Pronouns
Using Pronouns in Place of Nouns
Subject — Object Pronouns
| SUBJECT PRONOUN | OBJECT PRONOUN |
|---|---|
After the noun is mentioned the first time, we tend not to repeat it. Instead, we use a pronoun to refer to the noun. |
The pronoun comes after the noun it refers to. The pronoun must agree in number and gender. |
Lea is dancing. She enjoys dancing. |
Sammy is dancing with Lea. He likes her. |
Sammy is dancing. He enjoys dancing. |
Lea is dancing with Sammy. She likes him. |
Sam and Lea are dancing. They enjoy dancing. |
Sammy is dancing with the kids. He likes them. |
You and I are dancing. We enjoy dancing. |
Sammy is dancing with us. He likes us. |
The toy bear is dancing. It keeps on dancing. |
Lea is dancing with the toy bear. She likes it. |
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Pronoun Summary
| SUBJECT PRONOUN | OBJECT PRONOUN | POSSESSIVE PRONOUN | POSSESSIVE NOUN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular I |
Plural we |
Singular me |
Plural us |
Singular my |
Plural our |
Singular mine |
Plural ours |
Pronoun Placement
Antecedents
An Antecedent
— a word that comes before and is represented by another word, for example a pronoun, after it.
| UNCLEAR REFERENCE | CLEAR REFERENCE |
|---|---|
Mention the noun before using a pronoun that refers to it. Occasionally, the pronoun comes before the noun it refers to. This is like("putting the cart before the horse". |
A common placement is where the noun (antecedent) comes before the pronoun. In other words, after the noun is mentioned the first time, we tend not to repeat it. Instead, we use a pronoun to refer to the noun (unless a newnoun is introduced.) |
By the time they arrived, my family was very hungry. |
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Because of his hunger, the boy was permitted to eat early. |
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antecedent (n.) – a word that comes before and is represented by another word, for example a pronoun, after it.
An Unusual Example
| UNCLEAR REFERENCE | FIXES |
|---|---|
A pronoun refers back to the closest noun. However, if there are two nouns in the preceding clause or sentence, then the reader must try to understand the reference from the context. |
The pronoun usually refers to the closest noun before it. |
Tracy gave Robin a recipe. She is a talented cook. Who is talented? (Tracyand Robin are names that could be male or female.) |
Tracy (female) gave Robin (female) a recipe. She is a talented cook. |
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Tracy (female) gave Robin (male) a recipe. She is a talented cook. She refers to Tracy (the closest noun of female gender). |
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Robin was given a chicken recipe by Tracy. She is a talented cook. |
Double Pronouns
I or Me?
Double Subjects — I or Me?
| DOUBLE SUBJECT PRONOUN | ERROR - OBJECT PRONOUN IN SUBJECT POSITION |
|---|---|
Use I in the subject position. Mention I last (as a courtesy to others mentioned.) |
Don't use me in the subject position. (This is a common native-English speaker error.) |
Diana and I got to know each other. |
Me and Diana got to know each other. |
My family and I didn't care for her too much. |
Me and my family didn't care for her too much. |
Crystal, Diana, Jen and I went on a group date. |
Me, Diana, Jen and Crystal went on a group date. |
Double Objects — I or Me?
| DOUBLE OBJECT PRONOUN | ERROR - SUBJECT PROUNOUN IN OBJECT POSITION |
|---|---|
Use me in the object position. Mention me last (as a courtesy to others mentioned.) |
Don't use I in the object position. Tip: remove the other pronoun and note how bad it sounds. |
I had a good feeling about Diana and me. |
I had a good feeling about her and I. |
I could see her fitting in with my son and me. (NOT : my son and I.) |
I could see her fitting in with I my son. |
Several dates were planned for the girls and me. |
Several dates were planned for the girls and I. |
Something good was happening between the bachelorette and me. |
Something good was happening between her and I. |
Practice
Sentence Agreement with Pronouns
Attending a Musical
- Select the pronoun that best completes the sentence.
- * indicates an incorrect answer.