PRONOUNS and THEIR POSITION IN A SENTENCE

 

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Welcome to today's lesson, as we continue in our chapter about noun and pronouns. You can obtain earlier lessons from our Grammar HELP! Library.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar, also in our Library. (This lesson is open to members only but membership is free!)

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PRONOUNS in English...


...have characteristics that reflect their position in a sentence and . Let's take a look at some of these types of pronouns.

A SUBJECT PRONOUN
occupies the subject position.

AN OBJECT PRONOUN
occupies the object position.

A POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
indicates possession.

A DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN
refers back to an item that was just referred to.

A REFLEXIVE PRONOUN reflects the action or state of being back to the person or thing that has just been mentioned.

 

Pronouns are similar to nouns in that they both have singular and plural forms.

In contrast to nouns, however, pronouns have forms that reflect 1st, 2nd and 3rd person and may also, such as in the case of subject pronouns, object pronouns and reflexive pronouns, have masculine and feminine forms in the 3rd person singular form.

SUBJECT PRONOUNS


Use a subject pronoun to replace a noun in the subject position.

  • We had a good time.

  • We, my wife and I, had a good time.

The SUBJECT PRONOUNS ARE:

SINGULAR PLURAL
   
I WE
YOU YOU
HE, SHE, IT THEY

 

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

Use a demonstrative pronoun to refer to an idea that you have just mentioned.  It may be used in the subject position or in the object position.

I have always loved my familyi.  However, this was not enough to keep my marriage together.

In the above sentence, this refers to the fact that he has always loved his family.

The DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS are:

SINGULAR PLURAL
   
THIS THESE
THAT THOSE
 

Be a Grammar Geek!

 
The adjective some is used in each practice sentence below.  How good are you at distinguishing between a count noun and a noncount noun?

What does the pronoun these refer to in the sentence below?

Some people are poor and wish to be wealthy.  Some are wealthy and wish they were happy, too.  Some people are lonely and wish to have a family.  These are fantasies that help people to aspire to a better life.

Your answer:  ____________________________________________________________

You will find the answers in our "Answer Key". You can access the "Answer Key" by using your Library Card to enter the Library, and then scroll down to find the shelf, "Answer Key" and find the appropriate lesson. 

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All material is copyrighted by Software for Students.  Copying is permissible for PERSONAL USE ONLY. All others must contact Software for Students for permission to use in schools or other educational institutions.