Using Pronouns

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Language Network
Using Pronouns
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Using Pronouns
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Why It Matters
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Personal pronouns take on different forms
depending on how they are used in sentences.
These forms are called cases.
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There are three pronoun cases
nominative case
objective case
possessive case
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The most common errors in writing concern
pronouns. Be sure to check your writing for
pronoun errors and correct any you find.
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Using Pronouns
Heres the Idea
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply
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The case of the pronoun who is determined by the
pronouns function in a sentence.
Nominative who, whoever
Objective whom, whomever
Possessive whose, whosever
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Who is the nominative form. In a question, who is
used as a subject or as a predicate pronoun.
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Who knows the story of Mulan, a heroine of
ancient China?
The heroine was who?
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Whom is the objective form. In a question, whom
is used as a direct or indirect object of a verb
or as the object of a preposition.
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Whom did Mulan fool?
She told whom the secret of her identity?
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Who and whom are also used to introduce
subordinate clauses. To choose the correct form,
you must figure out how the pronoun is used in
the clause.
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Who should be used when the pronoun functions as
the subject of a subordinate clause.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
Its the rebel chief who is threatening the
borders.
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Whom should be used when the pronoun functions as
a direct object, an indirect object, or an object
of a preposition.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
The chief whom we all fear most is a rebel.
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Why It Matters
You will be expected to use who and whom
correctly in formal writing, such as application
letters, term papers, and reports. Dont assume
that whom is just a more formal version of who.
Choose the form that fits the way the pronoun is
used.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Using Pronouns
Heres the Idea
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply
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A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in
number, gender, and person. An antecedent is the
worda noun or another pronounthat a pronoun
replaces or refers to.
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Most of the time, making a pronoun agree in
number with its antecedent is easy a plural
antecedent takes a plural pronoun, and a
singular antecedent takes a singular pronoun.
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The gender of a pronoun must be the same as the
gender of its antecedent.
Hanuman, the monkey chief, brings his troops to
the battle.
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Feminine she, her, hers
Neuter it, its
Masculine he, him, his
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The person of a pronoun must match the person of
its antecedent.
All you fans should buy your tickets for the
latest Rama movie.
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Why It Matters
Using the correct pronoun when a collective noun
is the antecedent will give your readers
information about whether the group is behaving
as one unit or as individuals.
The family gives its support to Rama.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Practice and Apply
Choose the correct pronoun from the pair in
parentheses.
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Using Pronouns
Heres the Idea
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply
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Heres the Idea
If a pronouns antecedent is unclear, or if there
is more than one antecedent, readers will be
confused.
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Heres the Idea
Indefinite-reference problems occur when a
pronouns antecedents are not expressed. Writers
often make the mistake of using the pronouns it,
they, and you without a clear reference.
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Awkward In the Superheroes article, it
discussed only three women.
Revised The Superheroes article discussed only
three women.
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General-reference problems occur when the
pronouns it, this, that, which, and such are used
to refer to general ideas rather than to specific
noun antecedents.
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Awkward The sidekick is weak and vulnerable,
which makes the character appealing.
Revised The sidekicks weakness and vulnerability
make the character appealing.
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Ambiguous means having more than one possible
meaning. An ambiguous-reference problem occurs
whenever more than one word might be a
pronouns antecedent.
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Awkward Princess Xena and Gabrielle were featured
in a 1990s TV show. She inspired a series of
books as well.
Revised Princess Xena and Gabrielle were featured
in a 1990s TV show. Xena inspired a series of
books as well.
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Why It Matters
Readers will be confused and frustrated by cases
of general, indefinite, or ambiguous reference in
your writing. Make your writing as clear as
possible by eliminating these problems.
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Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to correct indefinite,
ambiguous, or general pronoun references.
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Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to correct indefinite,
ambiguous, or general pronoun references.
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Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to correct indefinite,
ambiguous, or general pronoun references.
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Practice and Apply
Rewrite the sentence to correct indefinite,
ambiguous, or general pronoun references.