Pronouns
Brenham Writing Room
Created by D. Herring
What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun replaces a noun or other
pronouns so you don’t have to repeat
them.
– Definite pronouns: I, me, she, he, they,
we, us
– Indefinite pronouns: every, each, some,
none
How do I use pronouns correctly?
There are several important areas that
you must understand in order to use
pronouns correctly.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Pronoun Choice
Pronoun Consistency
Pronoun Reference
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
I. Pronoun Choice
It’s important to use the correct type of
pronoun. The types of pronouns are
–
–
–
–
Subject pronouns
Object pronouns
Possessive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns
Types of Pronouns
A subject pronoun serves as the subject of
the verb.
– I went to the store.
– He walks to school every day.
An object pronoun receives the action of the
verb or is part of a prepositional phrase.
– My mother gave me some money.
– My mother gave some money to me.
Types of Pronouns
A possessive pronoun shows ownership.
– That car is his.
– Ms. Clements is my teacher.
A reflexive pronoun emphasizes that the
subject does an action to himself or herself.
– I have asked myself that question many times!
– She hurt herself while jumping on the bed.
– History often repeats itself.
Pronoun Trouble Spots
There are 3 areas where you may run into
trouble when trying to identify the correct
pronoun to use.
– Compound subject and objects
– Comparisons
– Sentences that need who or whom
Compound Subjects & Objects
A compound subject has more than one
subject joined by a conjunction (and, or,
nor).
A compound object has more than one
object joined by a conjunction.
Compound Subjects & Objects
To determine which pronoun to use in a
compound construction, leave out the other
part of the compound.
– Daryl and (I, me) went to dinner last night.
• Think: I went to dinner last night.
– Jack went to the movies with Sally and (she,
her).
• Think: Jack went to the movies with her.
– Jack went to the movies with Sally and (I, me).
• Think: Jack went to the movies with me.
Compound Subjects & Objects
If a pronoun is part of a compound object in
a prepositional phrase, use an object
pronoun.
– I will keep that information just between you
and (I, me).
– I wanted to go to the ballgame with (he and she,
him and her).
Pronouns used in Comparisons
You must use the correct pronoun in a
comparison because using the incorrect
pronoun could change the meaning of your
sentence.
– Jim likes baseball more than I.
• Means: Jim likes baseball more than I do.
– Jim likes baseball more than me.
• Means: Jim likes baseball more than he likes me.
Pronouns used in Comparisons
When deciding whether to use the subject or
object pronoun in a comparison, add the
implied words and say the sentence aloud.
– I go to the movies more than (he, him).
• Think: I go to the movies more than he does.
– They enjoy fishing more than (us, we).
• Think: They enjoy fishing more than we do.
Who vs. Whom
Who is always a subject; whom is always an
object.
– Who delivered this package?
– This package was delivered to whom?
Tips for choosing the correct word:
– If the pronoun performs the action, choose who; if it does not perform the
action, choose whom.
– In sentences other than questions, when the pronoun is followed by a verb,
use who; when the pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun, use whom.
• We wanted to know who starred in the movie.
• The person with whom I carpooled was my neighbor.
II. Pronoun Consistency
Pronouns must be consistent in Person.
Person is the point-of-view the writer uses.
Pronouns may be in
– First person (I, me, we)
– Second person (you)
– Third person (he, she, it, they)
Pronoun Consistency
Remember that pronouns must stay consistent
in person.
– Incorrect: I wanted to ride the roller coaster, but
the attendant said you had to be at least 6-feet tall.
– Correct: I wanted to ride the roller coaster, but
the attendant said I had to be at least 6-feet tall.
– Incorrect: Many college students have access to a
writing center where you can get tutoring.
– Correct: Many college students have access to a
writing center where they can get tutoring.
III. Pronoun Reference
Your pronoun must refer clearly to an
antecedent.
There are 2 potential reference problems:
– Vague pronoun reference
– Repetitious pronoun reference
Vague Pronoun Reference
Vague pronoun reference occurs when the
pronoun could refer to more than one noun
OR when the pronoun does not refer clearly
to any particular person, place, or thing.
Vague Pronoun Reference
– Michael told Jim he needed a better resume’.
• Who does the he refer to, Michael or Jim?
– I put the glass on the shelf, even though it was dirty.
• What is dirty, the glass or the shelf?
– When Tom got to the clinic, they told him it was
closed.
• Who are they?
– In the newspaper, it said that the crime rate dropped.
• Who or what is it?
Repetitious Pronoun Reference
Repetitious pronoun reference occurs when
the pronoun repeats a reference to a noun
rather than replacing it.
– The nurse at the clinic he told Tom that it was
closed.
– My English teacher, she said that I need to
study more for my next exam.
IV. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
What is Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement?
– A pronoun must match its antecedent in number
(singular or plural) and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
What is an Antecedent?
– An antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which
the pronoun refers.
• Martha sold her car.
• The Smiths sold their car.
• The grass is losing its color.
Trouble Spots for P-A Agreement
1. Two or more antecedents joined by and are
always plural, so the pronoun must be
plural.
– Jack and Jill lost their pail.
– My mother and father are redecorating their
house.
Trouble Spots for P-A Agreement
2. Each & Every are singular antecedents,
even when followed by two things joined by
and.
– Each hand and foot leaves its distinctive print.
– Each of the robbers left his fingerprints.
– Each of the students will need his or her book
for this assignment.
Trouble Spots for P-A Agreement
3. When joined by Correlative Conjunctions,
the antecedent closest to the verb determines
if the pronoun is singular or plural.
– Either the microphone or the speakers need their
cord repaired.
– Either the speakers or the microphone needs its
cord replaced.
Correlative Conjunctions: either…or; neither…nor; not
only…but.
Trouble Spots for P-A Agreement
4. The antecedent is an Indefinite Pronoun
– Correct: Everyone in class hopes to do well on
his or her exam.
– Incorrect: Everyone in class hopes to do well
on their exam.
– Correct: Each student hopes to do well on his
or her exam.
– Incorrect: Each student hopes to do well on
their exam.
Trouble Spots for P-A Agreement
5. The antecedent is a collective noun
– Correct: The team won its game last weekend.
– Incorrect: The team won their game last
weekend.
– Correct: The audience clapped its hands.
– Incorrect: The audience clapped their hands.