Pronoun Problems

Question 1

Pronouns must agree in _________________.

Answer 1

Number with their antecedent.

Question 2

The following indefinite pronouns are singular:

Answer 2

Anyone, anybody, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, none, no one, one, somebody, something, someone.

Question 3

What 5 pronouns aren’t subject to the “disregard the prepositional phrase?”

Answer 3

All, any, most, none, and some.

All of the money is missing.
All of the cookies are missing.

Observe the object of the preposition.

Question 4

Define “singular they.”

Answer 4

Avoiding gender specific personal pronouns (he, she) and instead using “they.”

Don’t. You must change antecedent to plural in order to use they correctly.

Question 5

What pronouns does one need to pay close attention to?

Answer 5

They, he, she, it.

1. Find the pronoun
2. Replace the pronoun with its antecedent (remember, the noun must be the exact word.)
3. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, reword it.

Question 6

List the Third-Person Pronouns: singular, plural, tenses

Answer 6

Third-Person Pronouns Singular Plural
subject he, she, it they
object him, her, it them
possessive his, hers, its theirs

*Most academic papers are written in 3rd-person.

Question 7

Pronouns are also of three cases:

Answer 7

Subject: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.

Objective: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.

Possessive: my, your, his, her, it’s, our, their.

Question 8

Subjective Pronouns

Answer 8

His brother’s and him . . .
Marge, Liz, and me . . .
Me and her see eye-to-eye on many. . .

Wrong! Must use subjective case.

If you have a problem with a compound subject just try it reading with a pronoun only.

Question 9

First-Person Pronouns

Answer 9

Grammatical Function Singular Plural
subject I we
object me us
possessive mine ours

Question 10

Second-Person Pronouns

Answer 10

Grammatical Function Singular Plural
subject you you
object you you
possessive your yours

*Use to personalize text, like in a recipe.

Question 11

Unlike nouns, personal pronouns usually _______________________.

Answer 11

Take a different form or shape depending on the word’s function in the sentence.

Dan told me that I could not leave my car.
Somebody needs to tell him that he should mind his own beeswax.

Question 12

When should you not use “that?”

Answer 12

When referring to humans.

Question 13

Reflexive pronouns are over used, but why?

Answer 13

Reflexive pronouns should be used when something does something to itself.

X She made a cake for Carol and myself.
. . .Carol and me.

*there are no such words as hisself, theirselves, it’s himself and themselves.

Question 14

Having problems with the following pronouns: I versus me, she versus her, they versus them?

Answer 14

Use the subject form when the pronoun is either the subject or a subject compliment.

Hint: “_________ ran home.”
“The ball hit _________.”

*If a verb appears right after a pronoun, use subject case, if not, use object case.

Question 15

Grammar Tip: Pro onus in Compond Structures

Answer 15

If you’re using a pronoun in a compound structure, reword the sentence using just the pronoun.

X Collin and “him” traveled to town.
X “Him” traveled to town. “He” traveled …

Question 16

Avoiding the Problem: Who versus Whom

Answer 16

Use”who” when the pronoun is the subject.

*If the pronoun is quickly followed by a verb, use “who.”

Question 17

Grammar Tip: Him Helping with Whom

Answer 17

Both “him” and “whom” end in letter m. And both are object forms. Use whom only when him would be an appropriate choice.

You are speaking to ______.
You are speaking to HIM. So use “whom.

Question 18

Avoid using “that” when referring to people.

Answer 18

You can use THAT to refer to a category or type of person.

We need a leader that will improve morale.
Any worker that arrives late …

Question 19

Vague Pronouns

Answer 19

Pronouns that require an antecedent must CLEARLY refer back to a previous noun or pronoun. Have a clear antecedent.

*If a pronoun requires an antecedent, make sure the pronoun refers back to the nearest noun or pronoun.

Question 20

Three Guidelines for Avoiding Vague Peonouns

Answer 20

1. The antecedent MUST be a previous noun or pronoun.
2. Whenever, possible, place the pronoun and it’s antecedent in the same sentence.
3. Avoid having any other noun or pronoun come between a pronoun and it’s antecedent.

Question 21

Grammar Tip: This, That, and It

Answer 21

When precision is important, keep an eye on your use of this, that, and it to make sure they follow the 3 guidelines. They’re tricky.