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PRONOUNS

Pronouns: Subjective, Objective, Possessive, Demonstrative, Reflexive, Relative, and Intensive.


A pronoun is used in place of a noun or nouns. Common pronouns include he, her, him, I, it, me, she,
them, they, us, and we. Here are some examples:

INSTEAD OF: Luma is a good athlete. She is a good athlete. (The pronoun she replaces Luma.)
INSTEAD OF: The beans and tomatoes are fresh-picked. They are fresh-picked. (The
pronoun they replaces the beans and tomatoes.)

Subjective Pronouns Objective Pronouns


A subjective pronoun acts as the subject of a An objective pronoun acts as the object of a
sentence—it performs the action of the verb. The sentence—it receives the action of the verb. The
subjective pronouns are he, I, it, she, they, objective pronouns are her, him, it, me, them, us,
we, and you. and you.

He spends ages looking out the window. Cousin Eldred gave me a trombone.
After lunch, she and I went to the planetarium. Take a picture of him, not us!

Possessive Pronouns Demonstrative Pronouns


A possessive pronoun tells you who owns A demonstrative pronoun points out a noun. The
something. The possessive pronouns are hers, his, its, demonstrative pronouns are that, these,
mine, ours, theirs, and yours. this, and those.

The red basket is mine. That is a good idea.


Yours is on the coffee table. These are hilarious cartoons.
A demonstrative pronoun may look like a
demonstrative adjective, but it is used differently in
a sentence: it acts as a pronoun, taking the place
of a noun.

Interrogative Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns


An interrogative pronoun is used in a question. It An indefinite pronoun refers to an indefinite, or
helps to ask about something. The interrogative general, person or thing. Indefinite pronouns
pronouns are what, which, who, whom, and include all, any, both, each, everyone, few, many,
compound words ending in "ever," such neither, none, nothing, several,
as whatever, whichever, whoever, and whomever. some,and somebody.

What on earth is that? Something smells good.


Who ate the last Fig Newton? Many like salsa with their chips.
An interrogative pronoun may look like an An indefinite pronoun may look like an indefinite
interrogative adjective, but it is used differently in a adjective, but it is used differently in a sentence: it
sentence: it acts as a pronoun, taking the place of acts as a pronoun, taking the place of a noun.
a noun.

Relative Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns


A relative pronoun introduces a clause, or part of a A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a
sentence, that describes a noun. The relative sentence. The reflexive pronouns are herself,
pronouns are that, which, who, and whom. himself, itself, myself, ourselves,
themselves, and yourselves. Each of these words
You should bring the book that you love most. can also act as an intensive pronoun (see below).
That introduces "you love most," which describes
the book. I learned a lot about myself at summer camp.
(Myself refers back to I.)
Hector is a photographer who does great work. They should divide the berries
Who introduces "does great work," which describes among themselves. (Themselves refers back
Hector. to they.)
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Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent (the noun that comes before it). The intensive pronouns
are herself, himself, itself, myself, ourselves, themselves, and yourselves. Each of these words can also act
as a reflective pronoun (see above).

I myself don't like eggs.


The queen herself visited our class

Basic English Sentence Patterns

A. Subject-Verb-Object pattern B. Subject – Verb – Indirect Object – Direct Object


Ex. The students have solved some Ex. My sister baked me a birthday cake yesterday.
Mathematics problems.

Exercise A Exercise B
1. That thin girl is drinking milk now. 1. The short man has bought his son some crayons from
the stationery shop.
2. The police caught the robbers yesterday.
2. The driver has just shown the policeman his driving
3. We like our teacher. license.

4. My mother is looking after my baby sister. 3. The nurse gave the patient some medicine.

5. The tall man has just written a letter. 4. My uncle brought me a bouquet of flowers last week.

5. The customer is paying the shopkeeper two hundred


dollars.

C. Subject – Intransitive Verb – (Adverb, D. Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object + Object
optional) Complement
Ex. The man coughed (loudly). Ex. He called the teacher a genius.

Exercise C Exercise D

1. The audience laughed. 1. Teaching English is driving Shelley bananas.

2. The guest has arrived. 2. The class elected Jerry president.

3. The children walked down the street. 3. Studying keeps him busy.

4. The waiter hurried away from the door. 4. The lawyer considered the defendant innocent.

5. He runs every morning. 5. The child made her mother happy.

E. Subject--Linking Verb--Subject Complement


Ex. That man is a merchant.

1. His brother became chairman. 4. This soup tastes good.

2. He will remain an officer. 5. I feel sick.

3. The nurse seemed tired. 6. My grandfather looks (or appears) old.

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