See Chapters 31 and 32 in Simon Schuster

See Chapters 31 and 32 in Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers, 11 th edition

§ Pronoun: A word used to replace a noun § Antecedent: The noun a pronoun refers to Josh forgot to turn in his homework.

1 st Person 2 nd Person 3 rd Person Singular: I, me, my, mine Singular: you, yours Singular: he, she, it, his, him, hers, its Plural: we, us, ours Plural: you, yours Plural: they, theirs, them

FIRST-PERSON The Story Characters I or We the Narrator The narrator is involved in the story.

First-Person tells “my” story. Example I went to the store with my friend. The clerk said, “Hi. ” We bought candy and left. Who is telling the story? In First-Person the narrator is “I” or “we. ”

The Story Characters (if any) You the Reader The reader’s actions are narrated.

Second-Person tells “your” story. Example You stayed up late last night and now you’re tired, but you need to pass this class. From whose perspective is the story told? In Second-Person the perspective of “you” is narrated. It is mainly used for instruction or directions.

The Story Narrator Characters “He” “She” “They” The narrator is outside of the story.

Third-Person tells “his” or “her” or “their” story. Also will refer to characters by name Example Chris loved basketball. Everyday he played after school. When it got dark, he watched it on TV. From whose perspective is the story told? In Third-Person the perspective of “he” or “she” or “they” is narrated.

§ Third-person perspective is most appropriate for academic writing. § Example: College students need to develop time management skills in order to succeed in their classes. § In addition to pronouns like “he or she, ” “they, ” and “their, ” it’s useful to use general nouns like “college students” or “people” or “Americans” in third-person writing. § First-person perspective can be useful to add personal examples within academic writing. § Example: College students need to develop time management skills in order to succeed in their classes. For instance, I have learned to keep a schedule of all upcoming assignments and tests in a calendar app on my phone, so I do not miss any important work. § Generally, second-person perspective is not appropriate for academic work because it is too casual and you cannot speak to/for your entire audience with “you. ” § Tip: Click the “Ctrl” and “F” key to find all uses of “you” or “your” in your writing and replace them with third-person nouns or pronouns Example § Instead of: You should also keep a list of important assignments on your calendar. § Write: College students should also keep lists of important assignments on their calendars. § Second-person writing is appropriate for process essays and instructional writing

Watch out for these common grammatical errors!

BE CONSISTENT : DON’T SHIFT FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE TO ANOTHER For instance, don’t shift from using first-person pronouns to second or third-person § pronouns. Be consistent with your perspective. Wrong: I was so upset when my boyfriend and I broke up; it felt like your heart was being torn out.

PRONOUN REFERENCE: MAKE SURE THERE IS A CLEAR CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR ANTECEDENT AND PRONOUN SEE PAGES 482 - 483 Unclear pronoun reference: § My father’s doctor told him he had cancer. § Who has cancer? The father or the doctor? It’s not clear. § In a burst of anger, I threw his cell phone at the window and broke it. § What broke? The cell phone or the window? It’s not clear. § They say smoking is bad for your health. § Who the heck is “they”? Clear pronoun reference: § My father’s doctor told him, “You have cancer. ” § In a burst of anger, I threw his cell phone at the window and broke the window. § Health professionals say smoking is bad for your health.

PRONOUN AGREEMENT: MAKE SURE YOUR PRONOUN “AGREES” WITH ITS ANTECEDENT (IN GENDER AND NUMBER) Pronoun agreement errors: SEE PAGES 500 -502 § Wrong: The woman at the front desk forgot his identification card. § This is pretty obvious, right? The antecedent “woman” does not agree in gender with the pronoun “his. ” § Wrong: For a student to do well in this course, they must carefully follow directions. § The antecedent “a student” is singular, but the pronoun “they” is plural; these two do not agree in number. § Wrong: College students also need to learn how to manage his or her time. § The antecedent “college students” is plural, but the pronoun “his or her” is singular; these two also do not agree in number. Here’s where things get harder. . (see pages 501 -503) Pronoun agreement with indefinite pronouns: § Wrong: Everyone must bring their notebooks to the lecture. § In the above sentence, the antecedent is the indefinite pronoun “everyone, ” which is singular, but the pronoun “their” is plural; these two do not agree in number. The corrected sentence would read: Everyone must bring his or her notebook to the lecture.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS § Most pronouns refer to a particular antecedent; however, indefinite pronouns do not refer to particular persons or things. Everybody is entitled to change his or her mind. Right! See pages 500 -505 in your S&S Handbook for more information on pronoun agreement

MORE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS SEE PAGE 495 The following indefinite pronouns are always singular: The following indefinite pronouns are always plural: § anybody, anyone, anything § both § each, either, neither § many § Everybody, everyone, everything § several § no one, nobody, nothing § few § one § other § somebody, someone, something The following indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural: all, none, most , some, any

PAUSE AND PRACTICE WITH INDEFINITE PRONOUNS SELECT THE CORRECT PRONOUN FOR EACH SENTENCE 1. Each college professor establishes (their, his or her) own grading policies. 2. Anyone may submit (their, his or her) final draft. 3. No one requested that the clerk giftwrap (their, his or her) package. 4. All of the students at SCC must have (their, his or her) school ID’s at all times. 5. Either Professor Smith or Professor Martin graded my essay and wrote (their, her) comments in the margins.

ANSWERS 1. Each college professor establishes (their, his or her) own grading policies. 2. Anyone may submit (their, his or her) final draft. 3. No one requested that the clerk giftwrap (their, his or her) package. 4. All of the students at SCC must have (their, his or her) school ID’s at all times. 5. Either Professor Smith or Professor Martin graded my essay and wrote (their, her) comments in the margins.

PRONOUN CASE : BE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT PRONOUN CASE § Don’t use object pronouns when the pronoun is the subject of the verb. Wrong: Them cannot find your apartment. § Don’t use subject pronouns when the pronoun is the object of a verb or prepostion. Wrong: My sister tossed the car keys to I. See chapter 31 in your S&S Handbook for more information about pronoun case

Subjective (use when the pronoun functions as the subject of the verb) Objective (use when the pronoun functions as the object of the verb) Possessive (use to indicate to whom or what something belongs) First Person: I, we First Person: Me, us First Person: My, mine Second Person: You, yours Third Person: he, she, it, they Third Person: him, her, it, them Third Person: his, hers, its, theirs

PAUSE & PRACTICE WITH PRONOUN CASE SELECT THE CORRECT PRONOUN FOR EACH SENTENCE 1. Over the summer, Mel changed (her, she) hair color. 2. (Me, I) will treat you to lunch today. 3. Richard gave (me, I) a ride to school today. 4. Our parents often read to my brother and (me, I). 5. Over the last three years, six foster children have lived with (we, us). 6. Fred and (he, him) were hired as tutors. 7. Kristina and (I, me) are planning a romantic get-away. 8. After a few more weeks, (we, us) and our families are going on vacation.

ANSWERS 1. Over the summer, Mel changed (her, she) hair color. 2. (Me, I) will treat you to lunch today. 3. Richard gave (me, I) a ride to school today. 4. Our parents often read to my brother and (me, I). 5. Over the last three years, six foster children have lived with (we, us). 6. Fred and (he, him) were hired as tutors. 7. Kristina and (I, me) are planning a romantic get-away. 8. After a few more weeks, (we, us) and our families are going on vacation.

Subjective Objective Possessive (use when the pronoun functions as the subject of the verb) (use when the pronoun functions as the object of the verb) (use to indicate to whom or what something belongs) Whoever Whomever Whose

See pages 478 -479 Who = subjective case Whom = objective case § Use who when the pronoun acts as the § Use whom when the pronoun acts as § The person who owns that expensive § You are speaking to whom in that rude subject of a verb car is going to upset when he sees that scratch. (“who” is subject of the verb “owns”) the object of a verb or preposition tone? (“whom” is object of the preposition “to” and also object of the verb “speaking”)

PAUSE & PRACTICE WITH WHO AND WHOM 1. I did not see the person (who, whom) cut off my car. 2. Several students (who, whom) passed the last test failed this one. 3. To (who, whom) are you speaking in that rude tone? 4. The principal is a young woman (who, whom) has earned the community’s respect. 5. The redhead was a person with (who, whom) many women were in love.

ANSWERS 1. I did not see the person (who, whom) cut off my car. 2. Several students (who, whom) passed the last test failed this one. 3. To (who, whom) are you speaking in that rude tone? 4. The principal is a young woman (who, whom) has earned the community’s respect. 5. The redhead was a person with (who, whom) many women were in love.