THE PRONOUN - personal/ possessive/ reflexive pronouns

THE PRONOUN

1. Replacing the noun/ pronoun by the personal/ possessive/ reflexive pronouns:

Noun Personal pr. Possessive pr. Reflexive pr.

boy he, him his himself

girl she, her her herself

stallion he, him his himself

mare she, her her herself

desk it, it its (itself)

dog it, it its itself

Denmark it, it its itself

boys/girls/desks they, them their themselves

trousers they, them their (themselves)

jury they, them/ it, it their/its themselves/itself

everyone/someone they, them their themselves

one one, one ones oneself

nothing/everything it, it its itself

*this/that it, it its (itself)

*these/those they, them their (themselves)

Thats very nice of her, isnt it?

Those are completely new, arent they?

-we may use instead of it he or she if we know the animal or it is considered a human

-before the birth we may use it for the baby/ child

-instead of it we may use she if we refer to our favourite ship or car

-in case of the collective nouns, if we refer to them as a whole we use them in singular (it), if we refer to the members of it, we use them in the plural (they

The pronoun 'it':

a.       objects whose sex is either unimportant or not specified

It is a nice dog.

The moon was bright so we could read a book by it.

2. collective nouns denoting the whole institution

The government wishes a large response to its appeal.

3. it is the subject of a verb referring to time/ weather/ distance

It freezes.

It is early.

It is three miles.

4. it is the subject of impersonal verbs

It seems/ happens/ appears/ looks like

5. it refers to an object already mentioned

It all happened a long time ago. Forget it!

6. when the subject of the sentence is an infinitive or that clause

It is nice to be here.

It is nice that I am with you.

7. an introductory 'it' gives a special emphasis to one idea

We threw eggs at Peter.

It was Peter that we threw eggs at./ It was eggs that we threw at Peter.

There is/ There are

a.       shows the existence of something

There will be trouble.

There is nothing happening tonight.

2. common with modal verbs

There might be a problem.

3. common in the structure: there+ be+ noun+ participle

There was a boy water-skiing on the lake.

There have been many people killed in wars.

4. when the subject of a sentence is some, any, no the sentence is often introduced by this

There is something wrong.

There are some flies in my milk.

Reflexive pronouns:

I-myself

you-yourself

he-himself

she-herself

it-itself

we-ourselves

you-yourselves

they-themselves

-express identity with the subject, direct/ indirect/ prepositional object

He describes himself as an engineer.

I have given myself a very severe treatment.

I cut myself.

She made herself a cake.

Emphatic pronouns:

-have exactly the same form as the reflexive pronouns; strongly stress the word they stay for

-place: either immediately after the word emphasized or at the end of the sentence

I myself did it. / I did it myself.

They went there themselves./ They themselves went there.

! I cut myself. I cut it myself.

She made herself a cake. She made a cake herself.

Interrogative pronouns:

WHO/ WHOSE/ WHOM = have only personal reference

WHICH = refers both to people and things, it has a selective meaning

WHAT = has an inanimate reference (refers to an activity, profession, nationality, quality)

Who was there?

Who came to the party?

Whose is it?

Whom did you see yesterday?

Whom did you speak to?

Which your brothers is a teacher?

Which of these books have you read?

What is your name?

What is he like?

Indefinite pronouns:

somebody/ someone/ something/ somewhere

anybody/ anyone/ anything/ anywhere

nobody/ no one/ nothing/ nowhere

everybody/ everyone/ everything/ everywhere

-have agreement with the verb in the singular

Somebody is knocking at the door.

Everybody looks tired today.

Everybody said they would come.

Relative pronouns:

Who is the girl who/ that is standing by the window?

The book that/ which is open is mine.

The girl (who/ that) you can see there is Marys friend.

Is the book (that/ which) you are reading interesting?

The girl (who/ that) John is talking to is Mary.

Be careful! The glass (that/ which) you are drinking from is dirty.

The writer whose book I am reading was my school-fellow.

I would like to live in the house the windows of which are open.

Use:

a.      Defining Relative Clauses:

Relative pronouns Living beings Inanimate objects

Nominative WHO/THAT THAT/WHICH

Accusative THAT/WHO THAT/-

Prepositional acc. THAT/ - prep. THAT/-

prep.

Genitive WHOSE OF/WHICH/WHOSE

-give essential information to the meaning of the sentence and do not have commas

-the relative pronoun can be omitted in the accusative

I didnt like the film (that) I saw yesterday.

2. Non-Defining Relative Clauses:

Relative pronouns Living beings Inanimate objects

Nominative WHO WHICH

Accusative WHOM WHICH

Prepositional acc. prep.+WHOM prep.+WHICH

WHO(M)prep. WHICHprep.

Genitive WHOSE OF WHICH

WHOSE

-give additional information and have commas before or on either side of the clause

-the relative pronoun cannot be omitted

Vienna, which lies on the Danube, is a beautiful city.

Grammar, which you dislike, is useful for you.

My brother, who lives in the country, is a strong man.

Exercises

Rewrite this passage, putting in suitable pronouns and possessive adjectives. (Note: the duck is female and the frog is male.)

One summers day, a duck decided to go to the river for a picnic. --- took a lot of food with and was really looking forward to eating---. --- sat down on the river bank and spread the food out in front of ---. You are not going to it all that food ---, are ---? said a small voice. --- looked up and saw a frog sitting at the waters edge. Please give --- some of yours, pleaded the frog, wiping a tear from --- eyes. She gave --- a sandwich. To --- surprise, --- did not eat ---, but simply put --- on the ground beside ---. Wont --- give --- something else? After all, my need is greater than ---. Bit by bit, the duck handed over most --- food. Soon the frog had a huge pile of food in front of ---. With an effort --- picked --- all up and started to swim across the river. But the food was so heavy that the frog and --- load sank like a stone and the duck never saw --- of them again.

Moral: When --- is hard to say no, say no.

2. Complete the sentences using the impersonal pronoun it.

E.g. (snow), so we stayed in. Answer: It was snowing (or: It had been snowing) so we stayed in.

a.       (so cold) that the river froze over.

2. (rain) when I left the house.
3. If (rain) w will stay in.
4. (warm) today- you do not need an overcoat.
5. You cannot take good photos when (cloudy).
6. Do you think (freeze) at the moment?
7. I do not like to go sailing when (too windy).
8. (very late) I must go now.
9. (three miles) to the nearest petrol station.

Complete the sentences using the pattern THERE + IS/ WAS

E.g. I do not understand/ one thing. Answer: There is one thing I do not understand.

a.       some people/ are waiting to see you

2. very little/ was/ left to eat.
3. I cannot do/ much/ about it.
4. some letters/ are here/ for you.
5. a bit of cheese/ is/ in the fridge.
6. a lovely smell/ is/ in here.
7. I should like/ nothing better/ than to sit here with you.
8. I want/ to tell you something.
9. nothing/ is/ broken.

In English it is possible to make general statements using the pronouns we, you, they in an impersonal sense. In each of these sentences, put the pronoun we (us, our), you (your) or they (them, their). Choose the word which best suits the meaning of the sentence.

a.       --- can never find a taxi when --- need one.

2. I see --- have invented a bomb will kill people without damaging property. What will --- think of next?
3. --- must not grumble, I suppose. --- have had a pretty good year.
4. --- never know who --- will bump into when --- go out.
5. Enjoy ---selves while --- can: --- cannot take the money with --- when --- die.
6. --- say --- are going to have a hard winter.
7. Do you think --- might let --- have a party if --- promise not to be noisy.
8. --- can lead a horse to water, but --- cannot make --- drink.
9. It says in the paper that --- are thinking of putting up the price of petrol again.

Replace the underlined noun with a pronoun and make other changes which are necessary. Take care with the preposition to and for

E.g. Give John a present. Answer: Give it to John.

Give John a present. Answer: Give it to him.

Hand John his glasses.

1. Hand John his glasses.
2. Teach the children the alphabet.
3. Teach the children the alphabet.
4. Buy Mary the flowers.
5. Buy Mary the flowers.
6. Buy Mary the flowers.
7. Get Father the paper.
8. Get Father the paper.
9. Fetch Anna her briefcase.
10. Fetch Anna her briefcase.
11. Tell the students the truth.
12. Tell the students the truth.
13. Send George the money.
14. Send George the money.
15. Tell everyone the news.
16. Bring me your work.
17. Show the boss the accounts.

Put the appropriate possessive adjective or the definite article into these sentences.

a.       She sat in front of the mirror, running --- fingers through --- hair.

2. Do you want to put --- coat on? No, I will just put it round --- shoulders.
3. I felt somebody tap me on --- shoulder and then grab my arm.
4. I felt somebody tap --- shoulder and then grab me by --- arm.
5. He had --- hat pulled well down over --- eyes and --- hands were thrust deep into --- pockets.
6. She turned up --- collar of --- coat to protect --- neck from the cold wind.
7. He shook me warmly by --- hand and put --- arm round --- shoulders.
8. Before you go to bed, make sure you wash --- face, brush --- teeth and put --- clothes away neatly.
9. Close --- eyes, hold out --- hand and see what the good Lord has brought you!
10. We were stabbed in --- back, means we were betrayed by our own people.
11. They lay on --- backs and closed --- eyes.
12. If you do not want to hear it, put --- fingers in --- ears.
13. You look a mess! Tuck --- blouse into --- skirt and straighten --- shoulders.

Choose the alternative that fits.

Dont tell me your problems. I have got enough problems of me/mine/my own

1. Who is that man? Is he a friend of you/your/yours?
2. Come and sit beside me/myself/mine.
3. It belongs to an old friend of my fathers/from my father/of my father.
4. She prefers to live by her own/hers/her own.
5. A friend of my father/my fathers is a painter. He painted this portrait of mine/me/my own when I was 16.
6. Is that car your/yours or is it of your wife/your wife/your wifes?
7. He has his/an/the own business.
8. What I would really like is a car of the/ones/my own.
9. Louiss work is much tidier than mine/me/my or of Anna/Anna/Annas.

Choose the alternative that fits.

Dont do everything for him/himself, he must learn to do things for him/himself

1. Please you/yourself. It is entirely up to you/yourself.
2. They are in love- they only have eyes for themselves/each other.
3. They are very fond of themselves/each other.
4. He is very conceited. He has a very high opinion of himself/him.
5. We had no difficulty in making ourselves/us understood.
6. She gave Michael the apple and kept the orange for her/herself.
7. They had only five pounds between them/themselves, so they bought some food and shared it equally between them/each other/themselves.
8. As for me/myself, I prefer to let people make up their own/each others/one anothers minds.
9. Put you/yourself in my position. Would you blame you/yourself if you were I/me/myself?
10. They seem to get on with each other/themselves very well.
11. We meet us/ourselves/- every day.

Give suitable reply to the following questions using -self/ves

E.g. Did someone wash your hair for you? No, I --- (washed myself).

a.       Did your mother make that for you? No, I ---

2. Did one of Mr. Smiths employees give you that? No, Mr. Smith ---
3. The students had a dance in the college. Did the teaching staff organize it? No, the students---
4. What did you think of the film Close encounters? I thought the film --- boring, but I liked the music.
5. Did you teach Anna to play the guitar? No, she ---
6. Do you want someone to go with you to the doctors? No, I can ---
7. Will you do this exercise for me? No, do ---
8. Do you still wash and dress him? No, he is old enough to ---

Join these sentences with the relative pronouns who which or whose. If who or which can be left out, leave them out.

a.       I like people ------ speak their minds.

2. There is something ------ I do not understand about this.
3. She only eats vegetables ------- have been organically grown.
4. There are not many films ------ I really enjoy.
5. He is a sort of man ------ ideas make people really angry.
6. We are looking for someone ------ can help us in the shop.
7. What do you think of the boys ------ wear make-up?
8. I recently met an author ------ books are all about witchcraft.
9. Only learn the words ------ are worth learning.
10. He is the man ------ everyone is talking about.
11. Is this the guitar ------ you bought in Spain?
12. There is a prejudice against people ------ speak with a strong accent.
13. Do you know anyone ------ birthday is in June?
14. I need a watch ------ has a built-in alarm.
15. Was it John ------ told you that?
16. The clothes she ------ wears are really strange.

Each of the questions or statements below is followed by its response. Complete the responses with the interrogative pronouns which? or what?.(In one or two cases either pronoun is possible.)

a.       Could I speak to Mr. Smith? ------ Mr. Smith do you want?

2. Give me the money. ------ money?
3. Could I have my books back please? ------ are your books?
4. Im going to buy some books. ------ books do you need to buy?
5. Put one of those logs on the fire. ------ one?
6. Where did you put the photos? ------ photos?
7. Anna and Mary are nice girls. ------ class are they in?
8. My son is nearly seventeen. ------ subjects is he taking?
9. I fly either Swissair or British Airlines. ------ airline do you prefer?

Ask these questions with which? or what?, in one or two cases either pronoun is possible.

a.       ------ kind of films do you like?

2. I dont know ------ dress to wear tonight.
3. ------ of these sets do you recommend?
4. ------ buses go to the town centre?
5. ------ is your favourite food?
6. ------ food do you like best of all?
7. ------ food do you prefer, French or Italian?
8. I would like to get a job, but I dont know ------ job suits me best.

13. Complete the sentences with one of the words some, any, no, body, thing, where + else.

a.       We always go to La Lupa. Cant we go ------ for a change?

2. Did you give it to Anna? No, I gave it to ------.
3. Is that all you need? No, I want ------- as well.
4. Have you got what you need? Yes, thanks I dont need ------.
5. Why does Mary always go around with Anna? Because she doesnt know ------.
6. Why does she always wear the same dress? Perhaps it is because she hasnt got ------ to wear.
7. If you dont want it, I will give it to ------.
8. Why do you always have your hair cut at Tonys? ------ cuts it as well as he does.

Complete these sentences with one of the possessive forms some, any, no, every, + bodys or body elses according to the meaning of the sentence.

a.       He took ------ by mistake.

2. I wasnt ------ fault. It was just an accident.
3. She knows ------ secrets.
4. Its ------ business what I do in my private life.
5. Soon, ------ patience was exhausted.
6. ------ washing powder can give the same whiteness as DIZZ.
7. Why does ------ garden always look tidier than mine?
8. It was ------ fault. I am the one to blame.
9. Because his own bike had a flat tyre, he simply took ------.

Watch yourself! Can you form some reflexive verbs matching these verbs to the definitions below?

Verbs: ask, behave, blame, enjoy, give, help, kill, let, make, please, pull, take.

a) commit suicide ------ yourself

b) have a good time ------ yourself

c) feel guilty ------ yourself

d) wonder ------ yourself

e) take as much as you want ------ yourself

f) do only what you want to do ------ yourself

g) believe in your importance ------ yourself seriously

h) behave as you were in your own home ------ yourself at home

i) surrender ------ yourself up

j) make an effort to regain your self-control ------ yourself together

k) relax ------ yourself go

mdo what you should do/ not do anything wrong ------ yourself