Pronoun Questions
Introduction
Pronouns are essential for avoiding repetition in sentences, but their use can sometimes lead to confusion. This module focuses on understanding pronouns, using them properly, and resolving ambiguity by replacing unclear pronouns with specific nouns. The determination of which pronoun is correct often comes down to whether its antecedent is singular or plural. (Remember that the antecedent is the noun that is replaced and referred to by the pronoun.)
Approach Question
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The lemur is distinguished from other primates by its wet and hairless nose.
- NO CHANGE
- it’s
- they’re
- their
The differences here are classics of classroom confusion: is it “its” or “it’s”? Is it “their” or “they’re”? One way to wrap both of these ideas together is to observe that possessive pronouns do not have an apostrophe. So “its” and “their” must be the pronouns meaning “belonging to it” and “belonging to them,” respectively.
This rule helps you recognize that “it’s” and “they’re” are both contractions of two words; neither one can be the answer here. The only remaining question is, Do we want a singular or plural pronoun? The question is harder than it may seem given that “lemur” is a collective noun: it points to a plural idea (all lemurs) but is grammatically singular.
Since it is singular, “its” is the best choice. The answer is **NO CHANGE"".
Part 1: General Strategy
- Know how pronouns are useful.
- Pronouns avoid repetition in sentences; thanks to pronouns, we can say “Meredith loves her dog” instead of the clunky “Meredith loves Meredith’s dog.”
- Pronouns can start subordinate clauses to give color to a sentence.
- I bought a veggie tray, which I then placed on the buffet table.
- Romeo is the character to whom Juliet, says, “Wherefore, wherefore art thou …”.
- Recognize the different types of pronouns.
- Personal: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
- Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
- Reflexive: myself, yourself, himself
- Demonstrative: this, that, these, those
- Relative: who, whom, whose, which, that
- Indefinite: someone, anything, each
- Avoid common errors with pronouns.
- Pronouns can be too vague, making the meaning of the sentence unclear.
- Incorrect example: Lauren and Sara took her car to the mechanic.
- Correct example: Lauren and Sara took Lauren’s car to the mechanic.
- The most frequent error has to do with agreement (singular vs. plural).
- Incorrect example: Everyone has their opinion.
- Correct example: Everyone has his or her opinion.
- Incorrect example: The girls, each accompanied by their mother, filed into the Mother-Daughter Dance.
- Correct example: The girls, each accompanied by her mother, filed into the Mother-Daughter Dance.
- Errors can also occur by mistaking a pronoun acting as a subject for one acting as an object.
- Incorrect example: Trevor and me rode our bikes to the store.
- Correct example: Trevor and I rode our bikes to the store.
- Incorrect example: Parents care deeply for their children and do much for the love of they.
- Correct example: Parents care deeply for their children and do much for the love of them.
Practice Passage
In this section, you’ll find an excerpt from Christine de Pisan’s The Book of the Duke of Two Lovers, translated by Laurence Binyon and Eric Robert Dalrymple Maclagan. It is published in the public domain by The Gutenberg Project. We have included five Pronoun questions to go with the passage.
On a day, for my diversion, with one of my kinsfolk and four others of my gentlemen, we mounted on to our horses. A longing for the chase took possession of [1] I, and, to ensure success, I caused the huntsmen to take greyhounds and ferrets. Then, without ado, we entered on a path the which I had ofttimes followed, but not far had we gone when a wide beaten track led us whither I knew there were many rabbits. And nearby, I assure you, there was a strong and very goodly castle, but its name I will not make known.
At that time there was come to this place a Princess [2] which was held of everyone as so good and beautiful, and of so great worth, that she was had in honor of all. In nowise did we know that she was there, since we came thither by chance. Here and there, without the castle, her attendants amused [3] themselves, some singing, some casting the weight, and others, afoot, exercising with the bar. And as they remained there, we turned our steps toward them. Then they all turned them toward us, and when they perceived us, and recognized who we were, the chief amongst [4] him at once rose up. And when they had saluted us, they tarried not, but, as it seemed to me, by twos and by threes repaired them to their mistress. And methinks they did not hide from her that we were come there, for as soon as we were come quite nigh unto the castle, we saw a goodly company of ladies coming forth to meet us. And these gave us welcome with gracious bearing.
And we straightway turned toward them, and saluted them on bended knee. And there was amongst them both a lady and a maiden who were kinsfolk of [5] her who was mistress of them all. And without giving affront, and without rebuke, I kissed the maiden with fair tresses, as well as the lady. And my cousin and I escorted the maiden, who was high-born, and the noble lady, and in suchwise entered the castle.
And the Lady, of whom everyone spake well, had already come forth from out her chamber, and stood there with noble mien, neither proudly, nor haughtily, but in such manner as befitted her noble estate and royal person. And as soon as we saw her, we duly saluted her, and, in a little space, she came forward, and took me with ungloved hand, and kissed me, and said, “I knew not of your coming, fair cousin. You are right welcome, but what brings you here now?”
Then said my cousin, “Certes, my Lady, we set out for amusement, and knew not that you were here. Chance brought us hither, but praised be God who has so favoured us that we have found at your hands so warm a welcome.”
And the good and gracious lady laughed at this, and made answer, “Then let us go amuse ourselves.”
- I
A. NO CHANGE
B. me
C. we
D. them
The answer is B. The lesson notes that we sometimes have to distinguish between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun; that difference is exemplified here by “I” versus “me”. The need here is for an object the verbal phrase “took possession of _____.” So “I” is out, along with “we”. “Them” is an object form, but the only pronouns used in this sentence are in the first person (“I” and “we”). So “me” is the only answer that fits the context and occurs in object form.
- which
A. NO CHANGE
B. whom
C. who
D. to whom
The answer is C. In this case, we have a relative pronoun, starting a new clause to describe the “princess”. Any of these choices could start a new clause, but we can rule out “which” because that refers to impersonal subjects, not persons. Choosing between “who” and one of the “whom” goes back to the subject versus object decision. What verb follows, and who is doing the action? The verb is “was held.” This is in the passive voice, meaning that we need a subject as the person who “was held … (believed)” to be a certain way. The only subject form is “who”, so that’s the answer here. “Whom” is a straightforward object form, and “to whom” would require something to be done to the princess, who is then described using a pronoun.
- them
A. NO CHANGE
B. him
C. ourselves
D. themselves
The answer is D. We can answer this question by asking, whom were the attendants amusing in this case? (Did you notice the object pronoun “whom” that we used there?) Since amusing takes a direct object, we know we need an object form, but that doesn’t help us here since all the answer choices are object forms. The context is cryptic in the sense that it doesn’t point to anyone else present who might have been amused by the attendants. When this is the case, it’s best to assume that there is a reflexive pronoun present; that is, the attendants were amusing themselves. (“Ourselves” is the other reflexive pronoun here, but the third person “attendants” could not go grammatically with “ourselves”.)
- him
A. NO CHANGE
B. us
C. they
D. them
The answer is D. The context surrounding is, “The chief among ____ at once rose up.” Chief is the subject; does the pronoun refer back to the chief? The word “among” tells us that it doesn’t; such a word requires some sort of plural object because “among” points to the presence of at least three people. There is a chief in this sentence as well as a people of whom he is the chief. Since we need a plural after “among”, “him” is eliminated as a choice. “They” cannot work because it is a subject form, but “among” is a preposition that requires an object.
That leaves “us” and “them”; we have to read more context to decide which one works. The subjects of the verbs “perceived” and “recognized” earlier in the sentence is the word “they”; it is other people, not the narrator and companions, that are in view here. The chief is among “them”, not among “us”.
- her
A. NO CHANGE
B. she
C. him
D. they
The answer is A. The phrase “she who …” is used fairly regularly in modern English, but that phrase applies only if “she” can function as the subject, as in the sentence, “She who requests your presence is at the front door.” The problem with suggesting “she” as the answer here is that the pronoun is preceded by the preposition “of”. So in this case, we again want an object, not a subject, form. That rules out “she” and “they”. The choice is between “him” and “her”, and we simply need to find out who is being discussed. The word “mistress” a few words later gives it away: the answer is “her”.