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Pronouns
Pronouns
Definition - A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Pronouns can be in one of three cases: Subject, Object, or Possessive.
| Rule 1 |
Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. You can remember subject pronouns easily by filling in the blank subject space for a simple
sentence. |
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Example |
______ did the job.
I, you, he, she, it, we, and they all fit into the blank and are, therefore, subject pronouns. |
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| Rule 2 |
Subject pronouns are also used if they rename the subject. They follow "to be" verbs such as is, are, was, were, am, and will be. |
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Examples |
It is he. |
| This is she speaking. |
| It is we who are responsible for the decision to downsize. |
| NOTE |
In spoken English, most people tend to follow "to be" verbs with object pronouns. Many English teachers support (or at least have given in to) this distinction between written and spoken English. |
| Example |
It could have been them. |
| Better |
It could have been they. |
| Example |
It is just me at the door. |
| Better |
It is just I at the door. |
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| Rule 3 |
Object pronouns are used everywhere else (direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition). Object pronouns are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. |
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Examples |
Jean talked to him. |
| Are you talking to me? |
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| Rule 4 |
To be able to choose pronouns correctly, you must learn to identify clauses. A clause is a group of words containing a verb and subject. A strong clause can stand on its own. |
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Examples |
She is hungry. |
| I am feeling well today. |
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| Rule 4a |
A weak clause begins with words such as although, since, if, when, and because. Weak clauses cannot stand on their own. |
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Examples |
Although she is hungry... |
| If she is hungry... |
| Since I am feeling well... |
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| Rule 4b |
If a sentence contains more than one clause, isolate the clauses so that you can decide if the pronoun is a subject or an object. |
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Example |
WEAK |
STRONG |
| [Although she is hungry,] |
[she will give him some of her food.] |
| [Although this gift is for him,] |
[I would like you to have it too.] |
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| Rule 5 |
To decide whether to use the Subject or Object pronoun after the words than or as, mentally complete the sentence. |
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Examples |
Tom is as smart as she/her.
If we mentally complete the sentence, we would say, "Tom is as smart as she is." Therefore, she is the correct answer. |
Zoe is taller than I/me.
Mentally completing the sentence, we have, "Zoe is taller than I am." |
Daniel would rather talk to her than I/me.
We can mentally complete this sentence in two ways: Daniel would rather talk to her than to me. OR Daniel would rather talk to her than I would. As you can see, the meaning will change depending on the pronoun you choose. |
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| Rule 6 |
Possessive Pronouns show ownership and never need apostrophes.
Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs |
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NOTE |
The only time it's has an apostrophe is when it is a contraction for it is. |
| Examples |
It's a cold morning. |
| The thermometer reached its highest reading. |
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| Rule 7 |
The following examples demonstrate pitfalls to avoid when using possessive pronouns. |
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Correct |
Not one of the neighbors offered his/her support. |
None of the neighbors offered their support.
Remember that none is a portion word and becomes singular or plural depending on the noun after of (the object of the preposition). None is plural here because of neighbors. |
| Incorrect |
Not one of the neighbors offered their support. |
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