Reflexive
pronouns show that the action affects the person who performs the
action. Reflexive pronouns end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves"
(plural).
An
intensive pronoun is a pronoun used for emphasis. In other words,
intensive pronouns emphasize the subject of the sentence. They are
written exactly the same way as the reflexive pronouns, but their
function
is different.
I made it myself.
Example
sentences:
I myself
baked the cake.
The queen herself
recommended this restaurant.
Have you yourself
been there?
The project itself
wasn't difficult.
We will do it ourselves.
Reciprocal Pronouns
"Reciprocal"
means that two people or groups do the same thing to each other. They
treat each other in the same way.
For example, Joe loves Kate, and Kate loves Joe. So we can say, "Kate
and Joe love each other."
Another example is, "Mike helps Lucy, and Lucy helps Mike." So we can say,
"Mike and Lucy help each other."
There are two reciprocal pronouns in English: Each other
and one another.
They hug each other.
Example
sentences:
The cat and the dog like each other.
The two politicians hate each other.
We must stop fighting one
another.
They gave each
other Christmas presents.
They can't hear one
another.
In the movie, the good guys and bad guys fight
against each other.
Thomas and his brother finally forgave each other.
Indefinite Pronouns
"Indefinite" means "not exact, not limited."
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to any specific
person or thing.
Many words can be used both as pronouns and determiners,
so here is the key difference:
A pronoun is used instead of a
noun.
A determiner
comes before
a noun.
So for example, when the word "this" is used instead of a noun,
it's a pronoun:
"This
is not funny."
When the word "this" comes before
a noun, it's a determiner:
"Can you open this
book?"
Determiner
(the noun is underlined)
Pronoun
(there is no noun
since the pronoun replaces it)
This is mycar.
This car
is mine.
Yourhat is cool.
This hat
of yours is
cool.
I love hercooking.
The
cooking is all hers.
Mark found
hisjacket.
A friend
of his
called.
Ourroom is
much smaller.
Your room
is huge.
Ours
is much smaller.
Theirmeetings
are always noisy.
The
printer is theirs.
Thismovie is
the best.
This is the best
movie.
I liked thatrestaurant.
I liked that very much.
Somepeople may
find it immoral.
Some may
find it immoral.
Whichcolor do
you like the most?
Which of the books
is yours?
There are severalplates on
the kitchen table.
If you
need plates, there are several
on the kitchen table.
He doesn't
have muchmoney.
He can't
lend you any money. He doesn't have much
himself.
Mostcats like
to sleep.
Most of my cats like
to sleep.
He didn't
have anycandy.
He didn't
have any.
Pronoun/Antecedent
Agreement
An antecedent
is a word (or a group of words) which a pronoun refers back to.
Examples:
(the antecedent is red and the pronoun is green)
Beth will buy some water
and drink it. Water
is the antecedent of "it."
"It" is a pronoun and it refers back to "water."
Dianaleft her
book at school. Diana
is the antecedent of "her."
"Her" is a pronoun and it refers back to "Diana."
Kevin
and
Laura are meeting their
friends.
The phrase Kevin and
Laura is the antecedent of "their."
"Their" is a pronoun and it refers back to "Kevin and Laura."
The word "antecedent" comes from the Latin: ante (before) + cedere (to go).
The Importance of Pronouns
Here we can see the great importance of pronouns. If we didn't have
pronouns, these sentence would have to be written like this:
Beth will buy some water
and drink the water.
Diana
left Diana's
book at school.
Kevin
and Laura are meeting Kevin
and Laura's friends.
The Importance of Antecedents
Read the following sentences and see if you can fully understand
them:
They
took it.
(Who took it? What did he or she take?)
Ours
is with them.
(What is with them? Who is they?)
She
bought hers.
(Who is she? What did she buy?)
Do you see what happens?
If there are no antecedents it can be unclear what the speaker
or writer is referring to.
Important
note: In many cases the antecedent can be fully
clear even without directly mentioning it. In other words, the
antecedent can be understood from context.
For example, let's say Jessica and Molly have an annoying neighbor.
They always complain about him.
Jessica can say to Molly, "Do you know what he did this time?"
It will be fully clear to Molly who Jessica is referring to.
Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in three ways:
Person
(First person: I/we, second person: you, third person: he/she/it/they)
Correct:Bobdid his homework. Incorrect:Bob did your
homework.
Number (singular/plural)
Correct:Bobdid his homework. Incorrect:Bob did their
homework.
Gender (masculine/feminine)
Correct:Bobdid his homework. Incorrect:Bob did her
homework.
Important
note:
In some cases such sentences can
be correct. You simply have to use your common
sense.
For example, let's say that Bob did Susan's homework, and I am now
talking to Susan.
In this case, I can definitely say, "Bob did your homework."
(And I am referring to Susan's homework, not to Bob's homework. So in this
case the antecedent is Susan, not Bob!)
Determining the correct pronoun to use is usually pretty
straightforward.
Some cases, however, can seem more challenging.
So here are some more correct and incorrect
examples:
Correct:
Every boy will start his
test. Incorrect:
Every boy will start their
test.
Correct: The box of toys is in its place. Incorrect:
The box of toys is in their
place.
Correct:
Both lost their
jobs. Incorrect:
Both lost his
jobs.
Correct:
Alice and Kate talked with their
father. Incorrect: Alice
and Kate talked with her
father.
Correct:
The United States opened its
borders. Incorrect: The
United States opened their
borders.