Proper Pronoun usage brings Peace Chapter 6 USING
Proper Pronoun usage brings Peace Chapter 6 USING PRONOUNS
PERSONAL PRONOUNS - CASE �Personal pronouns take on different forms, depending on how they are used in sentences. These forms are called cases.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS Nominative Objective Possessive I me my, mine you your, yours he, she, it him, her, it his, hers, its first person we us our, ours second person you your, yours third person they them their, theirs Singular first person second person third person Plural
NOMINATIVE CASE � The nominative case of a personal pronoun is used when the pronoun functions as a subject or a predicate nominative (noun). � I went on the trip. � They came along, too. � The nominative case is also used when the pronoun is part of the compound subject. � Carlos and he planned the trip.
NOMINATIVE CASE � When a pronoun functions as a predicate noun, it is called a predicate pronoun. It immediately follows a linking verb and identifies the subject of the sentence. � It was she who led the expedition.
OBJECTIVE CASE � The objective case of a personal pronoun is used when the pronoun functions as a direct object, and indirect object, or the object of a preposition. � The group found me after a day-long search. � The mysterious stranger gave us the treasure map. � Midori climbed the mountain with them.
OBJECTIVE CASE � The objective case is also used when a pronoun is part of a compound object. � Suddenly the earth opened up between Josh and me. � To make sure you’re using the correct pronoun case in a compound construction, look at each part separately.
OBJECTIVE CASE � Ben and (I, me) explored the outback. � I explored the outback. � Me explored the outback. � Erin went with Ben and (I, me). � Erin went with Ben and I. � Erin went with Ben and me.
POSSESSIVE CASE – LESSON 2 � Personal pronouns that show ownership or relationships are in the possessive case. � The possessive pronouns mine, ours, yours, his, hers, its and theirs can be used in the place of a noun. The pronoun can function as a subject or an object. � I need to see the map of the whole region. � Can I see yours? Mine is missing.
POSSESSIVE CASE � If you want to emphasize the –ing word, or action, use a possessive pronoun plus the gerund. � My running must have frightened the animals away. � If you want to emphasize the person or thing performing the action, use an objective pronoun plus the participle. � They watched me running away.
WHO AND WHOM – LESSON 3 � The case of the pronoun who is determined by the pronoun’s function in the sentence. Nominative who, whoever Objective Possessive � Who whom, whomever whose, whosever and whom can be used to ask questions and to introduce subordinate
WHO AND WHOM � In a question, the nominative pronoun who is used as a subject or a predicate pronoun. � Who discovered radium? � The scientist was who? � In a question, the objective pronoun whom is used as a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition. � Whom did Marie Curie marry?
WHO AND WHOM � To (who, whom) were the findings given? � Rewrite the question as a statement. � The findings were given to (who, whom). � Figure out whether the pronoun is used as a subject, and object, a predicate pronoun, or the object of the preposition. � Use the correct form in the original question. � To whom were the findings given.
WHO AND WHOM � When deciding whether to use who or whom in a subordinate clause, consider only how the pronoun functions within the clause. � Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the clause. � He’s the climber who planted the flag. � Use whom when the pronoun is an object in the subordinate clause. � The climber whom we all know planted the flag.
WHO AND WHOM � Eileen Collins is an astronaut (who, whom) I admire. � Identify the subordinate clause in the sentence. � (Who, whom) I admire � The pronoun is a direct object. � Eileen Collins is the astronaut whom I admire.
WHO AND WHOM � Don’t assume you should use whomever after a preposition. � Choose whoever or whomever based on the pronoun’s function in the subordinate clause. � Share your discovery with (whoever, whomever) is interested. � Whoever is the subject of the subordinate clause.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT – LESSON 4 �A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person. �An antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which a pronoun refers.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT � If the antecedent of a pronoun is singular, use a singular pronoun. If the antecedent is plural, use a plural pronoun. � Neil Armstrong knew early in life that he wanted a career in aviation. � Astronauts undergo strenuous training before they can blast off into space.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT �A plural pronoun is used to refer to nouns or pronouns joined together by and. � Armstrong and Aldrin have taken their place in history. � A pronoun that refers to nouns or pronouns joined by or or nor should agree with the noun or pronoun nearest to it. � Neither the astronauts nor NASA neglected its duties. � Neither NASA nor the astronauts neglected their duties.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT �A collective noun, such as crew, team, audience, or family, may be referred to by either a singular or a plural pronoun. �The collective noun’s number is determined by its meaning in the sentence.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT �A pronoun that refers to a collective noun should be singular if the collective noun names a group acting as a unit. � The crew is completing its countdown to the launch. � A pronoun that refers to a collective noun should be plural if the collective noun names the members or parts of a group acting individually. � The crew will carry out their assignments.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT � The gender of a pronoun must be the same as the gender of its antecedent. When the antecedent could be either feminine or masculine, use the phrase “he or she” or “him or her. ” � During the flight, an astronaut conducts his or her experiments.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT � The person of the pronoun must agree with the person of its antecedent. � All astronauts should take your responsibilities seriously. � All astronauts should take their responsibilities seriously.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS – LESSON 5 �An indefinite pronoun may be the antecedent of a personal pronoun. �The number of an indefinite pronoun is not always clear.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS � Indefinite Pronouns Always Singular another anybody anyone anything Always Plural both Singular or Plural all any each everythin one either g somebod everybod neither y y nobody someone everyone no one few many several most none some
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS � Use a singular personal pronoun to refer to a singular indefinite pronoun. � Each of the discoveries has its own special value. � The phrase “his or her” is considered a singular indefinite pronoun. � No one wants his or her discoveries discounted.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS � When one or more nouns come between a personal pronoun and its indefinite pronoun antecedent, make sure that the personal pronoun agrees with the indefinite pronoun and not with a noun. � One of the explorers broke their leg. � One of the explorers broke his leg.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS �Use a plural indefinite pronoun to refer to a plural indefinite pronoun. �Both of the scientists presented their findings at the meeting.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS � Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. Use the meaning of the sentence to determine whether a personal pronoun that refers to such an indefinite pronoun should be singular or plural.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS � If the indefinite pronoun refers to part of a whole, use a singular personal pronoun. � None of the gold found on the ship has lost its glitter. � If the indefinite pronoun refers to the members of a group, use a plural personal pronoun. � None of the guests left their seats during the lecture.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS – LESSON 6 �Pronouns may be used with an appositive, in an appositive, or in a comparison. �Pronouns can also be used reflexively and intensively.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � The we and us are often followed by an appositive, which is a noun that identifies the pronoun. � We explorers meet on Mondays. � The task was assigned to us students.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � (We, us) divers refused to explore the ship. � Rewrite the sentence without the appositive. � (We, us) refused to explore the ship. � Determine whether the pronoun is a subject or an object. � We divers refused to explore the ship.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � Sometimes a pronoun is used as an appositive. The pronoun helps to identify a preceding noun. Notice that pronouns used in appositives take the nominative case as a subject and the objective case if they function as an object. � The guides, Emilio and I, met for lunch.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � The museum paid the explorers, Ron and (she, her), for the find. � Rewrite the sentence, using the appositive by itself. � The museum paid Ron and (she, her) for the find. � Determine whether the pronoun is a subject or an object. � The museum paid the explorers, Ron and her, for the find.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS �A comparison can be made by using than or as to begin a clause. � Linda is a more successful explorer than he is. � No one was as adventurous as he was. � When you omit one or more words from the final clause in a comparison, the clause is said to be elliptical. � No one was as adventurous as he.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � If you have trouble determining the correct pronoun to use in an elliptical clause, fill in the unstated words. � None of the guides were as experienced as (he, him). � None of the guide were as experienced as he was.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � Notice that the case of the pronoun you use in a comparison can affect the meaning of a sentence. � I depended more on Raul than he. � (This means “I depend more on Raul than he does. ”) � I depended on Raul more than him. � (This means “I depend more on Raul than on him. ”)
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � You can use a pronoun ending in – self or –selves reflexively or intensively. � Reuben did not consider himself an explorer. � Himself reflects back on the subject. � Rita herself chose to take part in the expedition.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS � Don’t use reflexive or intensive pronouns alone. Pronouns ending is –self or – selves must have an antecedent in the same sentence. � Jesse and myself found the tracks together. � There is no antecedent for myself. � Jesse and I found the tracks together.
OTHER PRONOUN PROBLEMS �Hisself and theirselves are NEVER correct. �Do not use them.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS – LESSON 7 �If a pronoun’s antecedent is missing or unclear, or if there is more than one antecedent, readers will be confused.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS � Problems can occur when the pronouns it, this, that, which, or such are used to refer to a general idea rather than a specific noun. � You can often fix the problem by rewording the sentence to eliminate the problem.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS Awkward Revised High winds and driving snow assailed the mountaintop. This trapped the climbers in their tents. When high winds and driving snow assailed the mountaintop, the climbers became trapped in their tents. The mummified bodies were excavated from the ice on an Andean peak, which was a great find. The mummified bodies excavated from the ice on an Andean peak were a great find.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS �An indefinite reference occurs when the pronouns it, you, or they do not refer to a specific person or thing. �You can fix this problem by rewording the sentence to eliminate the pronoun.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS Awkward Revised It stated in the newspaper article that the expedition was a success. The newspaper article stated that the expedition was a success. In some schools, you can take part in an archeological dig. In some schools, students can take part in an archeological dig.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS � The word ambiguous means “having two or more possible meanings. ” � An ambiguous reference occurs when a pronoun has two or more possible antecedents. � You can fix an ambiguous reference problem by rewording the sentence to clarify what the pronoun refers to.
PRONOUN-REFERENCE PROBLEMS Awkward Revised When Joe called Kevin, he was When Kevin was preparing to set sail, he received a call from Joe. After the men removed the sail from the mast, they began to repair it. The men began to repair the sail after they removed it from the mast. When the shovel struck the buried pottery jar, it broke in half. The buried pottery jar broke in half when it was struck by the shovel.
- Slides: 48