Nouns and Pronouns

1. Nouns and Pronouns

2. Definitions • Noun—A noun is a word that names a person, object, idea, or place. • Pronoun—A pronoun takes the place of a noun or another pronoun, saving the need to write the same word twice.

3. Singular and Plural Nouns • A singular noun names one person, object, idea, or place. • A plural noun names more than one person, object, idea, or place. • Most nouns are common nouns and begin with a lowercase letter. • character, holiday • Proper nouns name specific people, objects, ideas, or places. They begin with capital letters. • Homer Simpson, Christmas

4. Forming Plural Nouns • Most nouns add –s to form the plural • girls • Nouns that end in –s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or –z, add –es to form the plural • churches • Some nouns have irregular plurals: • deer deer • child children • life lives

5. Pronouns Have you met my teacher? She is always looking over my shoulder. Pronouns take the place of nouns.

6. Uses • Pronouns play many roles in a sentence. • subject • Example: He walks to school. • object • Example: The professor wanted to meet her. • modifier • Example: Their project was the bestin the class.

7. Pronouns and Antecedents • Antecedent: The antecedent is the word (a noun) the pronoun replaces. • Sam and Lee had lunch together. They were late for class. • Tony’s paper was really good. It was the best in the class.

8. PRONOUNS: The System

9. First Rule to Remember • A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it refers to) in number and gender. • A student who works hard will find their hard work is rewarded. • Students who work hard will find their hard work is rewarded. X

10. PRONOUNS: Tip #1 These are all singular, so they must be matched with singular pronouns! NO • Did everyone finish theirtest? • Did everyone finish his or hertest?

11. Second Rule to Remember • Pronouns must refer clearly to one and only one antecedent. • Bill called to Tom as he was leaving. • Bill called to Tom as Tom was leaving. Bill or Tom ??

12. PRONOUNS: Tip #2 • Eliminate vague and unnecessary pronouns to make your sentences more concise. • In the college catalog it has all the required courses for graduation. • The college catalog has all the required courses for graduation. X X

13. PRONOUNS: Tip #3 • To decide which pronoun is correct in a compound, drop one of the words and see if what’s left sounds correct. • Example: • She listened carefully to Sara and I. • She listened carefully to I. • She listened carefully to me. • She listened carefully to Sara and me. NO

14. Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns • Always end in -self(singular) or -selves(plural) • We made ourselves some popcorn. • I myselfprefer potato chips.

15. PRONOUNS: Tip #4 • Don’t use reflexive or intensive pronouns alone; they can only be used when paired with their antecedents. • Please send the report to myselfas soon as possible. • Please send the report to meas soon as possible. NO

16. Pronouns correctly paired with antecedents • Reflexive pronoun paired with antecedent: • He made himself keep up with the reading after the midterm. • Intensive pronoun paired with antecedent: • The instructor said that she herself had to watch out for spelling errors.

17. To review pronouns, see Chapter 22.