Personal Pronouns
The most frequently used pronouns
are called personal pronouns. They
refer to people or things.
Subject Pronouns
She is my best friend.
It is my dog.
Does he know the answer?
You and I will meet later.
Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is used as the
direct/indirect object or the object
of a preposition.
Give the book to me.
The teacher gave her a reprimand.
I will tell you a story.
Susan read it to them.
List of Personal Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Subject Pronouns
I
you
he, she, it
we
you
they
Object Pronouns
me
you
him, her, it
us
you
them
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
Read the following sentences. Can you
tell to whom the word She refers?
Arachne competes with Athena. She
weaves skillfully.
The sentence is not clear because the word
She could refer to either Arachne or
Athena. Sometimes you must repeat a
noun or rewrite the sentence.
Arachne competes with Athena. Athena
weaves skillfully.
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The noun or group of words that a
pronoun refers to is called its
antecedent.
When you use a pronoun, you should be sure that
it refers to its antecedent clearly. Be
especially careful when you use the pronoun
they. Read the following sentence.
They have several books about Greek
myths at the library.
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PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
The meaning of They is unclear. The
sentence can be improved by
rewriting it in the following
manner.
Several books about myths are
available at the library.
PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
When using pronouns, you must also
make sure that they agree with
their antecedents in number
(singular or plural) and gender.
The gender of a noun may be
masculine (male), feminine
(female), or neutral (referring to
things). Notice how the pronouns
on the next slide agree with their
antecedents.
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PRONOUNS AND ANTECEDENTS
1. The myth of Arachne is amusing. I
enjoyed it.
2. The bystanders see Athena. They
watch her at the loom.
In the first sentence, myth is the
antecedent of the pronoun it.
In the second sentence, bystanders is
the antecedent of They, and Athena
is the antecedent of her.
Using Pronouns Correctly
Subject pronouns are used in
compound subjects, and object
pronouns are used in compound
objects.
He and Carmen wrote a report on the
subject. (Not Him and Carmen)
Tell John and me about Hercules.
(Not John and I)
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Using Pronouns Correctly
A preposition takes an object, just as
many verbs do. The object of a
preposition can be simple or
compound. In either case, use an
object pronoun as the object of the
preposition.
Lee read a famous myth to me.
Lee read a famous Roman myth
to John and me.
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Using Pronouns Correctly
If you are not sure of which form of the
pronoun to use, say the sentence aloud
with only the pronoun as the subject or
the object. Your ear will tell you which
form is correct.
Whenever the pronoun I is part of a
compound subject, it should always be
placed after the other parts of the subject.
Similarly, when the pronoun me is part of
a compound object, it should go after the
other parts of the object.
Continue
Using Pronouns Correctly
Lee and I read some ancient
Roman myths. (Not I and Lee)
Mythology interests Lee and me.
(Not me and Lee).
Continue
Using Pronouns Correctly
In formal writing and speech use a
subject pronoun after a linking
verb.
The writer of this report was she.
It is I.
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Possessive Pronouns
A possessive pronoun is a
pronoun that shows who or what
has something. A possessive
pronoun may take the place of a
possessive noun.
Read the following sentences. Notice
the possessive nouns and the
possessive pronouns that replace
them.
Continue
Possessive Pronouns
Homer’s story is famous.
His story is famous.
This story is Homer’s.
This story is his.
Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are
in red.
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Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used
before a noun. The other form is used alone.
Used
before
nouns
Used
alone
Singular
Plural
my
your
his, her, its
mine
yours
his, hers, its
our
your
their
ours
yours
theirs
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Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The
pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word
it’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of it is.
Read the following sentences. Notice the meaning of
the words in red type.
Its central character is Odysseus.
(possessive pronoun)
It’s about the adventures of Odysseus.
(contraction of It is)
Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that
does not refer to a particular person,
place, or thing.
Does anyone know the story of Midas?
Most indefinite pronouns are either singular
or plural.
Continue
Some Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
another
anybody
anyone
anything
each
either
everybody
everyone
everything
much
neither
nobody
Plural
no one
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something
both
few
many
others
several
All, any, most, none and some can be
singular or plural, depending on the phrase
that follows them.
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Some Indefinite Pronouns
When an indefinite pronoun is used as the
subject, the verb must agree with it in number.
Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)
Both talk about King Minos. (plural)
All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)
All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)
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Some Indefinite Pronouns
Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns
as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns
must agree in number. Note that in the first
example the intervening prepositional phrase does
not affect the agreement.
Each of the characters has his or her motive.
Several have conflict with their rivals.
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Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another
pronoun and indicates that the same person or
thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed
by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and
possessive pronouns
The woman found herself a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun
Continue
Reflexive Pronouns
Singular
myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself
Plural
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for
himself and theirselves for themselves.
Avoid using hisself and theirselves.
Continue
Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that adds
emphasis to a noun or pronoun already named.
George himself bought a copy of American Tall
Tales.
He himself paid for the book.
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