Unit 10: Parts of Speech

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun, a group of words acting as a noun, or another pronoun. The word or group of words that a pronoun refers to is called its antecedent. A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent. Poet Lance Henson has published twelve books in which he celebrates the rich heritage of the Cheyenne. [The pronoun he takes the place of the noun Lance Henson.] After Aretha and Ted gathered signatures on the petition, they signed it themselves. [The pronouns they and themselves take the place of the nouns Aretha and Ted; the pronoun it takes the place of petition.] How many in this class have already written their essays? [The pronoun their takes the place of the pronoun many, which stands for an unspecified number of people in the class.] The approximately seventy-five pronouns in the English language fit into one or more of the following categories: personal and possessive pronouns, reflexive and intensive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, relative pronouns, and indefinite pronouns.

Personal and Possessive Pronouns Parts of Speech A personal pronoun refers to a specific person or thing by indicating the person speaking (the first person), the person being addressed (the second person), or any other person or thing being discussed (the third person). Like nouns, personal pronouns can be singular or plural.

Personal Pronouns

SINGULAR PLURAL FIRST PERSON I, me we, us SECOND PERSON you you THIRD PERSON he, him, she, her, it they, them

FIRST PERSON The coach asked me to pitch. [Me refers to the person speaking.] SECOND PERSON Ask Maria to show you where the gym is. [You refers to the person being addressed.] THIRD PERSON She gave them a tour of the school. [She and them refer to the persons being discussed.]

10.2 Pronouns 437 Third-person singular pronouns express gender. He and him are masculine; she and her are feminine; it is neuter (neither masculine nor feminine). The personal pronouns that indicate possession or ownership are called possessive pronouns. They take the place of the possessive forms of nouns.

Possessive Pronouns

SINGULAR PLURAL FIRST PERSON my, mine our, ours SECOND PERSON your, yours your, yours THIRD PERSON his, her, hers, its their, theirs

Some possessive pronouns must be used before nouns; others can stand alone. USED BEFORE A NOUN This is your ticket. USED ALONE This ticket is yours.

Exercise 16 Using Personal and Possessive Pronouns Improve the following paragraph by replacing the underlined word or words with personal or possessive pronouns. Write your answers on your paper. Animated Cartoons 1Animated cartoons can reproduce anything that the reader of this passage can imagine in the reader’s mind. 2An animated cartoon achieves the cartoon’s effects through a simple tech- Parts of Speech Parts nique. 3Cartoon artists draw the artists’ pictures on a large board. 4In each picture the figure changes the figure’s position slightly. 5If Bugs Bunny winks Bugs Bunny’s eye, Bugs Bunny would be drawn in the first picture with Bugs Bunny’s eye open. 6In the next picture Bugs Bunny’s eye would be half closed. 7In the following picture Bugs Bunny’s eye would be completely closed. 8The camera operator films these individual pictures in the pictures’ proper sequence. 9When the individual frames are run through a projector,the frames’ rapid projection creates the illusion of movement. 10As the reader of this passage view the animated cartoon,the reader’s eyes seem to see Bugs Bunny’s eye wink.

Exercise 17 Forming Possessive Pronouns Write the possessive form(s) of each of the following personal pronouns. Remember that some personal pronouns have more than one possessive form. Also, some personal pronouns share the same possessive forms. SAMPLE ANSWER us—our, ours 1. I 3. he 5. it 7. they 9. him 2. you 4. she 6. we 8. me 10. her

438 Unit 10 Parts of Speech Parts of Speech 439 10.2 Pronouns is -selves or PLURAL -self ourselves yourselves themselves themselves. SINGULAR myself yourself himself, herself, itself adds emphasis to another noun or pronoun. adds emphasis to Building Homes for the Homeless Building Homes refers, back, or reflects earlier in a noun or pronoun to to play the guitar. that I would practice more. myself. Identifying Antecedents of Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns Identifying Antecedents of Reflexive Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns Reflexive and Intensive are quite well. are can’t answer that riddle. can’t painted his room. herself myself himself yourself ourselves intensive pronoun intensive reflexive pronoun reflexive You You Juan that poem I wrote We I promised I promised She taught by The band members organized the parade Maria herselfMaria of in the rear bedrooms the two constructed for Humanity the Habitat house. yourself, can paint the room You on another project. can work or you myselfI gave help. plumbing without any the kitchen a pat on the back for installing pulled himself in the group The oldest worker the gutters. up the ladder and attached days. in less than three dwelling the two-bedroom completed ourselves We Write the noun or pronoun to which the reflexive or intensive pronoun in each sentence each in pronoun or intensive the reflexive which to the noun or pronoun Write refers. An A The reflexive and intensive pronouns are formed when are pronouns intensive and The reflexive the sentence. FIRST PERSON SECOND PERSON THIRD PERSON 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Exercise 18 Exercise Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns Intensive and Reflexive added to certain personal and possessive pronouns. certain personal and possessive added to Demonstrative Pronouns A demonstrative pronoun points out specific persons, places, things, or ideas.

Demonstrative Pronouns

SINGULAR this that PLURAL these those

This is the record I want. Play that again. These were left here after last night’s party. My records are newer than those.

Exercise 19 Writing with Demonstrative Pronouns Write five sentences describing a sport you enjoy as a participant or as a spectator. Write your sentences as if you are speaking to someone who can see what you are describing. Use a demonstrative pronoun in each sentence. Use each of the four demonstrative pronouns at least once. SAMPLE ANSWER That is the pitcher’s mound.

Exercise 20 Using Reflexive, Intensive, and Demonstrative Pronouns Supply the appropriate reflexive, intensive, or demonstrative pronoun for each blank. On

Parts of Speech Parts your paper write the pronoun, and identify it as reflexive, intensive, or demonstrative. Jackie Robinson, Major Leaguer 1After researching the life of Jack Roosevelt Robinson (1919–1972), I came to feel that ______who understand the man’s historic importance will consider him a hero. 2I learned, first of all, that Robinson was an all-around athlete; ______are the sports in which he excelled in college: baseball, football, and basketball. 3Following three years of serv- ice in the U.S. Army, Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey ______, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to play baseball for Rickey’s team. 4Thus, Robinson found ______in a position to break the “color line” in the major leagues. 5On April 11, 1947, when Robinson played his first game for the Dodgers, his teammates ______did not unanimously support his presence. 6 ______was the first time in the twentieth century that an African American had played major league baseball. 7By enduring intense scrutiny and abuse, Robinson proved ______a courageous leader. 8During a ten- year career that included six World Series, he earned for ______the respect of his peers and the public. 9In 1962 we witnessed his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame; ______alone is a great accomplishment. 10Yet I believe Robinson’s importance transcends sports: American society ______became fairer and more open because of Robinson’s courage.

440 Unit 10 Parts of Speech Parts of Speech 441 10.2 Pronouns ] relative. or ] begins the subordi- whichever. and that begins the subordinate who which the British burned in 1814. interrogative ] was sent over Morse’s telegraph was was sent over Morse’s married James Madison, was born in that is used to form questions. is used to who Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist Celebrated Yo-Yo the British burned pronoun [The relative in 1814. is used to begin a special subject-verb word group begin word a special subject-verb is used to Distinguishing Between Interrogative and Relative Pronouns and Relative Distinguishing Between Interrogative which that was sent over Morse’s telegraph. that was sent over Morse’s could have done this? did you use? should I ask to help me? should I ask of these models did you build? of these models did who married James Madison. begins the subordinate clause begins the subordinate did you find? are the captains? are whoever, whomever, whosoever, whatever, interrogative pronoun interrogative relative pronoun relative from Dolley Madison. [The relative pronoun pronoun Dolley Madison. [The relative from clause the from a portrait of George Washington Dolley Madison rescued White House, The first personal message nate clause which whowhom whose whoeverDolley Payne, the woman which whomever that whichever whatever what North Carolina. [The relative pronoun pronoun relative [The North Carolina. Yo-Yo Ma is the name of Ma and critical acclaim won Yo-Yo have whose performances a cellist awards. prestigious of other cellist What of this generation has so delighted lovers music? chamber celebrity is an international whose father was also a Ma in 1955,Born in France Yo-Yo musician. debut at Carnegie at age nine? made a musical Hall have among us can claim to Who York in New School at the Juilliard who instructed Ma was the teacher Rose Leonard City. On your paper,On your that appear in the following pronouns and relative list the interrogative sentences, of and label each them as Whoever who?Who whose? whom? Whom Whose what?What Which which? called a subordinate clause (see Unit 13). clause (see Unit called a subordinate A To add emphasis,To forms of intensive can use the you pro- the interrogative An 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. Exercise 21 Exercise nouns: Interrogative and Relative Pronouns Relative and Interrogative Indefinite Pronouns An indefinite pronoun refers to persons, places, or things in a more general way than a noun does.

Sally seems to like everyone. [The indefinite pronoun everyone refers to people in general.] I’m hoping that someone can help me. [The indefinite pronoun someone does not tell you to whom it refers.] When we counted the coins, we discovered that some were missing. [The indefinite pronoun some has the specific antecedent coins.]

Some Indefinite Pronouns

all either much others another enough neither plenty any everybody nobody several anybody everyone none some anyone everything no one somebody anything few nothing someone both many one something each most other

Exercise 22 Identifying Indefinite Pronouns Write the indefinite pronouns in each of the following sentences about contemporary Native American music. Parts of Speech Parts 1. Few might have thought they would understand and enjoy Native American music. 2. No one had tried to combine the old music with new styles. 3. Peter Buffett and Chief Hawk Pope were Shawnee; both understood the potential for combining tradition and comtemporary styles. 4. Neither of these musicians was sure that their experiment would be successful. 5. In 1997 everyone interested in new trends discovered Spirit Dance. 6. Of course, not everybody appreciated the resulting albums. 7. Most, however, were amazed at the success of the combined styles. 8. The album developed into a video program for PBS that one might enjoy at home. 9. A stage production suggested that many in America were ready for this sensational music. 10. Performances were a success, and each convinced the musicians that their collaboration had been effective.

Exercise 23 Review: Using Interrogative, Relative, Indefinite, Reflexive, Demonstrative, and Personal Pronouns The following questions and statements are missing twenty pronouns. Add them accord- ing to the directions in parentheses. Write your answers on your paper.

442 Unit 10 Parts of Speech Parts of Speech 443 10.2 Pronouns They are 5 We set ourselves the set ourselves We All are beautiful. All are 2 9 Several ofSeveral friends my 7 Robin’s owners,Robin’s a who know 6 Our neighbors, birds, who love lent us their 3 In the News In A Family ofA Family Labradors Review: Using Pronouns Review: Pronouns They themselves own Robin,They themselves the father of litter. Sandpiper’s 4 Now which of which Now pups do I myself the remaining want? 8 ______will it take to end the strike ______has crippled two major airlines? has crippled ______strike end the two to will______it take pronoun; an interrogative (Use pronoun.) relative use a of the University for basketball play has decided to ______Tarheels. Carolina North pronoun.) a personal (Use will ______their television be glued to Nearly as the movie tonight sets stars us laugh,______made weep, edge of and sit on the line up for our seats last year their Oscars. pronoun;an indefinite (Use pronoun.) use a relative the merger, ______willDo ______think oversee allow to does she plan or a personal pronoun;(Use handle it all ______? to her business manager a use personal pronoun; pronoun.) use a reflexive ______, folks, he ______the minute happened to say what police is exactly offstepped the plane. pronoun; a demonstrative (Use personal pronoun.) use a as ______does. as much chocolate ______craves pronoun; an indefinite (Use use a personal pronoun.) pronoun; an interrogative (Use was elected? ______do ______think use a personal pronoun.) the reservation.______will make pronoun; a personal (Use use a pronoun.) reflexive in cycling. an interest ______who have The club welcomes an (Use pronoun;indefinite pronoun.) use a demonstrative ______. send ______to to sure Make pronoun; indefinite an (Use use a personal pronoun.) seen recently. all have from about a movie you use pronouns sentences to ten Try Write studied in this lesson. the categories you paper,On your in the following that appear para- pronouns the twenty-five list in order graph. as personal, each Identify possessive, reflexive, intensive, demonstrative,tive, interroga- relative, or indefinite. Sandpiper, our Labrador retriever, had nine puppies in November. 1 Making a choice will of be one a choice Making tasks that I will have. the hardest ever 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1. 10. good pup when they see one, the biggest pup of chose all as theirs. Exercise 24 Exercise 25 Exercise proud ofproud field trials. prizes in hunting-dog who has won Robin 10 chose pups,chose too. bird encyclopedia. bird task of birds. different naming the puppies after