March 8, 2010

Pronoun Basics (Pronouns, Part 1 of 5)

A Pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun.

8 WAYS WE USE PRONOUNS :
  • to name specific people or things : You look like him.
  • to point to non-specific people or things : Everyone enjoyed the party, but nobody remembered to thank the hostess.
  • to point to something : This is the hat that I want.
  • to refer back to the subject : Noel hurt himself. 
  • to show mutual action : Paolo and Andrew were wrestling and hurt each other.
  • to add emphasis :  I myself love pronouns.
  • to ask a question : Who is there?
  • to show ownership : That's not yours, it's mine!

3 GROUPS OF PRONOUNS :
  • Subjective case - the doer (subject) of the action : I kick the ball.
  • Objective case - the receiver (object) of the action : Kick the ball to me.
  • Possessive case - shows ownership : My kick to the goal won the game!


Attribution to Rebecca Elliot and her book Painless Grammar (c) 2006, 1997

Other Pronoun tips:
Pronoun Basics (Pronouns, Part 1 of 5)
Weird Antecedents (Pronouns, Part 2 of 5)
The Confusing "Him" or "He" (Pronouns, Part 3 of 5)
Subjective or Objective Pronouns (Pronouns, Part 4 of 5)
You... Yes, You. (Pronouns, Part 5 of 5)