as

adjectives.

Apply: Listen, U2, “Walk On”And love is not the easy thingThe only baggage you can bring...And love is not the easy thing...The only baggage you can bringIs all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apartAnd if the daylight feels like it's a long way offAnd if your glass heart should crackAnd for a second you turn backOh no, be strong

Walk on, walk onWhat you got, they can't steal itNo they can't even feel itWalk on, walk onStay safe tonight...

• I'm not a perfect personThere's many things I wish I didn't doBut I continue learningI never meant to do those things to youAnd so I have to say before I goThat I just want you to know

I've found a reason for meTo change who I used to beA reason to start over newand the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt youIt's something I must live with every dayAnd all the pain I put you throughI wish that I could take it all awayAnd be the one who catches all your tearsThat's why I need you to hear

“The Reason”Hoobastank, Track 7

I've found a reason for meTo change who I used to beA reason to start over newand the reason is you [x4]

I'm not a perfect personI never meant to do those things to youAnd so I have to say before I goThat I just want you to know

I've found a reason for meTo change who I used to beA reason to start over newand the reason is you

I've found a reason to showA side of me you didn't knowA reason for all that I doAnd the reason is you

Apply

• Write a type I in which you answer the following prompt:

• Describe your future mate. What do you want him or her to be like?