Pronoun Perfection. The Basics Pronouns help us to avoid being overly repetitive. John went to the store, but John forgot to buy milk. John went to.

Pronoun PerfectionPronoun Perfection

The BasicsThe Basics

Pronouns help us to avoid being overly Pronouns help us to avoid being overly repetitive. repetitive.

John went to the store, but John forgot to buy milk.John went to the store, but John forgot to buy milk.

John went to the store, but John went to the store, but hehe forgot to buy milk. forgot to buy milk.

Pronouns replace nouns but must keep the Pronouns replace nouns but must keep the same meaning.same meaning.

The AntecedentThe Antecedent

Antecedent = Original NounAntecedent = Original Noun

John went to the store, but he forgot to buy John went to the store, but he forgot to buy eggs. John = antecedent.eggs. John = antecedent.

Can’t have a pronoun without an Can’t have a pronoun without an antecedent.antecedent.

Pronoun Antecedent AgreementPronoun Antecedent Agreement

Your pronouns must agree with the antecedent:Your pronouns must agree with the antecedent:

Number: Singular or PluralNumber: Singular or Plural Gender: Male, Female, NeutralGender: Male, Female, Neutral

MariaMaria (antecedent) needs to buy (antecedent) needs to buy herher (pronoun) mom (pronoun) mom a new coat. a new coat.

Collective NounsCollective Nouns

Remember, collective nouns are singularRemember, collective nouns are singular

(i.e. the class, the Bahamas, the audience)(i.e. the class, the Bahamas, the audience) IncorrectIncorrect: The Bahamas does not have a : The Bahamas does not have a

firm plan for firm plan for theirtheir tourism season. tourism season.

CorrectCorrect: The Bahamas does not have a firm : The Bahamas does not have a firm plan for plan for itsits tourism season. tourism season.

ExceptionException

If you are referring to multiple parts of a If you are referring to multiple parts of a collective noun, then use a plural pronoun.collective noun, then use a plural pronoun. The audience clapped The audience clapped theirtheir hands. hands. The dance team could not wait to perform The dance team could not wait to perform itsits

show.show.

While the audience is singular, there are While the audience is singular, there are multiple hands.multiple hands.

Indefinite-Pronoun AntecedentsIndefinite-Pronoun Antecedents

The following pronouns are singular:The following pronouns are singular: Anybody, Each, Everybody, Everyone, No Anybody, Each, Everybody, Everyone, No

one, Nobody, Someone, Somebody, One.one, Nobody, Someone, Somebody, One.

I hope someone brought I hope someone brought his or herhis or her dog to the dog to the park on such a nice day.park on such a nice day.

No one at St. Mary’s Girls Academy did No one at St. Mary’s Girls Academy did herher homework last night.homework last night.

More Indefinite PronounsMore Indefinite Pronouns

All, any, enough, more, most, none, and All, any, enough, more, most, none, and some can be singular or plural.some can be singular or plural.

Did you eat the cake? Yes, I ate all of Did you eat the cake? Yes, I ate all of itit.. Did you eat all the pieces of cake? Yes, I ate Did you eat all the pieces of cake? Yes, I ate

all of all of themthem..

Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

Certain conjunctions combine or separate Certain conjunctions combine or separate subjects.subjects.

AndAnd – takes two singular subjects and – takes two singular subjects and makes them pluralmakes them plural Burt and Ernie kidnapped Burt and Ernie kidnapped theirtheir neighbor, Mr. neighbor, Mr.

Rogers.Rogers.

More Coordinating ConjunctionsMore Coordinating Conjunctions

Or & NorOr & Nor keep subjects separate. keep subjects separate.

Either Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny did Either Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny did his his taxes in my kitchen last night.taxes in my kitchen last night.

Neither Julia Roberts nor Demi Moore knows Neither Julia Roberts nor Demi Moore knows her her own telephone number.own telephone number.

Gender Discrimination in Gender Discrimination in PronounsPronouns

If given a choice, make sure the pronoun If given a choice, make sure the pronoun is inclusive of both genders.is inclusive of both genders. Every student needs to get Every student needs to get hishis act together. act together.

• This is grammatically correct but gender biased.This is grammatically correct but gender biased.

If given a choice, make the pronoun inclusive.If given a choice, make the pronoun inclusive.• Every student needs to get Every student needs to get his or herhis or her act together. act together.• All students need to get All students need to get theirtheir acts together. acts together.

Pronoun CasePronoun Case

Subject PronounsSubject Pronouns Do the action of the Do the action of the

sentencesentence

SingularSingular PluralPlural II

WeWe YouYou YouYou He, She, ItHe, She, It TheyThey

Object PronounsObject Pronouns Receive the action of Receive the action of

the sentencethe sentence

SingularSingular PluralPlural MeMe UsUs YouYou YouYou Him, Her, ItHim, Her, It ThemThem

Special Pronoun CasesSpecial Pronoun Cases

Comparisons – Use subject pronouns!Comparisons – Use subject pronouns! A comparison sentence compares two or more A comparison sentence compares two or more

people or things (uses more than, less than, as people or things (uses more than, less than, as much as)much as)

She likes Halloween more than She likes Halloween more than theythey..

I am faster than I am faster than hehe..

Finish the sentence…add in the missing verbFinish the sentence…add in the missing verb..

Using Between and AmongUsing Between and Among

Always use object pronouns with between Always use object pronouns with between and among.and among.

Between you and me, I have no idea why Between you and me, I have no idea why Big Bird is so popular.Big Bird is so popular.

Using And…Using And…

If you’re unsure which pronoun to use, If you’re unsure which pronoun to use, cross out the word “and” and any other cross out the word “and” and any other attached nouns to decide which pronoun attached nouns to decide which pronoun to use.to use.

My dad drove my sister and ___ (I/me).My dad drove my sister and ___ (I/me).

Jose and ___ (he/him) will go to the store.Jose and ___ (he/him) will go to the store.

Who/WhomWho/Whom

Who is a subject pronoun—think of it like Who is a subject pronoun—think of it like “he.”“he.”

Whom is an object pronoun—think of it like Whom is an object pronoun—think of it like “him.”“him.” (Who/Whom) are you trying to call?(Who/Whom) are you trying to call?

• Are you trying to call him, or trying to call he?Are you trying to call him, or trying to call he? (Who/Whom) solved the mystery?(Who/Whom) solved the mystery?

• He solved it, or him solved itHe solved it, or him solved it