Pronouns
Mr. Brasher
Opener
• Katy reassured Katy that Katy shouldn’t worry
about Katy’s grades because Katy had studied
very hard.
• What makes this sentence so awkward? What
are some words that we can use in
replacement to make this sentence sound
better?
Definition
• Pronouns- words that act as stand-ins for
nouns or for words that take place of nouns
• Antecedent- nouns or words that take place of
nouns for which pronouns stand.
Examples
• In the following examples, what is the
antecedent and what is the pronoun?
• Did Kristin turn her homework in to the teacher?
• Johnny enjoys playing baseball because it makes him
really happy.
Personal Pronouns
• Used more often than any other pronoun.
• Personal pronouns refer:
– First person- person who is speaking
• Example: My name is Chuck Norris.
– Second person- person being spoken to
• Example: When you left for school thing morning you
forgot your English book.
– Third person- person, place or thing spoken about
• Example: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Reflexive Pronoun
• Definition: ends in –self or –selves and adds
information to a sentence by pointing to a
noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence.
• Example:
– Jack taught himself how to plant corn.
Intensive Pronoun
• Definition: ends in –self or –selves and simply
adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun in the
same sentence.
• Example:
– The President himself attended the gala opening.
Reflexive or Intensive???
• Gloria bought herself a new pair of jeans.
• We spliced the cable ourselves.
• Two of my colleagues completed the projects
by themselves.
• I gave myself plenty of time to get to work.
• I myself am sick of the heat.
Demonstrative Pronouns
• Definition- direct attention to specific people,
places, or things.
• Demonstrative pronouns can go in front of or
behind the antecedent.
– Examples:
• That is the ranch I would like to own. (What is the
demonstrative pronoun? What is the antecedent?)
• I hope to visit Butte and Helena. Those are my first
choices. (What is the demonstrative pronoun? What is
the antecedent?)
Relative Pronouns
• Definition- begins a subordinate clause and
connects it to the rest of the sentence.
• Words like: that, which, who, whom and
whose
• Examples (Find the subordinate clause and the
relative pronoun)
– He found the cattle that he had lost.
– Car, whom we all admire, rides well.
Interrogative Pronoun
• Definition- used to begin a question
• Includes: what, which, who, whom, whose
• Examples (What is the interrogative pronoun
in each example?)
– Which of the answers is best?
– What did you say?
Indefinite Pronouns
• Definition- refer to people, places, or things,
without specifying which ones
• They can have specific or non-specific
antecedents
– Specific: Several of the guests were late.
– Non-specific: Everyone ate everything offered.