Pronouns Types Flashcards
The relative pronouns are:
who, whom, whose, which, and that. Relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses functioning as adjectives. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive subordinate clauses, and do not use commas to set off restrictive clauses. The choice of relative pronouns is determined by the way the pronoun is used and the noun or pronoun to which it refers. Who, which, and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents.
Relative pronouns introduce subordinate clauses functioning as adjectives.
WHO(Relative to people-SUBJECT):
The musician who wrote this song is french
WHOM(Relative to people-OBJECT):
I know the boy whom sits next with you
WHICH(Relates to animal and object):
We went to the new swimming pool which has three sides
WHY(Refers to reason):
You know the reason why market is closed
WHEN(Refers to time);
The Day when the contest takes place is friday
WHERE(Refers to places);
This is house where my son was born
WHOSE(Refers to Possession);
The boy whose phone just rang should stand up
WHAT(Refers to things):
I could not hear what you said
THAT (Refers to people/things):
Sep 21 is the date that i was born
In addition to introducing the clause, the relative pronoun, in this case
who, points back to a noun or pronoun that the clause modifies (man). In the second sentence, that points back to arrow.
Relative pronouns are sometimes “understood.”
The things [that] we know best are the things [that] we haven’t been taught.
Restrictive Clause - Relative Pronouns
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive elements. Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements.
A restrictive element defines or limits the meaning of the word it modifies and is therefore essential to the meaning of the sentence. Because it contains essential information, a restrictive element is not set off with commas.
Restrictive: For camp the children need clothes that are washable.
If you remove a restrictive element from a sentence, the meaning changes significantly, becoming more general than you intended. The writer of the example sentence does not mean that the children need clothes in general. The intended meaning is more limited: The children need washable clothes.
Nonrestrictive Clause - Relative Pronouns
Nonrestrictive: For camp the children need sturdy shoes, which are expensive.
A nonrestrictive element describes a noun or pronoun whose meaning has already been clearly defined or limited. Because it contains nonessential or parenthetical information, a nonrestrictive element is set off with commas. If you remove a nonrestrictive element from a sentence, the meaning does not change significantly. The children need sturdy shoes, and these happen to be expensive.
Examples Of Relative Pronouns
The choice of that, which, who, or whom is dependent upon the way in which the pronoun is used within the sentence, as well as the noun or pronoun to which it refers.
In general, use that with restrictive clauses and which with nonrestrictive clauses.
Do not use which to refer to persons. Use who instead. That, though generally used to refer to things, may be used to refer to a group or class of people.
Fans wondered how an old man who (not that or which) walked with a limp could play football.
The team that scores the most points in this game will win the tournament.
Who is used for subjects and subject complements; whom is used for objects.
Who is bringing what for whom?
- Who, which, and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents.
Take a suit that travels well. (A suit… travels well.)
Take clothes that are easy to wash. (Clothes… are easy to wash.)
Sometimes problems occur when one of the and only one of the are used. Generally, one of the is treated as plural, and only one of the is treated as singular.
Our ability to use language is one of the things that set us apart from animals.
The antecedent of that is things, not one. Several things set us apart from animals, and language is one of them.
Carmen is the only one of the applicants who has the ability to step into this position.
The antecedent of who is one, not applicants. Only one applicant, Carmen, has the ability to step into the position.
Possessive Pronoun
Singular possessive pronouns include:
mine
yours
hers
his
its
theirs (sometimes—more on this later)
Example:
That is her car and this one here is my car.
That is her car and this one here is mine.
Let’s see if Dave’s arm is longer than your arm.
Let’s see if Dave’s arm is longer than yours.
Penelope said we can stay at her house, but I don’t know which one is her house.
Penelope said we can stay at her house, but I don’t know which one is hers.
A possessive pronoun is plural if it refers to more than one person or thing. Plural possessive pronouns include:
ours
yours
theirs
Examples:
Emilia’s party was great, but just wait until she comes to our party.
Emilia’s party was great, but just wait until she comes to ours.
This is my cookie pile, and that one is the one for all of you.
This is my cookie pile, and that one is yours.
We don’t think that our team can defeat their team.
We don’t think that our team can defeat theirs.
Personal Pronoun
A personal pronoun is singular if it refers to exactly one person or thing. The most commonly used singular personal pronouns are:
First person: I, me
Second person: you
Third person: she, her, he, him, it
Examples:
I exercise every day.
Raymond has always been nice to me.
Victoria gave Martin a present and he gave one to her.
You should brush your teeth regularly.
An ant can lift something that weighs much more than it does.
A personal pronoun is plural if it refers to more than one person or thing. The most commonly used plural personal pronouns are:
First person: we, us
Second person: you
Third person: they, them
Examples:
We built a snowman.
The price of the jewelry surprised us.
Jack’s clothes were soaked after the car splashed them.
The workers went on strike because they wanted higher pay.
The monkeys entertained the guests that came to see them.
Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun is singular if it refers to exactly one person or thing. The most commonly used reflexive singular pronouns are:
myself
yourself
herself, himself, itself
Examples:
I ate breakfast by myself.
We will be busy, so you will have to drive yourself to the airport.
The baboon puffed itself up to look more intimidating.
The director made a name for himself with his first movie.
Alexis painted a picture of herself and her family.
A reflexive pronoun is plural if it refers to more than one person or thing. The most commonly used plural reflexive pronouns are:
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Examples:
We groggily dragged ourselves out of bed.
Hi, everybody! Help yourselves to some pancakes!
The silly clowns made fools of themselves.
Indefinite Pronoun
Listed below are indefinite pronouns that are typically used as singular. When used in a sentence, these words typically take a singular verb:
another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, enough, everyone, everybody, everyone, everything, less, little, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, something
Examples:
He had barely finished his first soda before he started to drink another.
Everyone was shocked by the sudden announcement.
Little is known about the ancient civilization.
My data shows that nobody thinks a hot dog is a sandwich.
Something smells really good in the kitchen.
Listed below are the indefinite pronouns that are treated as plural. When used in sentences, these words typically use a plural verb:
both, few, fewer, many, others, several
Examples:
Both of my friends are hungry.
We invited all of the neighbors to the picnic, but few have come.
Many of the cats have striped tails.
Several of the boys know how to swim.
This particular plane functions underwater, but others do not.
Depending on the sentence, the following indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural. The verb they use will depend on if these words are acting as singular or plural:
all, any, more, most, none, some, such
Examples:
All of the trash is gone.
All of my sisters are blonde.
Most of the drinks are already gone.
Most of the town is covered in snow.
Some of the pie has been eaten, and some of the potatoes are missing.
Demonstrative Pronoun
The words this and that are singular demonstrative pronouns
The words these and those are plural demonstrative pronouns.
Examaple:
This is a really weird-looking fruit.
I can’t believe she said that.
We are going to need boxes that are a lot bigger than these.
The restaurants here are a lot newer than those across town.
Demonstrative pronouns vs. demonstrative adjectives
Pronoun: There are a lot of books in my room, but this is my favorite.
Adjective: There are a lot of books in my room, but this book is my favorite.
Interrogative Pronoun
The five most commonly used interrogative pronouns are who, whom, whose, what, and which. Less commonly, longer forms of these words ending in -ever are also used: whoever, whomever, whosever, whatever, and whichever.
Examples:
Who took the towel?
Who will win the championship?
Whom did you give the key to?
Whom did the police suspect of the crime?
Interrogative pronouns vs. Interrogative adjectives
Interrogative pronoun: Which is the right answer? (Which is used alone.)
Interrogative adjective: Which answer is right? (Which modifies the noun answer.)
Intensive Pronoun
An intensive pronoun is singular if it only refers to one person. Singular intensive pronouns include:
myself
yourself
herself, himself, itself
Examples:
I built this house myself.
You need to find the answer yourself.
It turned out that Abraham Lincoln himself had written the poem.
The band’s singer wrote all of the songs herself.
The mouse itself opened the door to the cage.
An intensive pronoun is plural if it refers to more than one person or thing. The most commonly used plural intensive pronouns are:
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Examples:
We will have to escape the island ourselves.
You yourselves have the potential to accomplish anything.
It turned out that the gardeners themselves had taken the tractor.
Reciprocal Pronoun
Most style guides only consider there to be two reciprocal pronouns, and both of them consist of two words. These reciprocal pronouns are:
each other
one another
Examples:
Each other
Romeo and Juliet love each other.
The coaches spoke to each other about v
strategy.
The chimpanzees shared food with each
other.
One another
The members of the board congratulated
one another on a successful quarter.
At the roast, the guests took turns making j
okes about one another.
The elephants stood close together in order
to protect one another.
