PRONOUNS

A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase. Pronouns refer to either
a noun that has already been mentioned or to a noun that does not need to be named
specifically.
Without pronouns, we’d have to keep on repeating nouns, and that would make our speech
and writing repetitive. Most pronouns are very short words.

Personal Pronouns refer to a specific person, place or object and are subdivided into
Personal Pronouns of the Subject Case and Personal Pronouns of the Object Case.

Personal pronouns

Subject case Object case

I me
Attention

You you Everything in the

universe must have an
He him equivalent on these
lists.
She her

It it

We us

You you

They them
Subjective case

The Personal Pronouns of the Subject Case perform the role of the subject of the sentence:

Rachel and I go to the park every day.

            (We) Attention
 
It is a beautiful day. Do not omit the subject in English.

Peter drives his fancy cars every weekend.

  (he) It’s crucial to identify
the subject and object
in a clause in order to
use the right pronouns.

Objective case

The Personal Pronouns of the Object Case perform the following roles:
 
Direct or indirect object:

Alfred loves Ana.

   (he)           (her)

He bought a present for her.

(it)

He gave it to her yesterday.

 
Object of a preposition:

We talked to Mike last night.

(to him)

I am thinking about you.

In English, there is an adjective and a possessive pronoun for each personal pronoun.
 Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Possessive adjectives Possessive pronouns

my mine The adjectives must

always be followed
your yours by nouns, and they
can form both the
his his subject or the object
in a clause.

her hers

its its

our ours

your yours

their theirs

1. Possessive adjectives

a) Possessive Adjectives precede nouns.

My jacket is new.
This is your pencil.
I have a cat. Its name is Molly.
 
b) Possessive Adjectives, in English, cannot be flexed, therefore, they apply to
both singular and plural. This does not occur in the Portuguese language, where
the Possessive Adjective Pronouns flex and change their forms in singular and
plural.

This is our book. [Este é (o) nosso livro.]

These are our books. [Estes são (os) nossos livros.]
2. Possessive Pronouns
a) Possessive Pronouns are never used before a noun, as their function is to
replace it in order to avoid repetition.

Is that house your house? (Aquela casa é a sua casa?)

Is that house yours? (Aquela casa é a sua?)
 
 
b) Possessive Pronouns, in English, always agree with the owner, unlike
Portuguese, in which agreement is made with the thing (person, animal, object)
possessed.
 
I have my house and you have yours. (Eu tenho a minha casa e você tem a sua.)
The country and its population. (O país e sua população.)
 
 
c) Possessive Pronouns, in English, do not inflect and they are used for both
singular and plural. This does not occur in the Portuguese language, where the
Possessive Pronouns flex and change their forms from singular to plural.
 
This computer is ours. (Este computador é nosso.)
These computers are ours. (Estes computadores são nossos.)

d) Possessive Pronouns can be used with the preposition of.

 
Daniel and John are friends of ours. (Daniel e João são nossos amigos.)
She is a sweet child of mine. (Ela é a minha doce criança)

POSSESSIVE / GENITIVE CASE

Examples
(‘S )

1) The 's is only used when the

possessor is an animated being Gisela’s house.
which covers: people and
The baby’s diapers
animals, as well as proper names,
relatives in all degrees, titles, The dog’s tail
positions, roles, professions, and My mother’s money
other nouns that can refer to the The teacher’s computer
following people: child, boy (the), The girl’s doll
a friend, neighbor, colleague of
school or work, etc

2) We cannot use the 's for a glass of milk

inanimate beings (things, places
and abstract nouns); in these
 cases we usually use the noun + a cup of coffee
of + noun.

3) There are some exceptions to the A week’s work

application of the 's for inanimate
things. It’s the case of time, São Paulo’s squares
measures, places with names of
people, countries, the Earth, the Brazil’s championship
world, names that represent a The Earth’s population
group of people (company, team,
government, etc.), legal entities The world’s economy
and the like.
Microsoft’s workers
4) Common nouns which end in-s or
whose plural is with-s: we only My brothers’ offices
add '(apostrophe).
The workers’ rights

5) Nouns whose plural does not end

in-s: we must add 's The children’s toys
The people’s customs
6) For proper names or surnames
ending in-s: we may add 's or just Lucas’s book or
'.
Lucas’ book
7) With historical, classical or The plays of Shakespeare or Attention
biblical proper names ending in- Shakespeare’s plays
s: it is more common to use noun We normally use
+ of + noun, but the apostrophe The arc of Noah or noun + of with
can also be used. historical or biblical
Noah’s arc
names ending in s.
The discovery of Pedro Álvares Cabral or
The lessons of
Pedro Álvares Cabral’s discovery
Jesus…
8) When something is owned by Gisela and Michaela’s house.
more than one noun, we add the (as duas possuem uma casa)
‘s to the last noun.

9) When different things are owned Gisela’s and Michaela’s houses.

by different nouns, each owner (cada uma tem uma casa)
receives the ‘s.

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns are used to indicate the action is performed and suffered by the
subject itself. In this case, the pronoun comes after the verb and agrees with the
subject. These pronouns are characterized by the self (singular) and selves (plural)
terminations.
 Personal pronouns Reflexive pronouns
I myself
You yourself
He himself
She herself
It itself
We ourselves
You yourselves
They themselves

Cases Rules and examples

1 when the 1- The reflexive pronouns must be used whenever the
subject performs and suffers the action at the same time.
subject and the
 
object are the I cut my finger while I was chopping onions.
I cut myself while chopping onions.
same.
 
Can you see yourself in the mirror?
Some machines turn themselves off.
2 to replace 2- We can use the preposition by + reflexive pronouns to
indicate the idea of  alone.
‘alone’
 
Raul is cleaning the house by himself.
I´d rather study by myself.
3 to give 3- The reflexive pronouns are commonly used to give
emphasis to the subject.
emphasis to the
subject.   Attention
The kids prepared all this meal themselves.
The kids themselves prepared all this meal. The third use is the
most common on
university tests.

Indefinite Pronouns

The words below can be indefinite pronouns when they replace nouns, or
 adjectives when they qualify nouns.
 
Some people want it all, but some don´t.
(Indef. adjective)          (indef. pronoun)
Indefinite  
Some people want diamond rings, and some just want everything.
Pronouns Everything means nothing if I ain´t got you. Alicia Keys

Some and its compounds are used in affirmative sentences. Some can

also be used in interrogative sentences when offering or requesting
things, or when a positive response is expected.
 
I have met some of these people before.
Would you like some water?
 
Somebody/someone - Someone needs to clean this mess now.
Something - Something tells me Ruben is lying to us.

Any is used in interrogative and negative sentences. In affirmative

sentences, any is used after the word if; meaning it doesn’t matter;
there is a negative word in the sentence like seldom, never, rarely,
without, etc. This pronoun, as well as some, can be an adjective
pronoun (indefinite adjective) or a noun pronoun (indefinite pronoun).
 
Paul didn't have any chance to get the job. (Paul não tinha chance
alguma...)
 
If you have any questions, let me know. (Se você tiver qualquer /
alguma pergunta...)
 
Jared doesn´t have any money on him today. (Jared não tem dinheiro
algum...)
 
Take any book you need. (Pegue qualquer livro que precisar.)
 
Susan rarely has any free time for the kids. (Susan raramente tem
algum tempo livre....)
 
Anybody/anyone - Can anybody learn English?
                                  Anyone can learn English.
 
Anything – Do you have anything to say?
Have you seen Mike anywhere?
I will buy the house anyway.

No (adjective) – It must be followed a noun.

I have no money in my pocket now.
 
None (pronoun) – It only replaces a noun mentioned before.
 _Do you have any questions about the indefinite pronouns?
_No, I have none. (no questions)

Nobody / No one
Nobody/No one knows what we did in the summer.
No one can get in the way of what I´m feeling.
 
Nothing
I have nothing to do this afternoon.
 
Nowhere
We are supposed to go nowhere for a few weeks.
 
Watch out! The English language does not allow double negatives in
the same sentence.
I don´t have nothing to do. (wrong)
I don´t have anything to do.
I have nothing to do.

Another   an additional or different person or thing 

                 That ice-cream was good. Can I have another?
Each   every one of two or more people or things, seen separately 
                 Each has his own thoughts.
Either   one or the other of two people or things 
                 Do you want tea or coffee? / I don't mind. Either is good for
me.
Enough   as much or as many as needed 
                 Enough has been done for these people.
Everybody / everyone   all people 
                We can start the meeting because everybody has arrived.
Everything    all things 
                 They lost everything in the fire.
Less   a smaller amount 
                "Less is more" (Mies van der Rohe)
The rule say that the Little   a small amount 
two negative elements                  Little is known about his early life.
cancel each other out
Much   a large amount 
to give a positive
statement instead, so
                 Much has happened since we met.
that the sentence Neither   not one and not the other of two people or things  
                 I keep telling Maria and Rita but neither believes me.
‘I don’t know nothing’ One   an unidentified person 
could be interpreted as                  Can one smoke here? | All the students arrived but now one
is missing.
‘I know something’

It should be; Other   a different person or thing from one already mentioned 
                 One was tall and the other was short.
I know nothing or You   an unidentified person (informal) 
I don’t know anything                   And you can see why.
Both   two people or things, seen together 
                 John likes coffee but not tea. I think both are good.
Few   a small number of people or things 
                 Few have ever disobeyed him and survived.
Fewer   a reduced number of people or things 
                 Fewer are smoking these days.
Many   a large number of people or things 
                 Many have come already..
Several   more than two but not many 
                 They all complained and several left the meeting.
They   people in general (informal) 
                 They say that vegetables are good for you.
All            the whole quantity of something or of some things or people 
                 All  was said to Paul. All have arrived.
More   a greater quantity of something; a greater number of people or
things 
                 There is more over there.
                 More are coming for Christmas celebrations.
Most   the majority; nearly all 
                 Most was solved during the meeting.   Most have refused
taking the test.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point, indicate and show

something, place, person or object.
These pronouns can act as adjectives, before the noun, or as
noun pronouns.
 
This - este, esta, isto
This is my notebook. (demonstrative pronoun)
This notebook is Lisa´s. (demonstrative adjective)
 
 These – estes,estas
These aren´t your pencils. (demonstrative pronoun)
These pencils are new. (demonstrative adjective)
 
 That- aquele, aquela, aquilo, esse, essa, isso
That is my house. (demonstrative pronoun)
That house looks huge. (demonstrative adjective)
 
 Those - aqueles, aquelas, esses, essas
Those are my friends playing soccer. (demonstrative
pronoun)
 Those people are arguing about something. (demonstrative
adjective)
 
* Adjectives, in English, have no gender and number. The
demonstrative adjectives are the only ones that agree in
number with the noun they refer to.

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are words belonging to one of the major classes in any of

numerous languages and typically used as modifiers of nouns to denote
qualities of things, to indicate its quantity or extent, or to specify a thing as
distinct from something else.

Functioning as adjectives
Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to express the sense of possession. Although
it is common to understand them as pronouns, they are not, since they do not
replace any noun or noun phrase.
Examples:

This is my money to buy our house.

Nouns
English often uses nouns as adjectives - to modify other nouns.
Examples:

There was a tomato fight.

Numbers
Numbers function as adjectives when they modify nouns and noun phrases.
Examples:
Three people were at the window, watching.

Quantifiers
Quantifiers are adjectives and adjective phrases that go before nouns. They
give information about how much or how many of something you are talking
about.
Examples:

Much was said to him.

Very few went to the party.

Verbs
Verbs can often be used as adjectives. If the verb modifies a noun or pronoun,
it is an adjective, even if that word is usually associated with a different part of
speech.

Present participle (ing)

Example:
I could see my dying grandma. (die=morrer)

Past participle (ed) or irregular - 3ª coluna da lista de verbos irregulares

Examples:
The employed man started working last week.
I watched a video about fallen angels.