7. Pronouns

There are five forms of pronouns in English: subject pronouns, comple­ment pronouns (object pronouns), possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives, and reflexive pronouns.

• Subject pronouns: Subject pronouns occur in the subject position of a sentence or after the verb be. Study the following list of subject pronouns.

I we

you you he

she they

it

We have lived here for twenty years.

It was she who called you. (after the verb be)

She and I have seen this movie before.

George and I would like to leave now.

We students are going to have a party.

Note: We, you, and us can be followed directly by a noun. In the above sentence we students makes it more clear exactly who we refers to.

• Complement pronouns: Complement pronouns occur in complement posi­tion or after prepositions unless the preposition introduces a new clause. Study the following list.

me	us
you	you
him
her	them
it

Note: You and it are the same for subject or complement position. The others are different.

They called us on the telephone.

The teacher gave him a bad grade.

John told her a story.

The policeman was looking for him.

To us, it seems like a good bargain.

Mary is going to class with me.

However, remember that if the preposition introduces a new clause, the pronoun will be subject form because it is actually in the subject position of the second clause.

We will leave after he comes.

• Possessive adjectives: Possessive adjectives are not the same as possessive pronouns. These simply modify, rather than replace, nouns; possessive pronouns replace nouns. Possessive forms indicate ownership. Study the following adjectives. Note: Possessive adjectives are used to refer to parts of a body.

my	our
your his	your
her	their
its

John is eating his dinner.

This is not my book.

The cat has injured its foot.

The boy broke his arm yesterday.

She forgot her homework this morning.

My food is cold.

Note: Its is not the same as It's. It's means it is.

• Possessive pronouns: These pronouns cannot precede a noun. They are pronouns and thus replace the noun. The noun is understood from the context and is not repeated. Study the following pronouns.

Note: mine = my + noun; for example, my book

yours = your + noun; for example, your pen

hers - her + noun; for example, her dress

mine	ours
yours	yours
his
hers	theirs
its

Note: His and its are the same whether they precede a noun or not.

Examples of possessive pronouns:

This is my book. - This is mine.

Your teacher is the same as his teacher. - Yours is the same as his.

Her dress is green and my dress is red. - Hers is green and mine is red.

Our books are heavy. - Ours are heavy.

Their coats are too small. - Theirs are too small.

I forgot my homework. - I forgot mine.

• Reflexive pronouns: These pronouns usually follow the verb and indicate that the subject is both giving and receiving the action. Study the following list.

myself	ourselves
yourself	yourselves
himself
herself	themselves
itself

Note: In the plural, the self changes to selves.

Note: Most forms are made by adding the suffix to the possessive adjective; however, himself, itself and themselves are made by ad­ding the suffix to the complement form. The forms hisself and theirselves are always incorrect.

Note: John bought him a new car. (him - another person)

John bought himself a new car. (himself - John)

Examples of reflexive pronouns:

I washed myself.

He sent the letter to himself.

She served herself in the cafeteria.

We hurt ourselves playing football.

They were talking among themselves.

You can see the difference for yourselves.

Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis. This means that the subject did the action alone. In this case, it normally follows the subject.

I myself believe that the proposal is good.

He himself set out to break the long distance flying record.

She herself prepared the nine-course meal.

The students themselves decorated the room.

You yourself must do this homework.

John himself bought these gifts.

Note: by + reflexive pronoun can also mean alone.

John washed the dishes by himself - John washed the dishes alone.

Exercise 12: Pronouns

Circle the correct form of the pronoun or possessive adjective in the following sentences.

1. I go to school with (he/him) every day.

2. I see (she/her/herself) at the Union every Friday.

3. She speaks to (we/us/ourselves) every morning.

4. Isn't (she/her) a nice person?

5. (He/Him) is going to New York on vacation.

6. (She/Her) and John gave the money to the boy.

7. (Yours/Your) record is scratched and (my/mine) is too.

8. I hurt (my/mine/the) leg.

9. John bought (himself/ herself/ hisself) a new coat.

10. (We/Us) girls are going camping over the weekend.

11. Mr. Jones cut (hisself/himself) shaving.

12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.

13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.

14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.

15. You'll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if you are not careful.

16. Mary and (I/me) would rather go to the movies.

17. Everyone has to do (their/his) own research.

18. Just between you and (I/me), I don't like this food.

19. Monday is a holiday for (we/us) teachers.

20. (Her/Hers) car does not go as fast as (our/ours).

Exercise 12.1: Pronouns

Circle the correct form in the following sentences.

1. 'Have you seen Simon today?' 'Yes. I/Me saw he/him this morning. He/Him was going to the swimming pool.'

2. 'How are your/yours children?' 'Fine, thanks. How are your/yours?'

3. I phoned Sarah last night and gave she/her the message.

4. Maria has got her/hers suitcase, but her/hers friends haven't got their/theirs.

5. My brother is older than I/me, but he/him isn't as tall as I/me am.

6. My/Mine car wasn't as expensive as her/hers. 5

7. Our/Ours flat isn't as big as their/theirs, but our/ours is much more comfortable.

8. We know their/theirs telephone number, but they don't know our/ours.

9. 'What did those people want?' 'They/Them asked I/me to help they/them.'

10. 'Who wants a cup of coffee?' 'I/Me.'

Exercise 12.2: Pronouns

Complete the sentences using pronouns.

1. An elephant hurt when it tried to get out of the zoo yesterday.

2. aren't allowed to drive a car in Britain until 're 17 years old.

3. Did someone help you move all the furniture, or did you do it all _______

4. He's always using my shampoo. Why doesn't he buy ______ ?

5. How far is ____from Madrid to Paris?

6. I couldn't borrow my mother's car last night because she was using it ________

7. I don't need any help. I can take care of

8. If you have any problems, just tell someone and '11 help you.

9. Mr. Woods fell over and hurt when he was running for a bus.

10. My sister and I are quite different 's much more serious than am.

11. Peter and I are going out this evening 're going to the cinema. Would you like to come with?

12. 's strange that Kate didn't come to the meeting.

13. 's usually quite cold in New York in the winter.

14. Sarah and I didn't really enjoy at the disco last night.

15. Sarah shares a flat with some friends. She would prefer to have a flat of __________ , but she can't afford one.

16. Since the old lady's husband died, she's been living _________

17. Sometimes I'm allowed to use my parents' car, but I wish I had a car of _______

18. Sue's children are too young to look after

19. 'That isn't camera, is it?' 'No, I borrowed it from my father.'

20. They need some help; they can't manage _________

21. We helped them move the piano; they couldn't have done it on _________

22. 'What did you think of the film, Simon?' ' enjoyed very much.'

23. 'What do the government plan to do about education?' '_____ say that ____ 're going to build more schools.'

24. Where are my keys? I put on the table a moment ago, but now 've disappeared.

25. 'Who did you go to the cinema with?' 'Nobody, I went _______'

26. Would you all like to help to sandwiches and cakes?

27. You can wash dirty clothes! I'm not going to wash them for you.