PRONOUNS
(form=function)
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A) *DEFINITION: A pronoun substitutes for a noun. · Rather than repeating the noun: · Bob took a few final bites of Bob’s sandwich before Bob went to Bob’s one o’clock class. · Bob took a few final bites of his sandwich before he went to his one o’clock class.
B) FORMS: *HINT: NAME=FUNCTION
3) DEMONSTRATIVE · as PERSONAL pronouns replace people’s names and POSSESSIVE pronouns show ownership, DEMONSTRATIVE pronouns demonstrate, point to, point out · this, that, these, those · not “them” · so, with all deference to Guido and Pink Floyd, the following are incorrect: How do you like them apples?! AND Hey! Teacher, leave them kids alone! · These test results belong to those students.
__________________________________________________________________________ 4) INDEFINITE · replace an indefinite, unnamed, undetermined set of nouns (do not know names or number) · Everyone was glad there was no quiz on the homework.
5) RELATIVE · show relationship to noun · who, whom, whose, which, that · not subject of the sentence · clause=fragment · Dracula’s castle, which was perched on the edge of a steep cliff, provided Jonathan Harker a stunning view of the Carpathian Mountains. (“relative clause”) __________________________________________________________________________ 6) REFLEXIVE · refer back to the noun, intensify the nouns referred to · *use only sparingly: o used to show emphasis (“even God Himself”), o used as an object in rare cases (“I bought myself a ticket.”) o not used when objective form is required (Wrong: “Jacques went to Paris with myself.” Right: “Jacques went to Paris with me.) o not used as a subject (Wrong: “Renee and myself went to the movies.” Right: “Renee and I went to the movies.”) o used if the SUBJECT and OBJECT are one and the same (“I bought myself a hotdog for lunch on Monday.”) · self = singular, selves = plural · myself yourself himself/herself itself ourselves yourselves themselves · The students behaved themselves on the class trip to the art museum. __________________________________________________________________________ 7) INTERROGATIVE · used in questions; start questions · who, which, what, where · What did you expect me to do with this hastily written essay? __________________________________________________________________________ 8) RECIPROCAL · refer to individual parts of the plural term · each other, one another · Although they did not know each other, Suzi and Ashley had to work together on the group assignment. __________________________________________________________________________
· when in doubt, simply drop the other noun or pronoun · If we get past our differences, you and I/me can surely achieve our goals. o “I can surely achieve our goals.” OR “ME can surely achieve our goals.” · Us/We girls have got to stick together. o “US have got to stick together.” OR “WE have got to stick together.”
D) *WHO versus WHOM: · WHO=subject form · WHOM=object form (to, for, from, about) · simple solution: use “whom” if you can say “him” instead (“m” goes with “m”) · To WHO/WHOM would you like to speak? o You would like to speak to HE. o You would like to speak to HIM. · WHO/WHOM submitted this test without a name? o HE submitted the test without a name. o HIM submitted the test without a name.
E) *POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS: · do NOT use apostrophes with possessive pronouns · only NOUNS need (’s) to become possessive · unlike NOUNS that need "surgical augmentation" to illustrate ownership, POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS are "born possessive" and therefore require no "cosmetic surgery"
(ITS) · it’s = it is or it has · The cat washed its paws. · you would not write hi’s or his’, her’s, theirs’
(WHOSE) · who’s = who is or who has · Who’s on first? · Whose book is on the table?
· Use possessive pronouns when they precede gerunds (-ing) . · The result of your bickering will be my incarceration. (not you bickering)
· put yourself last in a list · Rob, Jeanne, and I went to the library to study for the Biology exam. · The professor yelled at her and me for not turning off our cellular telephones in the lecture hall. |