Problems with Pronouns
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The document explains the use of pronouns, including subject and object pronouns, as well as possessive adjectives and pronouns, providing examples and exercises for practice. It emphasizes the importance of agreement in pronoun usage and includes exercises to help distinguish correct forms. Additionally, it highlights common mistakes and provides tips for ensuring proper pronoun reference.
Problems with Pronouns
- 2. Problems with Pronouns Pronouns are: words that take place of nouns can be a subject or an object agree with the nouns they are replacing
- 3. Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun SUBJECT OBJECT I You He She It They We me you him her it them us • A subject pronoun is used as subject of a verb. • An object pronoun is used as object of a verb or object of preposition.
- 4. Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun Example: Sally gave the book to John. She gave it to him. Sally is replaced by she as the subject. Book is replaced by it as the object of verb. John is replaced by him as the object of preposition.
- 5. Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun Exercise: C 1. The worst problem with it is that he cannot afford it. I 2. They saw Steve and I (me) at the movies last night after class. I 3. Perhaps you would like to go to the seminar with they (them) and their friends. C 4. The mother took her son to the doctor’s office because he was feeling sick.
- 6. Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun I 5. I did not know that you and her (she) were working together on the project. C 6. She did not buy the sweater because it had a small hole in it. C 7. The man leading the seminar gave me all the information I needed to make a decision. I 8. The cords connecting the computer to its printer need to be replaced before them (they) wear down.
- 7. Distinguish Subject & Object Pronoun C 9. He is going to the party with you and me if you do not mind. I 10. You and her (she) ought to return the books to the library because they are already overdue.
- 8. Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns Possessive Adjectives Possessive Pronouns my your his her its our their mine yours his hers - ours theirs • A possessive adjective describes a noun that MUST be accompanied by a noun. • A possessive pronoun is used as a noun that CAN’T be accompanied by a noun.
- 9. Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns Example: They lent me their book. adjective Their is followed by book because a possessive adjective describes a noun. They lent me theirs. pronoun Theirs is not followed by a noun because a possessive pronoun is already a noun.
- 10. Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns Exercise: I 1. If she borrows your coat, then you should be able to borrow her (hers). C 2. Each pot and pan in her kitchen has its own place on the shelf. I 3. Mary and Mark invited theirs (their) parents to see their new apartment. C 4. When my roommate paid her half of the rent, I paid mine.
- 11. Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns I 5. All students need to bring theirs (their) own pencils and answer sheets to the exam. C 6. All her secretaries are working late tonight to finish her report. C 7. The horse trotting around the track won its race a few minutes ago. I 8. Before the report is finalized, the information in their notes and our (ours) must be proofed.
- 12. Distinguish Possessive Adjectives & Pronouns C 9. She worked all day cooking food and making decorations for her son’s birthday party. I 10. The weather in the mountains this weekend will be extremely cold, so please take yours (your) heavy jackets.
- 13. Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement Pronoun Agreement 1. Be sure that every pronoun and possessive agrees with the noun it refers to. 2. Generally check back in the sentence for agreement. After checking the subject and object pronouns and the possessives are used correctly, it is needed to check THEM for agreement.
- 14. Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement Example: The boys will cause trouble if you let him. Though him is correctly used as an object pronoun, but it is incorrectly referred to boys. Therefore, him should be replaced with them. Everyone must give their name. Though their is correctly used as a possessive adjective, but it is incorrectly referred to everyone. It should be replaced with his or her.
- 15. Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement Exercise: I 1. If a person really wants to succeed, they (she/he) must always work hard. C 2. If you see the students from math class, could you return their exam papers to them? I 3. Some friends and I went to see a movie, and afterwards we wrote a critique about them (it).
- 16. Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement I 4. If you have a problem, you are welcome to discuss it with me before you try to resolve them (it). C 5. I know you had a terrible time last week, but you must try to forget it. C 6. At the start of the program, each student needs to see his advisor about his schedule. I 7. In spite of its (their) small size, these video recorders produce excellent tapes.
- 17. Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement I 8. Whatever the situation, you should reflect profoundly about them (it) before coming to a decision. C 9. The people I admire most are those who manage to solve their own problems. I 10. If anyone stops by while I am at the meeting, please take a message from them (her/him).
- 18. Exercise Skill 21-23 I 1. Helicopters are being used more and more in emergency situations because of its (their) ability to reach out-of-the-way places. I 2. The worker was fired by the chemical company because his (he) refused to work with certain dangerous chemicals. C 3. If you have car trouble while driving on the freeway, you should pull your car over to the side of the freeway and wait for help.
- 19. Exercise Skill 21-23 I 4. The administration will not install the new security system because they (it) cost so much. C 5. Some parents prefer to send their children to private schools because they believe the children will be better educated. C 6. The air traffic controller was not blamed for the accident because he had strictly followed the correct procedures.
- 20. Exercise Skill 21-23 I 7. The new student has been assigned to work on the project with you and I (me). I 8. Many different kinds of aspirin are on the market, but theirs (their) effectiveness seems to be equal. C 9. You must bring a tent and a sleeping bag for your trip to the Sierras. C 10. Each of team members had their new uniform.
- 21. TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23 B 1. Superman made their (its) comic debut in 1983 in A B C D Action Comics. C 2. Commercial letters of credit are often used to finance A export trade, but them (they) can have other uses. B C D
- 22. TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23 C 3. When children experience too much frustration, A B its (their) behavior ceases to be integrated. C D C 4. On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot as A B his (he) was leaving a Washington hotel. C D
- 23. TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23 A 5. Although the destruction that it causes (they) is often A terrible, cyclones benefit a much wider belt than they B C D devastate. B 6. President Andrew Jackson had an official cabinet, A but him (he) preferred the advice of his informal advices, B C D the Kitchen Cabinet.
- 24. TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23 C 7. After Clarence Day’s book Life with Father was A rewritten as a play, they (it) ran for six years on Broadway. B C D C 8. Almost half of the Pilgrims did not survive theirs (their) A B C first winter in the New World. D
- 25. TOEFL Exercise Skill 21-23 C 9. There was no indication from the Senate that he (it) A B C would agree with the decision made in the House. D D 10. A baby learns the meanings of words as they are A spoken by others and later uses him (them) in sentences. B C D