Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007

2 Pronouns - Personal pronouns
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech

So we don’t repeat ourselves!

Definition: The word ’pronoun’ comes from the Latin pronomen meaning ’for a noun’. As the word implies, pronouns are the words that we use in place of nouns. It will become clear later when we discuss the difference between possessive and demonstrative pronouns and possessive and demonstrative adjectives (see pages 38, 53), why this definition is so important.

We use pronouns to make clear whom or what we are talking about, while avoiding confusing or clumsy repetition.

It is wise to teach just personal pronouns initially and bring in the other kinds later. Recognition is important while fuller explanation and exercises can follow later (see pages 139-42).

Before learning about pronouns, students should:

• understand the term noun

• recognise both common and proper nouns

Personal pronouns

Share this story with your students. This (true) story could sound something like the following.

’Marjorie lost her false teeth. The dog had found Marjorie’s false teeth and buried Marjorie’s false teeth. Marjorie could not find Marjorie’s false teeth anywhere, but Marjorie dug up Marjorie’s false teeth two years later, while Marjorie was digging in the garden.’

With the use of pronouns this would read much more smoothly, in spite of the repetition of the pronouns. Although equally impor­tant to the sense, they are less prominent.

'Marjorie lost her false teeth. The dog had found them and buried them. Marjorie could not find them anywhere, but she dug them up two years later, while she was digging in the garden.’

Without the words ’I’ and ’you’ (personal pronouns) we could become very confused. Instead of:

I saw her give you the letter for me.

We would have to say something like this:

John saw Maureen give Michael the letter for John. [John, referring to himself!]

And:

I hurt myself.

Would become:

John hurt John. [himself or another person called John?]

It becomes altogether very confusing!

Most languages have pronouns, though in some languages the pronoun is incorporated in the verb.

Pronouns change in form according to the work that they do in the sentence. For example they have number:

Singular - I went to town with him.

Plural - We went to town with them.

Tables can be very useful, both now and for later reference, so we suggest that students begin by entering a table of personal pro­nouns in their grammar exercise books.

And when the action is done to the person, for example:

The falling brick hit me.

a. Following a preposition: These will be explained in the section on prepositions and the section on object (see pages 71, 98).

The brick fell on me.

b. A preposition that is understood, i.e. not mentioned.

It gave (to) me concussion.

The following words are common pronouns for one person or thing:

I you he she it me her him

And for more than one person or thing:

we you they us them