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Module 5 - Pronouns

Lesson Selection

1. Pronoun Agreement

Quiz on Pronoun Agreement

2. Pronoun Reference

Quiz on Pronoun Reference

3. Pronoun Case

Quiz on Pronoun Case

 

Test on Module 5 (available in lab version)

5.1 Pronoun Agreement

Pronouns in standard written English generally have antecedents, a word or phrase to which the pronoun is linked. This link generally establishes the reference or referent of the pronoun. The pronoun should agree in person and number with its antecedent.

 

EXAMPLES:

  1. Jane and her mother went to the store.
  2. 2. The store owner was happy the shoppers came to his store.

  3. The two consumers paid cash for their purchases.
  4. The dresses, which the happy shoppers bought, were
  5. quite expensive.

  6. The cashier, who had worked in the store for many years,
  7. took the money.

    In most cases we can make the pronoun and its antecedent agree without giving the issue much thought. There are, however, some instances in which Standard Written English treats pronouns differently from the way we normally do when we speak.

    When we speak we often use they (and related forms such as their and themselves) as singular pronouns. In Standard Written English this usage is not considered correct. This problem occurs most frequently when the antecedent includes one of the following words:

    each, every, any, anyone, everyone, none, no one, someone

    When we use these words, we should use he, she or his or her (and forms such as his and her) rather than they or their. At times, however, this strategy proves awkward and in such cases it is best to try to avoid the pronoun completely.

    EXAMPLES:

    1. INCORRECT: Everyone should tell their teachers the new times.

    CORRECT: Everyone should tell his or her teacher the new times.

    2. INCORRECT: Anyone who is a member of the girl scouts will know they must

    stay late.

    CORRECT: Anyone who is a member of the girl scouts will know she must stay

    late.

    3. INCORRECT: Each of the participants should bring their popcorn.

    CORRECT: Each of the participants should bring popcorn.

    Two other points about pronoun agreement should be kept in mind.

  8. When referring to readers, or to yourself as the writer, you should use just one pronoun form.

EXAMPLES:

INCORRECT: You should read this manual carefully before one attempts to assemble the machinery.

CORRECT: You should read this manual carefully before you attempt to assemble the machinery.

2. INCORRECT: We will first examine the cause of the war. Then I will analyze the battle strategies.

CORRECT: I will first examine the cause of the war. Then I will analyze the battle strategies.

6. When using a pronoun to refer to a collective noun (a noun that refers to a group of people or things), you should, in general, use the singular form of a pronoun (examples 1-3). Use a plural form only if you are specifically referring to the individuals in the group.

EXAMPLES:

1. The class will issue its rebuttal tomorrow.

2. My family will come. It will be happy to attend the ceremony.

3. Her congregation was appalled. It opposed the initiative.

4. The faculty voted themselves a raise.

End of the Lesson on Pronoun Agreement

5.2 Pronoun Reference

In Standard Written English, a pronoun often refers to a person, place or thing through an antecedent to which it is linked. The antecedent is often a noun or noun phrase

(examples 1 and 2), but it can also be another pronoun (examples 3 and 5) and, in some cases, a clause (example 4).

 

EXAMPLES

    1. Jack jumped over the candlestick. He was burnt very badly.
    2. 2. The silly boy, who often attempted foolish stunts, had to go to the hospital.

    3. We will teach ourselves if the teachers will not teach us.
    4. The writer argued that all men and women are created equal. This is an idea we should all accept.
    5. Each to his own.

In conversation, the context often makes the reference of a pronoun clear. If there is confusion, we can often ask the speaker. In written English, we must be more careful. Our readers do not always share our knowledge or our assumptions; we are frequently

not available to clear up confusion.

In our writing, we should try to avoid certain common errors when we use pronouns. Among these are the following:

ambiguous reference

weak reference

empty reference

the improper use of broad reference

 

Ambiguous Reference: This error occurs when a pronoun can have more than one possible antecedent.

 

EXAMPLES

    1. INCORRECT: We saw a hole in the planet which seemed very large.

("Which" can refer either to the hole or the planet.)

CORRECT: In the planet, we saw a hole which seemed large.

2. INCORRECT: The advisor told the President, but he made no public announcement. ("He" can refer either to the advisor or the president.)

CORRECT: Although he told the President, the advisor made no public announcement.

Weak Reference: The error occurs when you link a pronoun with an antecedent implied by the text but not actually in it.

 

EXAMPLES

    1. INCORRECT: Becky enjoys playing piano but does not want

to become one.

CORRECT: Becky enjoys playing piano but does not want

to become a pianist.

2. INCORRECT: Naomi likes racing against the other girls because she is generally successful in them.

CORRECT: Naomi likes racing against the other girls because she is generally successful in races.

Empty Reference: This kind of error occurs when you use a pronoun that does not, in fact, refer to anything at all.

EXAMPLE

INCORRECT: In the book, it says that workers should be paid more.

CORRECT: The book says that workers should be paid more.

Not all uses of empty pronouns are incorrect. In certain impersonal constructions, pronouns such as it and there are used without a specific reference. These impersonal constructions are perfectly acceptable as long as they are not overused.

EXAMPLE

It is important to read the instructions.

Broad Reference: Broad reference refers to the use of a pronoun to refer to a clause or implied statement. Some people dislike it in principle. Still, many writers use it, and most people accept it as long as it does not result in ambiguity.

Nevertheless, ambiguity can easily result from the use of broad reference. Writers often assume that readers will know the intended antecedent, even though there is more than one possibility. For this reason, it is best to use broad reference with great care.

Examples of broad reference can be found on the next page.

EXAMPLES

  1. INCORRECT: Many studies claim that because human language is unique, studying animal communication will tell us nothing about humans. This is the reason I have not examined animal studies. (This can refer to the fact that studies make this claim or to the claim itself.)
  1. CORRECT: Many studies have claimed that because human language is unique, animal communication will tell us nothing about humans. These studies are the reason I have not examined the animal research.

3. CORRECT: Human language is distinct. This is indisputable.

End of the Lesson on Pronoun Reference

5.3 Pronoun Case

Some pronouns take different forms depending on how they are used. As subjects, personal pronouns take the following forms:

I you he she it they

 

Used as objects, they take these forms:

me you him her it them

 

When they are used before a noun or noun phrase to indicate possession, they have the following shape:

my your his her its their

When pronouns are used by themselves to indicate possession (in what is called the absolute form), this is how they appear:

mine yours his hers its theirs

 

The pronoun who also takes different forms. As a subject, it has the form who; as an object, the form whom; and when it is used to indicate possession, it appears as whose.

 

EXAMPLES

  1. He will take her radio to the repair shop.
  2. Whose radio is it?
  3. I think it is mine, not hers.
  4. The radio was our present to them.

In most situations, we use these forms properly without having to think very much about them. There are, however, two cases, in which the way we speak may differ from Standard Written English.

The first of these is compound noun phrases. In conversation, we will sometimes use the object form of personal pronouns in compound subjects.

 

EXAMPLES

1. INCORRECT: Me and John went to the repair shop.

CORRECT: John and I went to the repair shop.

2. INCORRECT: The boys and them were having a party.

CORRECT: They and the boys were having a party.

On the other hand, we sometimes incorrectly use the subject form

in compound objects.

 

EXAMPLES

1. INCORRECT: They will send the present to Jack and I .

CORRECT: They will send the present to Jack and me.

2. INCORRECT: While talking to Jane and he, they were

very respectful.

CORRECT: While talking to Jane and him, they were

very respectful.

Keep in mind this simple rule: if the pronoun form is

not acceptable alone, it is not acceptable in a compound.

 

EXAMPLES

1. INCORRECT: They will send the present to I.

INCORRECT: They will send the present to Jack and I.

CORRECT: They will send the present to me.

CORRECT: They will send the present to Jack and me.

2. INCORRECT: Me went to the repair shop.

INCORRECT: Me and John went to the repair shop.

CORRECT: I went to the repair shop.

CORRECT: John and I went to the repair shop.

In many forms of English the whom form is disappearing. In Standard Written English, however, the distinction is maintained. Here are some simple rules for deciding when to use who, the subject form, and when to use whom, the object form.

Rule 1: If no pronoun, noun or noun phrase comes between the who(m) and the verb, use the who form.

Rule 2: If a pronoun, noun or noun phrase comes between who(m) and the verb, use whom.

 

EXAMPLES

1. Who gave you that cheap radio? (rule 1)

  1. It was a present from a couple whom we really like. (rule 2)


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