Pronoun Case

Indefinite Pronouns

indefinite=not precise or a certain number (adj)

pronoun=replaces a noun

Indefinite Pronouns

• An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular person, place, or thing.

• Examples: anybody, much, everything, someone, both, several

3 types= singular, plural, and just plan “weird”

Indefinite Pronouns

• When an indefinite pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb must agree with it in number.

Everyone reads part of the novel. (singular)Several enjoy it very much. (plural)

Indefinite Pronouns

• Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents. The pronouns must still agree in number.

Several are presenting their interpretations of the novel. (singular)

Each of the students has his or her ideas about its meaning. (plural)

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

• -body, -one, -thing• Each, either, neither, another,

much

Singular (cont.)

• Neither gets an A.• No one sits down.• Somebody cleans up daily.

• Singular indefinite => singular verb• Remember singular present tense verbs end in

“s”; plural verbs do not.

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

• Both, few, many, others, several

Many cry in movies.

Several laugh uncontrollably.

“Weird” Indefinite Pronouns

• Can be singular or plural depending on the sentence

• All, any, most, none, some, and more

• So how do we tell? Look at the object of the preposition behind it and the verb.

All of the book is ruined.

• All=weird indefinite pronoun• (of the book)=book is singular• Verb “is”=singular

Therefore, all is singular.

All of them are here.

• All=weird indefinite pronoun• (of them)= them is plural• Verb “are”=plural

Therefore, all is plural.

Remember…

• The subject and verb must agree.• Your subject is NOT in a prepositional

phrase.

Indefinite pronouns need to be memorized by Monday.

P. 443 in grammar book

Pronoun Case

• The form of the pronoun that shows its use in the sentence (DO, IO, OP, Sub., PN)

3 Types:• Nominative• Objective• Possessive

Nominative Case

• When the pronoun acts like a subject or predicate nominative

• Subject=before the verb in an independent or dependent clause

• Predicate nominative=After a linking verb in an independent or dependent clause

• He and Joe play basketball. (subject)

• That game, in which he scored thirty points, was a record breaker. (subject of dep. clause)

• It was he and she that hurt the plant. (Predicate Nominative)

• Who are they? (Predicate Nominative)

Trick for PN: Switch the PN with the subject. It should “sound” correct.

The runner was I. (I=PN)

I was the runner. (I=subject)

Elliptical Clauses

• Ellipses….(leave something off)

• Elliptical Clauses=Subordinate clauses that:– Omit the verb– Begin with than or as– Usually are at the end of the sentence

Elliptical Clauses• They are louder than we.• He is stronger than I.

These sound funny, but they are right! Most of the time we are wrong when we speak.

Trick: Complete the clause by adding the omitted verb.• They are louder than we are.• He is stronger than I am.

Objective Case

• Used as a direct or indirect object or object of the preposition

Objective Case: DOs and IOs

• Come behind action verbs

The teacher praised us. (DO)

The teacher gave us praise. (IO)

• If there’s more than one DO or IO, use each alone to “hear” the correct case.

• The letter infuriated Tom and me.–The letter infuriated Tom.–The letter infuriated me.

Object of the Preposition

• The candy is (for him and her).

• If there is more than one OP, use each alone to “hear” the correct case.

• Between Joe and me, I’m the taller.– Between Joe, I’m the taller.– Between me, I’m the taller.

Possessive Case

• Possessive=show ownership• Can be directly in front of the thing

it’s possessing or it can stand alone–The volvo was his car.–The volvo was his.

Common Possessive Pronouns• His, her(s), their(s), our(s), my, mine, your(s),

whose, its

• Its=no apostrophe=possessive• It’s=with apostrophe=contraction “it is”

• Whose=no apostrophe=possessive• Who’s=with apostrophe=contraction “who is”

• Who’s in charge?• Who is in charge?• NOT: Whose in charge?

• Whose car is this?• NOT: Who’s car is this?

Pronouns with Appositives• Appositive: a noun that identifies the word

directly in front of it

We students study well.We= subject

students=appositive

The best players showed us girls plays.Us=DO girls=appositive

“Who” vs. “Whom”

Who• Nominative case

(subject or PN)• Who called me? (s)• Those who study do

best. (sub. of dep. cl.)• That was who? (PN)

Whom• Objective case (DO, IO,

or OP)• To whom are you

speaking? (OP)• Mary gave whom the

money? (IO)• Dad loves whom? (DO)