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Lecture 6pronouns PDF
Lecture 6pronouns PDF
Lecture 6pronouns PDF
Lecture 6
Pronouns
Most pronouns replace full noun phrases, and can be seen as economy
devices. Personal and demonstrative pronouns, for example, serve as pointers to the
neighbouring text (usually preceding text) or to the speech situation. Other pronouns
have very general reference, or can be used for substitution or ellipsis. In this section,
we survey the major pronoun classes: personal pronouns, reflexive pronouns,
demonstrative pronouns, and indefinite pronouns.
Pronouns have a very different pattern of use from nouns.
1 Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns have different forms according to
number: singular, plural (e.g. / vs. we)
person: first person, second person, third person (e.g. I vs. you vs. she)
case: nominative, accusative, possessive (e.g. I vs. me vs. mine)
gender: masculine, feminine, neuter (e.g. he vs. she vs. it).
Personal pronouns and corresponding possessive and reflexive forms
person personal pronoun possessive reflexive pron.
nominative accusative determiner pronoun
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B Person forms in pronouns
In spite of their name, personal pronouns may have both personal and non
personal reference. /, me, you, he, she, him, her, we, and us generally refer to
people, while it has non-personal reference. The plural pronouns they, them,
theirs can have both personal and non-personal reference, because they is the
plural of he, she and it:
1 You hear about guys beating up women and stuff and yet they love
them much. <personal reference >
2 Those are great pictures, arent they? Did you see them? <non-
personal reference>
Person in pronouns actually relates people, things, etc. to the speech
situation. The three persons ( f i r s t , second, third) are generally used as follows:
First-person pronouns refer to the speaker/writer.
Second-person pronouns refer to the addressee(s ) .
Third-person pronouns refer to other people or entities, which are neither
the speaker/writer nor the addressee.
A First person: we
While the singular pronoun I is unambiguous in referring to the speaker, the
plural pronoun we/ us/ ours can vary according to context. We can be inclusive,
including the addressee(s) (I + you):
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Well, it was late, and me and my friend Bob, wed been to a game.
Notice that w e in these examples is used as a subject, but is reinforced by
a loosely attached coordinated phrase. However, in general, it is left to the
addressee to decide the reference of we from the situation.
In a very different way, the meaning of we can also vary in academic
writing. Two uses of we can be distinguished:
1 We spoke of special chalk.
2. We are now able to understand why our information about the
states of motion is so restricted in quantum mechanics.
In 1, editorial we is used, which refers to the author(s) of the text. This use
sometimes occurs even when there is only one author. In 2, we refers to the
author(s) and reader(s), assuming a common understanding shared by both.
A third use of we is obsolete and associated to the royals:
All these meaning differences are usually implicit, so the readers must
decide the intended meaning in each case.
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C Third person: it, he, she, they
Generally third-person pronouns are important in making referential links
in a text or a conversation. In the following examples, we underline the
antecedent, i.e. the noun phrase a pronoun refers back to:
1 My cousin works at Jons. Shes a designer, shes very famous. She
designs a lot of clothes for Lord Browning. Her best friend is Princess
Margaret.
2 On his arrival in Hobart, Mr. Bond told journalists he was not
finished yet.
Third-person pronouns are usually anaphoric as in 1, where the
antecedent precedes the pronoun. But it is also possible, as in 2, for a pronoun
to go before its antecedent (cataphoric use).
It also acts as a dummy pronoun, which does not have a specific
reference, but has the role of 'place filler', particularly as an empty subject:
Its cold. <weather>
It is eight o'clock in the morning. <time>
It's a long way from here to there. < distance>
Empty it also appears in special clause types (extraposition and clefting).
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1.3 Case: nominative vs. accusative personal pronouns
Most of the personal pronouns have a distinction between nominative
and accusative case forms: Ime, hehim, sheher, weus, theythem. The
use of these forms is generally straightforward: the nominative is used as
subject, and the accusative as object or complement of a preposition.
In some positions, however, there is variation. There is a tendency for the
accusative form to spread in popular usage into contexts traditionally reserved
for the nominative form:
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The controversy continues as to whether or not it is sexist (or discriminatory) to
use the third person singular masculine form when one intends to include both the
meaning of he and she, as in
For now, this controversy will have to be resolved by each individual. As some people
find such references offensive, stylistic alternatives are possible and often preferred.
It is I.
This is she.
This usage is now changing even in formal English, and in informal English, the object
form of the pronoun is definitely preferred:
Its me.
Thats her.
However, the desire to use formal English and be correct may lead some native
speakers to use I even as a conjoined direct object or a conjoined object of a
preposition.
?This concerns only you and I.
?The article was written by Nancy and I.
?Between you and I, hes a fool.
These forms are becoming colloquially acceptable, and they are occurring with ever-
increasing frequency even though they are prescriptively incorrect.
2 Possessive pronouns
The possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, etc.) are like possessive
determiners, except that they constitute a whole noun phrase. (The antecedent is
underlined in the examples below:)
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1 The house will be hers when they are properly divorced.
2 Writers have produced extraordinary work in conditions more
oppressive than mine.
The possessive pronouns replace an entire noun phrase and can function as
subjects or objects:
A: Hal has an excellent word processing program.
B: Really? Mine has more options. (subject)
A: Do you like Joes new car?
B: I prefer yours. (object)
Possessive pronouns are typically used when the head noun can be found in
the preceding context: thus in 1, hers means 'her house and in 2, mine, means 'my
conditions'. Here the possessive pronoun is parallel to the e l l i p t i c use of t h e
genitive.
To make the possessive noun phrase emphatic, a possessive
determiner precedes own:
We have a wine tasting, and everybody makes their own. <makes
their own wine>
The possessive form with own typically refers back to the subject of the
clause (like reflexive pronouns).
Possessive pronouns depend a great deal on context for t h e i r interpretation.
Consequently they are far more common in conversation than in the written
registers.
3 Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns end with self in the singular and -selves in the plural.
Each personal pronoun has a corresponding reflexive pronoun, and in fact you
has two reflexive forms: yourself (singular) and yourselves ( p l u r a l ) :
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3.1 Reflexive pronouns in their reflexive use
The most common use of reflexive pronouns is in their basic 'reflexive'
role: to mark some other element of the clause as referring back to the
subject (underlined below.):
1 Most consultants are just selling themselves.
2 We're all looking very sorry for ourselves.
The reflexive pronoun most commonly f i l l s an object slot ( a s in 1) or a
prepositional complement slot ( a s in 2) in the same clause as the co-referential
subject (signaled here by underlining). The reflexive pronoun has to be used if co-
reference is intended. For example, if them were used instead of themselves in 1
(consultants are selling them) the meaning would be different: that consultants
were selling some other products.
Reflexive pronouns are used l i k e t h i s only when there is a co-referential
subject in the same clause. Notice, in 3, that his big brother not he, is the subject
of the non-finite clause, and therefore him is used instead of himself:
3 He wanted [his big brother to treat him as an equal].
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to use the subject or object pronoun or a reflexive pronoun, or their desire to use a
phonetically more salient form in juxtaposition with one or more proper names. These
may also be instances where a first-person narrator is interacting with several other
people and uses ourselves instead of us to capture the interactive, dual, speaker-
listener role that everyone is experiencing:
Id like to remind ourselves. . .
4 Reciprocal pronouns
The reciprocal pronouns each other and one another are similar in use to
reflexive pronouns. They refer back to the subject of the clause, and occur as
object or prepositional complement:
We always speak Romanian to each other.
They got along, they admired one another.
Reciprocal pronouns express a mutual relation between two or more
parties: e.g. A and B hate each other means A hates B and B hates A.
For these forms the subject must be conjoined or plural:
Bob and Dick cant stand each other.
The five children in that family helped one another throughout their lives.
Each other is far more common than one another.
Prescriptive tradition and some current grammar books state that the rule for
distinguishing the two reciprocal pronoun phrases, each other and one another, is
dependent on the number of participants involved: each other should be used with two
participants and one another with more than two:
Bob and George dislike each other.
The three sisters are devoted to one another.
Quirk et al. (1985) reject this rule and offer an explanation based on register
rather than number: each other is informal, and one another is used in more formal
contexts. The American Heritage Dictionary (1992) states that one another is preferred
over each other in temporally ordered series of events or things:
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To sum up, each other is clearly the more frequent and flexible reciprocal
pronoun; in fact, it seems to be used by some English speakers and writers to the
exclusion of one another.
5 Demonstrative pronouns
The four words this, that, these, and those act as demonstrative
determiners. They also act as demonstrative pronouns, which match the
determiners in their meaning and function:
That was by far my favourite ride. It was just incredible.
A: What are these, mom?
B: Those are called hot plates.
Like demonstrative determiners, demonstrative pronouns contrast in terms
of singular (this, that) and plural (these, those), and in terms of 'near' reference
(this, these) and 'distant reference ( that, those).
Demonstrative pronouns can often be considered as alternatives to the
pronoun i t . These pronouns all refer to something in the context either in the
neighbouring part of the text or the external situation. But unlike the pronoun it,
demonstrative pronouns are usually pronounced with stress and so carry greater
communicative weight.
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We must accept that the positive part of conventionalism <.. .> cannot offer useful
advice to judges in hard cases. These will inevitably be cases in which the explicit
extension of the various legal conventions contains nothing decisive either way.
But it must now be said that, so far from being a depressing conclusion, this states
precisely the practical importance of conventionalism in adjudication. <.. .> This
explains why cases do not come to court <...>.
This passage illustrates the two major types of linkage with demonstrative
pronouns. The pronoun these refers back to a specific noun phrase antecedent (hard
cases). In contrast, the pronoun this is used here to refer back to a more extensive piece
of text, which includes several preceding sentences.
6 Indefinite pronouns
There are three main classes of indefinite pronouns: the compound pronouns
somebody, everything, anyone, etc.; the quantifiers some, all, any, etc.; and the
pronoun one.
No one is normally spelt as two words, although the hyphenated spelling no-one
also occurs.
The meanings of compound pronouns match the meanings of noun phrases with
the corresponding determiners, except that they refer to indefinite persons or things.
Compare:
'He brought me some natural food.'
I have brought something for you from Doctor Fischer.
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All the compound indefinite pronouns prescriptively require singular verbs.
Nevertheless, the use of a formally plural pronoun such as they, them, or their to refer
back to the following singular compounds is acceptable in informal usage, such as:
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6.2 Quantifying pronouns (quantifiers)
Quantifiers can act both as determiners and as pronouns. In general,
the form of the word is identical for both.
Most quantifying pronouns are followed by of and a definite noun phrase, as in
some of the ..., several of my ...:
some (of), both (of), each (of), either (of), neither (of), all (of), many (of),
enough (of), any (of), much (of), several (of), none (of), (a) little (of), few
(of)
For example:
Bring all of your friends.
However, quantifying pronouns can also stand alone as a noun phrase (e.g. all in
1 below), and they can have an elliptic meaning, referring back to some previously
mentioned noun phrase (e.g. the second some in 2):
1 I just want to get my bonus, that's all.
2 A: I'll eat some of the steak.
B: I'll have some. <i.e. some of the steak>
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Substitute one is far more common in conversation than in the written registers.
Generic one, on the other hand, is impersonal and rather formal in tone. It is largely
restricted to the written registers, especially fiction and academic writing.
7 Other pronouns
There are pronoun uses corresponding to semi-determiners. For example,
others, another, the other, the latter, the last, such.
Be self-reliant and helpful to others.
She said: Jack, I underestimated you.' 'Such was my suspicion,' he said.
The wh-pronouns what, which, who, whom, and whose are used to form
interrogative and relative clauses.
What's the problem?
But he's in the wrong, he's the one who's wrong.
Conclusions
The major types of pronoun are personal, reflexive, demonstrative, and
indefinite.
Personal pronouns refer to people and entities in the context of discourse;
they can also have generic reference.
Reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject, or for emphasis.
Demonstrative pronouns point to entities which are 'near' or 'distant' in
the context of discourse.
Indefinite pronouns are mostly quantifying words, related in form and
meaning to quantifying determiners.
Bibliography:
Biber, D., Conrad S., Leech, G. (2002) Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written
English, Longman
Downing, A., (2006) English Grammar. A University Course, Routledge
Greenbaum, S., Quirk R. (1990) A Students Grammar of the English Language, Longman
Huddleston, R., Pullum G., et al. (2002) The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, CUP
Leech, G. (1989) An A Z of English Grammar and Usage, Nelson
Quirk, R., Greenbaum S., Leech G., Svartvik J. (1972) A Grammar of Contemporary English,
Longman
Celce-Murcia, M., Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999) The Grammar Book, Heinle and Heinle
Vere, G., Cehan, A., Andriescu I. (1998) A Dictionary of English Grammar, Iai, Polirom
Exam questions
1. What role can play the genitive case forms of the personal pronouns?
2. Can personal pronouns have non-personal reference. If so, give examples and
explain.
3. Give an example of the inclusive use of the first person plural personal pronoun.
4. Give an example of the exclusive use of the first person plural personal pronoun.
5. What does we refer to in the sentence: In this article we spoke of inert gas.
6. What does we refer to in the sentence: As we saw in Chapter 2
7. Give an example of generic we in a sentence of your own.
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8. Can the pronoun we be followed by a nominal expression? If so, give an example
in a sentence of your own.
9. Can the pronoun you be followed by a nominal expression? If so, give an
example in a sentence of your own.
10. Can personal pronouns be used as complements of prepositions? If so, give an
example of your own.
11. Explain which sentence is correct: Its I or Its me?
12. Explain which sentence is correct: Shes closer to death than he or Shes closer
to death than him.
13. What inanimate objects can be referred to with feminine pronoun forms?
14. What pronouns can be used in the gap: When a person is thirsty, needs to
drink?
15. Explain whether the sentence: This is she is correct.
16. Explain whether the sentence: The paper was written by Jane and I is correct.
17. What is the difference between possessive determiners and possessive
pronouns?
18. Can own be added to both possessive determiners and pronouns for emphasis?
Give examples.
19. Complete the following sentence: Help to more cake.
20. Give an example of reflexive pronoun which functions as a DO.
21. Give an example of reflexive pronoun used after a preposition.
22. Give an example of reflexive pronoun which functions as an IO.
23. Give an example of reflexive pronoun which functions as a predicative.
24. Explain the meaning difference between: She poured herself a drink and She
poured her a drink.
25. Explain the use of myself in the sentence: On behalf of my company and
myself
26. Explain which of these sentences is correct: The great man himself visited us
and The great man visited us himself
27. Fill in the gap with a reciprocal pronoun: I didnt know that Max, Richard and Jan
were friends. Oh, yes, theyve known for years.
28. Translate into English: Copiii s-au lovit.
29. Illustrate the use of this as both determiner and pronoun.
30. Illustrate the use of that as both determiner and pronoun.
31. Illustrate the use of these as both determiner and pronoun.
32. Illustrate the use of those as both determiner and pronoun.
33. Explain what is odd about the sentence: Somebody is driving without their lights.
34. Explain what is odd about the sentence: Nobody had a good time, did they.
35. Explain what is odd about the sentence: Has anybody brought a watch with
them.
36. Explain which form of the indefinite article is more appropriate in the following
sentence: This present is for someone/somebody very dear to me.
37. Illustrate the use of the quantifier some as both determiner and pronoun.
38. Illustrate the use of the quantifier both as both determiner and pronoun.
39. Illustrate the use of the quantifier each as both determiner and pronoun.
40. Illustrate the use of the quantifier either as both determiner and pronoun.
41. Illustrate the use of the quantifier neither as both determiner and pronoun.
42. Illustrate the use of the quantifier all as both determiner and pronoun.
43. Illustrate the use of the quantifier many as both determiner and pronoun.
44. Illustrate the use of the quantifier enough as both determiner and pronoun.
45. Illustrate the use of the quantifier much as both determiner and pronoun.
46. Illustrate the use of the quantifier several as both determiner and pronoun.
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47. Illustrate the use of the quantifier none as both determiner and pronoun.
48. Illustrate the use of the quantifier little as both determiner and pronoun.
49. Illustrate the use of the quantifier a little as both determiner and pronoun.
50. Illustrate the use of the quantifier few as both determiner and pronoun.
51. Illustrate the use of the quantifier a few as both determiner and pronoun.
52. Does the indefinite pronoun one have a plural form? If so, give examples.
53. Does the generic pronoun one have a plural form? If so, give examples.
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