Section 2Section 2

Errors with pronounsErrors with pronouns

Subject and object pronounsSubject and object pronouns

Point at the pronouns Point at the pronouns (( subject or object ) subject or object ) and decide if the sentence is correct or and decide if the sentence is correct or incorrect:incorrect:

1.1. The worst problem with it is that he cannot The worst problem with it is that he cannot afford it.afford it.

2.2. They saw Steve and I at the movies last They saw Steve and I at the movies last night after class.night after class.

3.3. Perhaps you would like to go to the seminar Perhaps you would like to go to the seminar with they and their friends.with they and their friends.

Subject and object pronounsSubject and object pronouns

4.4. The mother took her son to the The mother took her son to the doctor’s office because he was feeling doctor’s office because he was feeling sick.sick.

5.5. I did not know that you and her were I did not know that you and her were working together on the project.working together on the project.

6.6. She did not buy the sweater because it She did not buy the sweater because it had a small hole in it.had a small hole in it.

7.7. The man leading the seminar gave me all The man leading the seminar gave me all the information I needed to make a the information I needed to make a decision.decision.

Subject and object pronounsSubject and object pronouns

8.8. The cords connecting the computer to its The cords connecting the computer to its printer need to be replaced before them printer need to be replaced before them wear down.wear down.

9.9. He is going to the party with you and me if He is going to the party with you and me if you do not mind.you do not mind.

10.10. You and her ought to return the books to the You and her ought to return the books to the library because they are already overdue.library because they are already overdue.

Possessive adjectives and Possessive adjectives and pronounspronouns

Circle the possessives ( pronoun or Circle the possessives ( pronoun or adjective), then indicate if the sentences adjective), then indicate if the sentences are correct or incorrect.are correct or incorrect.

1.1. If she borrows your coat, then you should If she borrows your coat, then you should be able to borrow her.be able to borrow her.

2.2. Each pot and pan in her kitchen has its own Each pot and pan in her kitchen has its own place on the shelf.place on the shelf.

3.3. Mary and Mark invited their parents to see Mary and Mark invited their parents to see their new apartment.their new apartment.

Possessive adjectives and Possessive adjectives and pronounspronouns

4.4. When my roommate paid her half of the When my roommate paid her half of the rent, I paid mine.rent, I paid mine.

5.5. All students need to bring theirs own All students need to bring theirs own pencils and answer sheets to the exam.pencils and answer sheets to the exam.

6.6. All her secretaries are working late All her secretaries are working late tonight to finish her report.tonight to finish her report.

7.7. The horse trotting around the track won The horse trotting around the track won its race a few minutes ago.its race a few minutes ago.

Possessive adjectives and Possessive adjectives and pronounspronouns

8.8. Before the report is finalized, the Before the report is finalized, the information in their notes and ours must information in their notes and ours must be proofed.be proofed.

9.9. She worked all day cooking food and She worked all day cooking food and making decorations for her son’s birthday making decorations for her son’s birthday party.party.

10.10. The weather in the mountains this The weather in the mountains this weekend will be extremely cold, so weekend will be extremely cold, so please take yours heavy jackets.please take yours heavy jackets.

Check pronoun reference for Check pronoun reference for agreementagreement

Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns that are always that are always SINGULAR:SINGULAR:

someonesomeone anyoneanyone everyoneeveryone

somebodysomebody anybodyanybody everybodyeverybody

eacheach oneone eithereither

nobodynobody no oneno one neitherneither

Check pronoun reference for Check pronoun reference for agreementagreement

Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns that are always that are always PLURAL:PLURAL:

severalseveral

fewfew

bothboth

manymany

Check pronoun reference for Check pronoun reference for agreementagreement

Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns that can be that can be SINGULAR or SINGULAR or PLURAL:PLURAL:

somesome allall

anyany mostmost

nonenone

Check pronoun reference for Check pronoun reference for agreementagreement

To determine whether these words are To determine whether these words are singular or plural, singular or plural, look at the look at the prepositional phrase that follows.prepositional phrase that follows.– Some Some of the sugarof the sugar is on the floor. is on the floor.– Some Some of the applesof the apples are on the floor. are on the floor.

ExerciseExercise

Point at the pronouns and possessives, Point at the pronouns and possessives, at the nouns they refer to, and decide if at the nouns they refer to, and decide if the sentence is correct or incorrect.the sentence is correct or incorrect.

1.1. If a person really wants to succeed, they If a person really wants to succeed, they must always work hard.must always work hard.

2.2. If you see the students from the math class, If you see the students from the math class, could you return their exam papers to could you return their exam papers to them?them?

3.3. Some friends and I went to see a movie, Some friends and I went to see a movie, and afterwards we wrote a critique about and afterwards we wrote a critique about them.them.

4.4. If you have a problem, you are welcome If you have a problem, you are welcome to discuss it with me before you try to to discuss it with me before you try to resolve them.resolve them.

5.5. I know you had a terrible time last week, I know you had a terrible time last week, but you must try to forget about it.but you must try to forget about it.

6.6. At the start of the program, each student At the start of the program, each student needs to see his advisor about his needs to see his advisor about his schedule.schedule.

7.7. In spite of its small size, these video In spite of its small size, these video recorders produce excellent tapes.recorders produce excellent tapes.

8.8. Whatever the situation, you should Whatever the situation, you should reflect profoundly about them before reflect profoundly about them before coming to a decision.coming to a decision.

Three craftspeople - Mary, Albert, and Three craftspeople - Mary, Albert, and hehe -  - made the accessory for Jerry.made the accessory for Jerry.

The accessory was made by three The accessory was made by three craftspeople, Mary, Albert, and craftspeople, Mary, Albert, and him.him.

WeWe women are stronger than men. women are stronger than men.

The restaurant owner mumbled at The restaurant owner mumbled at all all usus slow eaters. slow eaters.

Exercise: Choose the right optionExercise: Choose the right option

1.1. Few of the trees (lose- loses) their Few of the trees (lose- loses) their leaves in spring.leaves in spring.

2.2. Someone in one of these neighborhoods Someone in one of these neighborhoods (is-are) on the mayor’s investigative (is-are) on the mayor’s investigative committee.committee.

3.3. None of the sunshine (seep-seeps) into None of the sunshine (seep-seeps) into the inner part of the house.the inner part of the house.

4.4. Everybody (know-knows) his part.Everybody (know-knows) his part.

Exercise: Choose the right optionExercise: Choose the right option

5.5. Neither of the young men (was-were) Neither of the young men (was-were) recognized for outstanding contributions.recognized for outstanding contributions.

6.6. Any of the nails that you don’t use (is-Any of the nails that you don’t use (is-are) returnable.are) returnable.

7.7. I hope somebody ( sing-sings) the I hope somebody ( sing-sings) the national anthem.national anthem.

8.8. Neither the carpenter nor the cabinet Neither the carpenter nor the cabinet maker(was-were) willing to build the maker(was-were) willing to build the fancy shelves.fancy shelves.

Singular PluralSingular or

Pluralanother both all

anyone few any

each many more

everyone others most

everybody several none

everything   some

much

nobody

nothing

other

someone

anybody

anything

either

little

neither

no one

one

somebody

something

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

A special problem: gender-inclusive A special problem: gender-inclusive wordswords

Indefinite pronouns (Indefinite pronouns (everyoneeveryone, , anyoneanyone, etc.) and , etc.) and many nouns (many nouns (membermember, , studentstudent, , performerperformer, , childchild, , personperson, etc, etc.) are gender-inclusive—they can .) are gender-inclusive—they can refer to both males and femalesrefer to both males and females. .

When a singular antecedent is gender-inclusive, When a singular antecedent is gender-inclusive, the singular pronoun referring to it must include the singular pronoun referring to it must include both genders as well:both genders as well:– No No witnesswitness could recall everything  could recall everything he or he or

sheshe had seen. had seen.– EveryoneEveryone has submitted  has submitted his or herhis or her forms. forms.

However, the inclusive structures However, the inclusive structures he or he or sheshe, , his or herhis or her, etc., can become awkward , etc., can become awkward if repeated throughout a text. To avoid if repeated throughout a text. To avoid them, try one of the methods below:them, try one of the methods below:1.1. Make your antecedent pluralMake your antecedent plural::– No No witnesseswitnesses could recall  could recall

everything everything theythey had seen. had seen.– All the All the membersmembers have submitted  have submitted theirtheir forms. forms.

2.2. Reword the sentence to get rid of the Reword the sentence to get rid of the pronoun:pronoun:– No witness could recall the incident No witness could recall the incident

completely.completely.– Everyone has submitted the necessary forms.Everyone has submitted the necessary forms.

Note:Note:

  In speech and informal writing, the In speech and informal writing, the plural pronoun plural pronoun theythey (or  (or theirtheir) is often ) is often used to refer to a singular antecedent used to refer to a singular antecedent that is gender-inclusive:that is gender-inclusive:– No No witnesswitness could recall  could recall

everything everything theythey had seen. had seen.– EveryoneEveryone has submitted  has submitted theirtheir forms. forms.

In formal writing, this usage is not yet In formal writing, this usage is not yet widely accepted and should be avoidedwidely accepted and should be avoided..

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