Pronouns

Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns.

Personal Pronouns

Pronouns that refer to people or things are called personal pronouns.

Subject & Object Pronouns

A subject pronoun is a personal pronoun in the nominative case. It is used as a subject.

I will read that fairytale.

Subject & Object Pronouns

An object pronoun is a personal pronoun in the objective case. It is used as the direct or indirect object of a verb.

Jessica told me about the story.

Singular PluralUsed as Subjects

Used as Objects

Singular PluralUsed as Subjects I

youhe, she, it

Used as Objects

Singular PluralUsed as Subjects I we

you youhe, she, it that

Used as Objects

Singular PluralUsed as Subjects I we

you youhe, she, it that

Used as Objects meyou

him, her, it

Singular PluralUsed as Subjects I we

you youhe, she, it that

Used as Objects me usyou you

him, her, it them

Using Pronouns Correctly

• Sometimes people confuse pronouns in the nominative and objective cases.

Using Pronouns Correctly

• Be sure to use a subject pronoun in a compound subject and an object pronoun in a compound object.

Richard and I recited the fable. (not Richard and me)Jennifer helped Richard and me. (not Richard and I)

Using Pronouns Correctly

• If you can’t decide which form to use, try saying the sentence without the noun.

Abigail and ____ recited the fable. (I or Me?)

• Always use I or me last in a compound subject or object.

Jennifer and I enjoyed folktales. (not I and Jennifer)

Pronouns & Antecedents

• The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.

Albert read “Sleeping Beauty.” He found it exciting.

Pronouns & Antecedents

• The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.

Albert read “Sleeping Beauty.” He found it exciting.

Pronouns & Antecedents

• The pronoun and antecedent must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (male, female, or neutral).

The king and queen were proud of the baby girl, and they loved her dearly.

Possessive Pronouns• Some personal pronouns

indicate ownership or possession. These pronouns are called possessive pronouns. It shows who or what has something.

Possessive Pronouns• Sometimes they come before

the noun.His fables are famous.Its characters are often animals.

• Sometimes they stand alone.This book is yours.Aesop’s Fables is a favorite of mine.

Singular PluralUsed Before Nouns

Used Alone

Singular PluralUsed Before Nouns my

yourher, his, its

Used Alone

Singular PluralUsed Before Nouns my our

your yourher, his, its their

Used Alone

Singular PluralUsed Before Nouns my our

your yourher, his, its their

Used Alone mineyours

hers, his, its

Singular PluralUsed Before Nouns my our

your yourher, his, its their

Used Alone mine oursyours yours

hers, his, its theirs

Indefinite Pronouns• An indefinite pronoun does

not refer to a particular person, place, thing, or idea.• The can be used alone or with

nouns.

Has any student read the folktale?Have any read that book?

Always Singular Always Plural

another everybody no one

anybody everyone nothing

anyone everything one

anything much somebody

each neither someone

either nobody something

Always Singular Always Plural

another everybody no one

anybody everyone nothing

anyone everything one

anything much somebody

each neither someone

either nobody something

Always Singular Always Plural

another everybody no one both

anybody everyone nothing few

anyone everything one many

anything much somebody others

each neither someone several

either nobody something

Interrogative Pronouns

• An interrogative pronoun introduces a question.• what, which, whom, and whose

Whose bicycle is this?Which of these is the correct answer?

Demonstrative Pronouns

• A demonstrative pronoun points out a specific person, place, thing, or idea.• this, that, these, those

This birthday card is hilarious.Are those stars always visible to us?

Reflexive Pronouns• A reflexive pronoun is

formed by adding –self or –selves to a personal pronoun.• Acts as an object.

1st Person: myself, ourselves2nd Person: yourself, yourselves3rd Person: himself, herself, itself, and themselves

Reflexive Pronouns• A reflexive pronoun is

formed by adding –self or –selves to a personal pronoun.• Acts as an object.

I addressed the envelope to myself.

Intensive Pronouns• An intensive pronoun adds

emphasis to a noun or another pronoun.• Take the same form as

reflexive pronouns.

Dad told the story himself. (himself emphasizes Dad)

Reflexive vs. Intensive Pronouns

• If you’re not sure whether a pronoun is reflexive or intensive, use this test:1. Read the sentence aloud, leaving out the

pronoun.2. Ask yourself whether the basic meaning of

the sentence stayed the same.

Stayed Same = IntensiveChanged = Reflexive