EXTRAS PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVES
CONTENTS
8-1 Personal pronouns 8-4 Reflexive pronouns
8-2 Personal pronouns: agreement 8-5 Using you, one, and they as
with generic nouns and impersonal pronouns
indefinite pronouns 8-6 Forms of other
8-3 Personal pronouns: agreement 8- 7 Common expressions with other
with collective nouns
EXERCISE 1. Preview: personal pronouns. (Chart 8-1)
Directions: Correct the errors you find in pronoun usage.
1. Some North American food is very good, but I don't like most of them.
2. When we were schoolgirls, my sister and me used to play badminton after school every day.
3. If you want to pass you're exams, you had better study very hard for it.
4. The work had to be finished by my boss and I after the store had closed for the night.
5. A hippopotamus spends most of it's time in the water of rivers and lakes.
6. After work, Mr. Gray asked to speak to Tim and I about the company's new policies. He explained it to us and asked for ours opinions.
7. A child should learn to respect other people. They need to learn how to treat other people politely, including their playmates.
8. My friends asked to borrow my car because their's was in the garage for repairs.
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SUBJECT OBJECT POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE
PRONOUN PRONOUN PRONOUN ADJECTIVE
(a) I read a book. It was good. A pronoun is used in place of a noun. The noun it refers to is called the "antecedent."
In (a): The pronoun it refers to the antecedent noun book.
(b) I read some books. They were good. A singular pronoun is used to refer to a singular noun, as in (a). A plural pronoun is used to refer to a plural noun, as in (b).
( c) I like tea. Do you like tea too?
Sometimes the antecedent noun is understood, not explicitly stated. In (c): refers to the speaker, and you refers to the person the speaker is talking to.
(d) John has a car. He drives to work. Subject pronouns are used as subjects of sentences, as he in (d).
( e) John works in my office. I know him well. Object pronouns are used as the objects of verbs, as in (f) I talk to him every day. (e), or as the objects of prepositions, as in (f).
(g) That book is hers. Yours is over there.
Possessive pronouns are not followed immediately by a noun; they stand alone, as in (g).
(h) INCORRECT: That book is her's. In (h): Possessive pronouns do NOT take apostrophes. Your's is over there. (See Chart 7-2, p. 103, for the use of apostrophes
with possessive nouns.)
(i) Her book is here Your book is over there. Possessive adjectives are followed immediately by a noun; they do not stand alone.
(j) A bird uses its wings to fly. COMPARE: Its has NO APOSTROPHE when it is used as a possessive, as in (j).
(k) INCORRECT: A bird uses it's wings to fly.
IT’S has an apostrophe when it is used as a contraction It's of it is, as in (1), or it has when has is part of the present perfect tense, as in (m).
EXERCISE 2. Personal pronouns: antecedents. (Chart 8-1)
Directions: Identify the personal pronouns and their antecedents.
1. Jack has a part-time job. He works at a fast-food restaurant.
-+ (he = a pronoun; Jack = the antecedent)
2. Most monkeys don't like water, but they can swim well when they have to.
3. The teacher graded the students' papers last night. She returned them during class today.
4. Nancy took an apple with her to work. She ate it at lunch time.
5. A dog makes a good pet if it is properly trained.
6. Tom's cat is named Maybelle Alice. She* is very independent. She never obeys Tom.
His dogs, on the other hand, obey him gladly. They like to please him.
EXERCISE 3. Possessive pronouns and adjectives. (Chart 8-1)
Directions: Choose the correct words in italics.
1. This is my/ mine umbrella. Your/Yours umbrella is over there.
2. This umbrella is my/mine. The other one is your yours.
I MUSEUM I
ICoat Checkl
3. Mary and Bob have their / theirs books. In other words, Mary has
her/ hers and Bob has his / him.
4. A honeybee has two wings on each side of its / it's body.
5. Its / It's true that a homing pigeon will find its / it's way home even though it begins its / it's trip in unfamiliar territory.
6. I have a pet. Its / It's name is Squeak. Its / It's a turtle. Its / It's been my pet for two years.
7. Our/ Ours house is almost the same as our/ ours neighbors' house. The only difference in appearance is that our / ours is gray and their \ theirs is white.
8. When I was in Florida, I observed an interesting fish-eating bird called an anhinga. It / They dives into the water and spears its / it's prey on its / it's long, pointed bill. After emerging from the water, it / they tosses the fish into the air and catches it / them in mid-air, then swallows it / them headfirst. Its / It's interesting to watch anhingas in action. I enjoy watching it / them.
*If the sex of a particular animal is known, usually she or he is used instead of it.
EXERCISE 4. Personal pronoun use with generic nouns. (Chart 8-2)
Directions: Use plural instead of singular generic nouns where possible. Change pronouns and verbs as necessary. Discuss the advantages of using plural rather than singular generic nouns.
Example: 1. When a student wants to study, he or she should find a quiet place.
When students want to study, they should find a quiet place.
2. I talked to a student in my chemistry class. I asked to borrow his notes from the class I missed. He gave them to me gladly. (no change)
3. Each student in Biology 101 has to spend three hours per week in the laboratory, where he or she does various experiments by following the directions in his or her lab manual.
4. A pharmacist fills prescriptions, but s/he is not allowed to prescribe medicine.
5. When the pharmacist handed my prescription to me, he made sure I understood how to take the medicine.
6. A citizen has two primary responsibilities. He should vote in every election, and he should serve willingly on a jury.
7. We listened to a really interesting lecturer last night. She discussed her experiences as an archaeologist in Argentina.
8. A lecturer needs to prepare his or her notes carefully so that he or she does not lose his or her place while he or she is delivering his or her speech.
EXERCISE 5. Personal pronoun use with indefinite pronouns. (Chart 8-2)
Directions: Complete the sentences with pronouns, choosing the correct verb inparentheses as necessary. Discuss formal vs. informal pronoun usage.
1. Somebody left his; his or her; her or his; their books on my desk.
2. Anyone can learn how to dance if _____(wants, want) to.
3. Hmmm. Someone forgot_____ umbrella. I wonder whose it is.
4. Everyone who came to the picnic brought _____ own food.
5. A: Is that your notebook?
B: No. It belongs to one of the other students.
A: Look on the inside cover. Did____ write_____ name there?
.6. If anyone calls, please ask ______ to leave a message.
7. Everyone was shocked when heard the news. Nobody opened
________ mouth. No one made a sound.
8. Nobody can always do whatever_____(pleases, please) in life.
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EXERCISE 6. Personal pronoun use with collective nouns. (Chart 8-3)
Directions: Complete the sentences with pronouns. In some of the sentences, there is more than one possibility. Choose the appropriate singular or plural verb in parentheses where necessary.
1. I have a wonderful family. I love them very much, and they love
(loves, love) me.
2. I looked up some information about the average American family. I found out that _________ (consists, consist) of 2.3 children.
3. The crowd at the soccer game was huge. ______exceeded 100,000 people.
4. The crowd became more and more excited as the premier's motorcade approached.________began to shout and wave flags in the air.
5. The soccer team felt unhappy because _____ had lost in the closing
moments of the game.
6. A basketball team is relatively small. ______(doesn't, don't) have as many members as a baseball team.
7. The audience clapped enthusiastically. Obviously _____ had enjoyed the concert.
8. The audience filled the room to overflowing. ______(was, were) larger than I had expected.
9. The class is planning a party for the last day of school. ______ (is, are) going to bring many different kinds of food and invite some of _________ friends to celebrate with .
10. The class is too small. _______ (is, are) going to be canceled.
EXERCISE 7. Preview of reflexive pronouns. (Chart 8-4)
Directions: Draw a self-portrait. Show it to the rest of the class. Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. Who drew a picture of herself? Name someone.
2. Who drew pictures of themselves?
3. (...), did you and ( ...) draw pictures of yourselves?
4. (...), what did you draw?
5. Who drew a picture of himself? Name someone.
EXERCISE 8. Preview of reflexive pronouns. (Chart 8-4)
Directions: Complete the sentences with appropriate reflexive pronouns.
1. Everyone drew self-portraits. I drew a picture of myself.
2. Ali drew a picture of ______
3. Rosa drew a picture of ________
4. The children drew pictures of ___________
5. We drew pictures of ______
6. Olga, you drew a picture of _________didn't you?
7. All of you drew pictures of _____didn't you?
8. When one draws a picture of _______it is called a self-portrait.
EXERCISE 9. Reflexive pronouns. (Chart 8-4)
Directions: Complete the sentences with appropriate reflexive pronouns.
1. Tommy told a lie. He was ashamed of himself
2. Masako cut _____ while she was chopping vegetables.
3. People surround _____ with friends and family during holidays.
4. Rita is careful about her weight, but she allows _____one piece of
candy a day.
5. Alex, you need to eat better and get more exercise. You should takebetter care of______ .Your father takes care of _____and I take care
of _______.Your father and I are healthy because we take good care of .People who take care of ______have a better chance of staying healthy than those who don't.
6. Omar thinks Oscar is telling the truth. So does Ricardo. I ____ don't believe Oscar's story for a minute!
7. A: Did Mr. Yun's secretary answer the phone?
B: No. Mr. Yun _____ answered the phone. I was very surprised.
8. A: Should I marry Steve?
B: No one can make that decision for you, Ann. Only you _____ can make such an important decision about your own life.
9. Now that their children are grown, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson live by ___________
10. Nadia didn't join the rest of us. She sat in the back of the room by _____ .
ANSWER KEY
(RESPOSTAS)
Chapter Eight: PRONOUNS
EXERCISE 1, p. 131. Preview: personal pronouns.
1. Some North American food is very good, but I don't like most of it. 2. When we were schoolgirls, my sister and I used to play badminton after school every day.
3. If you want to pass your exams, you had better study very hard for them.
4. The work had to be finished by my boss and me after the store had closed for the night. 5. A hippopotamus spends most of its time in the water of rivers and lakes. 6. After work, Mr. Gray asked to speak to Tim and me about the company's new policies. He explained them to us and asked for our opinions. 7. Children should learn to respect other people. They need to learn how to treat other people politely, including their playmates. 8. My friends asked to borrow my car because theirs was in the garage for repairs.
EXERCISE 2, p. 132. Personal pronouns: antecedents.
2. they. ..they = pronouns; monkeys = antecedent 3. She = pronoun;
teacher = antecedent them = pronoun; papers = antecedent 4. her... She
= pronouns; Nancy = antecedent it = pronoun; apple = antecedent 5. it = pronoun; dog = antecedent 6. She... She = pronouns,' cat = antecedent
His. ..him = pronouns,' Tom = antecedent They = pronoun; dogs = antecedent
him = pronoun ;Tom = antecedent
EXERCISE 3, p. 133. Possessive pronouns and adjectives.
2. mine.. .yours 3. their books. ..hers. ..his 4. its 5. It's true. .. its way. ..its trip 6. Its name. ..It's a turtle. ..It's been (It's been = It has been) 7. Our house. ..Our neighbor's house. ..ours. ..theirs 8. It... its prey. ..its long, pointed bill. ..it ...it ...it ...It's interesting. ..them
EXERCISE 4, p. 134. Personal pronoun use with generic nouns.
3. Students in Biology 101 have to spend three hours per week in the laboratory, where they do various experiments by following the directions in their lab manuals. 4. Pharmacists fill prescriptions, but they are not allowed to prescribe medicine.
5. (no change) 6. Citizens have two primary responsibilties. They should
vote in every election, and they should serve willingly on a jury. 7. (no change) 8. Lecturers need to prepare their notes carefully so that they do not lost they place while they are delivering their speech.
EXERCISE 5, p. 135. Personal pronoun use with indefinite pronouns.
2. s/he wants; he or she wants; they want 3. his/her; their 4. his/her; their 5. anyone; his/her; their 6. him/her; them 7. s/he...
his/her; they. ..their 8. s/he pleases; they please
EXERCISE 6, p. 136. Personal pronoun use with collective nouns.
2. it consists 3. It 4. They 5. they 6. It doesn't 7. they
8. It was 9. They are. ..their. ..them 10. It is
EXERCISE 8, p. 137. Preview of reflexive pronouns.
2. himself 3. herself 4. themselves 5. ourselves 6. yourself 7. yourselves 8. oneself
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EXERCISE 9, p. 138. Reflexive pronouns.
2. herself 3. themselves 4. herself 5. yourself. ..himself. .. myself. ..ourselves. ..themselves 6. myself 7. himself 8. yourself 9. themselves 10. herself
EXERCISE 10, p. 139. Reflexive pronouns.
2. enjoy himself 3. proud of yourselves 4. pat yourself 5. killed himself 6. entertained themselves 7. introduced myself 8. feeling sorry for yourself 9. talking to yourself 10. laugh at ourselves
11. promised herself 12. angry at himself