pronouns Flashcards
What is wrong?
The park rangers discussed measures to prevent severe wildfires, which would be devastating to it.
THE ANTECEDENT MUST EXIST
Find the antecedent >> it makes sense? >> it is the
only possible antecedent? >> it agrees in number with the pronoun?
The rangers discussed measures to prevent severe wildfires, which would be devastating to THE PARK.
An easy way to correct it is to substitute the pronoun for a noun.
Watch out for nouns used as adjectives! They cannot be antecedents of pronouns.
The antecedent to which you want to refer must actually exist in the sentence and be functioning as a noun.
What is wrong?
Although the term “supercomputer” may sound fanciful or exaggerated, it is simply an extremely fast mainframe that can execute trillions of calculations every second.
THE ANTECEDENT AND THE PRONOUN MUST MAKE SENSE TOGETHER
Find the antecedent >> it makes sense? >> it is the
only possible antecedent? >> it agrees in number with the pronoun?
Although the term “supercomputer” may sound fanciful or exaggerated, IT simply REFERS TO an extremely fast mainframe that can execute trillions of calculations every second.
To spot the error change the pronoun for the antecedent.
What is wrong?
Researchers claim to have developed new “nano-papers” incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which they allege give them the strength of cast iron.
THE ANTECEDENT MUST BE UNAMBIGUOUS
Find the antecedent >> it makes sense? >> **it is the
only possible antecedent? **>> it agrees in number with the pronoun?
Researchers claim to have developed new “nano-papers” incorporating tiny cellulose fibers, which allegedly give THESE MATERIALS the strength
of cast iron.
Both they and them have ambiguous antecedents. To resolve the ambiguity eliminate the pronouns.
What is wrong?
Confronted by radical changes in production and distribution, modern Hollywood studios are attempting various experiments in an effort to retain its status as the primary arbiter of movie consumption.
THE ANTECEDENT AND THE PORONOUN MUST AGREE IN NUMBER
Find the antecedent >> it makes sense? >> it is the
only possible antecedent? >> it agrees in number with the pronoun?
Confronted by radical changes in production and distribution, modern Hollywood studios are attempting various experiments in an effort to retain THEIR status as the primary arbiters of movie consumption.
Complete
1) Subject pronouns can be the subjects of sentences.
I you he she it we they who
2) Object pronouns can be the objects of verbs or prepositions.
me you him her it us them ___
3) Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or a similar relation.
my/mine your/yours his her/hers its our/ours their/theirs ___
PRONOUN CASE
1) Subject pronouns can be the subjects of sentences.
I you he she it we they who
2) Object pronouns can be the objects of verbs or prepositions.
me you him her it us them WHOM
3) Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or a similar relation.
my/mine your/yours his her/hers its our/ours their/theirs WHOSE
Spot the antecedents, the pronouns and Correct it
Caroline receives e-mail from friends who she knows well, from acquaintances who’s names are only vaguely familiar, and from strangers about who she knows nothing at all.
PRONOUN CASE
Caroline receives e-mail from friends WHOM she knows well, from acquaintances WHOSE names are only vaguely familiar, and from strangers about WHOM she knows nothing at all.
Caroline is the antecedent of both she’s.
Friends is the antecedent of the first whom.
Acquaintances is the antecedent of whose.
Strangers is the antecedent of whom.
Spot the parallel marker and the pronoun. Explain the case of the pronoun.
Supernovas destroy their immediate environments in vast explosions, but by synthesizing heavy chemical elements, they provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.
PRONOUN CASE AND PARALLELISM
Supernovas destroy their immediate environments in vast explosions, BUT by synthesizing heavy chemical elements, THEY provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.
A pronoun in subject position in one clause may often be presumed to refer to the subject of a parallel clause even if that subject is relatively far away.
What is wrong?
The board is investigating several executives’ compensation packages in order to determine how much may have been improperly awarded to them.
PRONOUN CASE - POSSESIVE
Nouns in the possessive case (with s or s’) are often poor antecedents.
In the question the pronoun THEM refers to packages.
Better:The board is investigating the compensation packages of several executives in order to determine how much THEY may have been improperly awarded.
But in the correction above they is ambiguous.
Best: The board is investigating the compensation packages of several executives in order to determine how much THESE EXECUTIVES may have been improperly awarded
What is wrong?
- The money spent by her parents is less than it spent by her children.*
- The money spent by her parents is more than that was expected to be.*
THIS, THAT, THESE AND THOSE - IT X THAT
To modified copies of the antecedent use THAT/THOSE.
The money spent by her parents is less than that spent by her children.
To the same copy use IT/THEY/THEM.
The money spent by her parents is more than IT was expected to be.
What is wrong?
Her company is outperforming those of her competitors.
THIS, THAT, THESE AND THOSE
Her company is outperforming THE COMPANIES OF her competitors.
Any “New Copy” that or those must agree in number with
the previous version. If you must change number, repeat the noun.
What is wrong?
Her products are unusual; many consider these unique.
THIS, THAT, THESE AND THOSE
Her products are unusual; many consider THEM unique.
Do not use this or these in place of nouns. Also, do not use that or those in place of nouns (unless you modify that or those). Use it, they, or them instead.
