Pronouns!

What they are and how we use them…

What they are…• A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or

more nouns.

• Pronouns that are used to refer to people or things are called personal pronouns.

– The myth amuses Kim. It amuses her.

• Some personal pronouns are subjects of sentences; other personal pronouns are used as the objects of verbs or prepositions.(It-subject; her-direct object of verb)

Subject Pronoun• A subject pronoun is a personal pronoun in

the nominative case. It is used as the subject of a sentence.

– She especially likes “Atalanta’s Race.”

Objective Pronoun• An object pronoun is a personal pronoun in

the objective case. It is used as the object of a verb or preposition.

– The librarian recommended it to us.

Personal Pronouns ChartSingular Plural

• Subjects: I, you, he, she, it we, you, they

• Objects: me, you, him, her, it us, you, them

Show What You Know!!Identifying…

List the pronouns and identify each as either a subject (nominative case) or object (objective case) pronoun.

1. I will tell you a story about three characters in mythology.

2. They are named Daphne, Apollo, and Cupid.

Using…

Replace the underlined word or words with a pronoun. Then, identify each as either a subject (nominative case) or object (objective case) pronoun.

1. Greek poets developed myths from old stories.

2. Rita studied the myths for their factual information.

3. Myths about historical events interest Dan.

How did you do??

Exchange paper with your partner….

Checking….

List the pronouns and identify each as either a subject (nominative case) or object (objective case) pronoun.

1. I will tell you a story about three characters in mythology.

2. They are named Daphne, Apollo, and Cupid.

1. I, subject; you, object (of what?!)2. They, subject

Checking…

Replace the underlined word or words with a pronoun. Then, identify each as either a subject (nominative case) or object (objective case) pronoun.

1. Greek poets developed myths from old stories.2. Rita studied the myths for their factual information.3. Myths about historical events interest Dan.

4. They, subject5. Them, object (of what?!)6. Him, object (of what?!)

Pronouns and Antecedents

Read the following sentences. Can you tell to whom the word She refers?

Arachne competes against Athena. She weaves skillfully.

Why is this sentence confusing??

Pronouns and Antecedents

• The noun or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent.

• When you use a pronoun, makes sure that it refers to the antecedent clearly.– They have several books about Greek myths at the

library.• The meaning of They is unclear.• Improve by writing…

– Several books on Greek mythology are available at the library.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement• Pronouns must agree with their antecedents

in …– number (singular or plural)– gender (masculine [male], feminine [female], or

neuter [referring to things])

The myth of Arachne is amusing. I enjoyed it.The bystanders see Athena. They watch her at the

loom.

Show What You Know!

• Use the correct pronoun in the blank of every second sentence. Then write the antecedent of the pronoun and its number.

Example: The maiden Arachne lives in Lydia. ___ is a country in Asia.Answer: It-Lydia, singular

1. Arachne is a skillful weaver. ___ boasts about her weaving.

2. Arachne first forms woolen threads. ____ feel as soft as clouds.

(Continued…)

3. People watch Arachne and admire her work. They tell her, “Pallas Athena must have taught ____.”

4. The angry Arachne replies, “So you think my art comes from a teacher? I tell ___ that I am a better weaver than Athena herself!”

5. Athena and Arachne enter a contest. The people watch the two of ___.

How did you do??

1. Arachne is a skillful weaver. ___ boasts about her weaving. She-Arachne, Singular

2. Arachne first forms woolen threads. ____ feel as soft as clouds. They-threads, Plural

3. People watch Arachne and admire her work. They tell her, “Pallas Athena must have taught ____.” you-Arachne, Singular

4. The angry Arachne replies, “So you think my art comes from a teacher? I tell ___ that I am a better weaver than Athena herself!” you-people, Plural

5. Athena and Arachne enter a contest. The people watch the two of ___. Them-Athena and Arachne, Plural

*Using Pronouns Correctly*• Subject pronouns in the nominative case are

used in compound subjects, and object pronouns in the objective case are used in compound objects.

– He and Carmen wrote a report on the subject. (Not Him and Carmen)

– Tell John and me about Hercules. (Not John and I)

(Examples of objects of prepositions…)– Lee read a famous Roman myth to me.– Lee read a famous Roman myth to Irma and me.

Tip!

• If you are NOT sure which form of the pronoun to use in a compound subject or object, say the sentence aloud with only the pronoun as the subject or object. Your ear will tell you which form is correct

Lee and I read some famous Roman myths.Check: I read some famous Roman myths.

Mythology interests Lee and me.Check: Mythology interests me.

More…

• Also, when I is used in a compound subject, make sure it is placed after the other parts of the subject.

• Lee and I…not I and Lee…

• Likewise, when the pronoun me is used in a compound object, make sure it is placed after the other parts of the object.

• Lee and me…not me and Lee…

Last one!

• In formal writing and speech use a subject pronoun after a linking verb (verbs that do not show action but link the subject to further information about the subject).

• The writer of this report was she.• It is I.

Show What You Know!Directions: Write the correct word or words in

parenthesis. Then identify each selected pronoun as either a subject or object pronoun.

1. (She, Her) told the class about Roman mythology.2. They told Earl and (I, me) about Jupiter and Mars.3. Mars and (he, him) were the most important

gods.4. The two planets were named after Mars and (he,

him).5. Dom and (me, I) asked questions about Jupiter.

Check What You Know!

1. (She, Her) told the class about Roman mythology. Subject

2. They told Earl and (I, me) about Jupiter and Mars. Object

3. Mars and (he, him) were the most important gods. Subject

4. The two planets were named after Mars and (he, him). Object

5. Dom and (me, I) asked questions about Jupiter. Subject

Possessive Pronouns…• A possessive pronoun is used in the

possessive case. It shows who or what has something. A possessive pronoun may take the place of a possessive noun.

– Homer’s story is famous. His story is famous.– The story is Homer’s. The story is his.

Two forms: before a noun or alone.

Before a noun…

• Singular: my, your, his, her, its

• Plural: our, your, their

Used alone…

• Singular: mine, yours, his, hers, its

• Plural: ours, yours, theirs

Possessive pronouns are NOT written with apostrophes!!!

Show What You Know!

Directions: Write each possessive pronoun. Determine if it comes before a noun or stands alone.

Example: His adventures interested all types of readers.Answer: His—before a noun

1. Its title comes from the name Odysseus.2. Few characters possess a personality like his.3. The Romans renamed him Ulysses in their list

of heroes.

Check!

1. Its title comes from the name Odysseus.2. Few characters possess a personality like his.3. The Romans renamed him Ulysses in their list

of heroes.

4. Its – before a noun (title)5. His – stands alone6. Their – before a noun (list)

Show MORE of What You Know!

Directions: Replace the underlined word(s) with a possessive pronoun.

1. Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city of Troy was the Greeks’.

2. With Athena’s help, the Greeks defeated the Trojans.

3. Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to Odysseus’s home.”

Check 1. Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city of Troy was the Greeks’.2. With Athena’s help, the Greeks defeated the Trojans.3. Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to Odysseus’s home.”

4. Athena helped the Greeks, and soon the city of Troy was theirs.

5. With her help, the Greeks defeated the Trojans.6. Athena said to Odysseus, “Return to your

home.”