Describe your image
RUwrite
Pronouns
Introduction
​
If there were no pronouns, all types of writing would be quite tedious to read. We would soon be frustrated by reading sentences like Bob said that Bob was tired or Christina told the class that Christina received an A. Pronouns help a writer avoid constant repetition. Knowing just how pronouns work is an important aspect of clear and concise writing.
​
​
Learning Outcomes
​
By the end of this learning experience, you should feel confident with the following:
​
-
Identifying pronouns and their antecedents.
-
Apply pronouns and their antecedents correctly when writing.
Pronoun Agreement
​
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of (or refers back to) a noun or another pronoun. The word or words a pronoun refers to is called the antecedent of the pronoun.
1. Lani complained that she was exhausted.
She refers to Lani.
Lani is the antecedent of she.
2. Jeremy left the party early, so I did not see him until Monday at work.
Him refers to Jeremy.
Jeremy is the antecedent of him.
3. Crina and Rosalie have been best friends ever since they were freshman in high school.
They refers to Crina and Rosalie.
Crina and Rosalie is the antecedent of they.
Pronoun agreement errors occur when the pronoun and the antecedent do not match or agree with each other. There are several types of pronoun agreement.
Agreement in Number
​
If the pronoun takes the place of or refers to a singular noun, the pronoun must also be singular.
Incorrect: If a student (sing.) wants to return a book to the bookstore, they (plur.) must have a receipt.
Correct: If a student (sing.) wants to return a book to the bookstore, he or she (sing.) must have a receipt.
*If it seems too wordy to use he or she, change the antecedent to a plural noun.
Correct: If students (plur.) want to return a book to the bookstore, they (plur.) must have a receipt.
Agreement in Person
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
First Person
Second Person
Third Person
​I
you
he, she, it
me
you
him, her, it
my (mine)
your (yours)
his, her, its
we
you
they
us
you
them
our (ours)
your (your)
their (theirs)
Singular Pronouns
Plural Pronouns
If you use a consistent person, your reader is less likely to be confused.
​
Incorrect: When a person (3rd) goes to a restaurant, you (2nd) should leave a tip.
​
Correct: When a person (3rd) goes to a restaurant, he or she (3rd) should leave a tip.
​
Correct: When we (1st) go to a restaurant, I should (1st) leave a tip.
Indefinite Pronouns and Agreement
​
Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific person or thing and are usually singular. Note that a pronoun that refers to an indefinite singular pronoun should also be singular. The following are some common indefinite pronouns.
​
Common Indefinite Pronouns
Common Indefinite Pronouns
all
any
anybody
anything
both
each
each one
each other
either
everybody
everyone
everything
few
many
neither
nobody
none
no one
nothing
one
one another
oneself
other
others
several
some
somebody
someone
something
anyone
Indefinite pronoun agreement
Incorrect: Everyone (sing.) should do what they (plur.) can to help.
Correct: Everyone (sing.) should do what he or she (sing.) can to help.
Incorrect: Someone (sing.) left their (plur.) backpack in the library.
Correct: Someone (sing.) left his or her (sing.) backpack in the library.
​
Collective Nouns
​
Collective nouns suggest more than one person but are usually considered singular. Look over the following examples of collective nouns.
​
Common Collective Nouns
audience
band
class
committee
company
faculty
family
government
group
jury
public
school
society
team
tribe
Collective noun agreement
Incorrect: Lara’s company (sing.) will have their (plur.) annual picnic next week.
Correct: Lara’s company (sing.) will have its (sing.) annual picnic next week.
Practice​
Complete the following sentences by selecting the correct pronoun.
Once you have completed the practice quiz, scroll up inside the quiz box and
click "view score" and see the correct answers.
Subject and Object Pronouns
​
Subject pronouns function as subjects in a sentence. Object pronouns function as the object of a verb or of a preposition.
​
Singular Pronouns
Plural Pronouns
Subject
Object
Subject
Object
I
you
he, she, it
me
you
him, her, it
we
you
they
us
you
them
The following sentences show pronouns as subjects:
She loves the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall.
Every summer, they picked up litter from national parks.
The following sentences show pronouns as objects:
Marie leaned over and kissed him.
Jane moved it to the corner.
Tip
Note that a pronoun can also be the object of a preposition.
Near them, the children played.
My mother stood between us.
The pronouns us and them are objects of the prepositions near and between. They answer the questions near whom? And between whom?
Compound subject pronouns are two or more pronouns joined by a conjunction or a preposition that function as the subject of the sentence.
The following sentences show pronouns with compound subjects:
Incorrect: Me and Harriet visited the Grand Canyon last summer.
Correct: Harriet and I visited the Grand Canyon last summer.
Correct: Jenna accompanied Harriet and me on our trip.
Tip
Note that object pronouns are never used in the subject position. One way to remember this rule is to remove the other subject in a compound subject, leave only the pronoun, and see whether the sentence makes sense. For example, Me visited the Grand Canyon last summer sounds immediately incorrect.
Compound object pronouns are two or more pronouns joined by a conjunction or a preposition that function as the object of the sentence.
Incorrect: I have a good feeling about Janice and I.
Correct: I have a good feeling about Janice and me.
Tip
It is correct to write Janice and me, as opposed to me and Janice. Just remember it is more polite to refer to yourself last.
Writing at Work
​
In casual conversation, people sometimes mix up subject and object pronouns. For instance, you might say, “Me and Donnie went to a movie last night.” However, when you are writing or speaking at work or in any other formal situation, you need to remember the distinctions between subject and object pronouns and be able to correct yourself. These subtle grammar corrections will enhance your professional image and reputation.
Practice
​
Once you have completed the practice quiz, scroll up inside the quiz box and
click "view score" and see the correct answers.
Who versus Whom
​
Who or whoever is always the subject of a verb. Use who or whoever when the pronoun performs the action indicated by the verb.
Who won the marathon last Tuesday?
I wonder who came up with that terrible idea!
On the other hand, whom and whomever serve as objects. They are used when the pronoun does not perform an action. Use whom or whomever when the pronoun is the direct object of a verb or the object of a preposition.
Whom did Frank marry the third time? (direct object of verb)
From whom did you buy that old record player? (object of preposition)
Tip
If you are having trouble deciding when to use who and whom, try this trick. Take the following sentence:
Who/Whom do I consider my best friend?
Reorder the sentence in your head, using either he or him in place of who or whom.
I consider him my best friend.
I consider he my best friend.
Which sentence sounds better? The first one, of course. So the trick is, if you can use him, you should use whom.
Practice
Complete the following sentences by selecting who or whom.
Once you have completed the practice quiz, scroll up inside the quiz box and
click "view score" and see the correct answers.
Key Takeaways
​
-
Pronouns and their antecedents need to agree in number and person.
-
Most indefinite pronouns are singular.
-
Collective nouns are usually singular.
-
Pronouns can function as subjects or objects.
-
Subject pronouns are never used as objects, and object pronouns are never used as subjects.
-
Who serves as a subject of a verb.
-
Whom serves as an object of a sentence or the object of a preposition.
​
Click Here to Proceed to the Next Unit: Verb Tense
​
​
​
Licensing and Attribution
​
The above is adapted from Chapter 2.5 of Writing For Success. Writing for Success by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.