G ram m ar

Lesson 2: Pronouns
Grammar for Writing

Pronoun
A word used in place of a noun or another
pronoun.

Antecedent
The word that a pronoun stands for.
Example:
Ray said he wanted musical talents to audition
for the play.
An antecedent can consist of more than one
word, and it may appear in an earlier sentence.
Example
Ray and I auditioned together. We both got lead
parts.

PersonalPronouns
The forms of personal
pronouns are shown in
the chart below.
Singular

Plural

First person

I, me
(my, mine)

we, us
(our, ours)

Second person

you
(your, yours)

you
(your, yours)

Third person

he, him, she, her, it

(his, her, hers, its)

they, them
(their, theirs)

Possessive Pronouns
Show ownership or relationship.
In the chart possessive pronouns are in
parentheses.
Examples
Maria delivered her speech.

W hy does this m atter?

Pronouns replace unnecessary or repetitive nouns.

During a telephone conversation, the composer Leonard Bernstein and

the choreographer Jerome Robbins came up with an idea that developed
into Bernsteins and Robbins hit musical West Wide Story.

During a telephone conversation, the composer Leonard Bernstein and

the choreographer Jerome Robbins came up with an idea that developed
into their hit musical West Side Story.

Practice
On a sheet of loose-leaf paper, please complete the
following:
Page 10, Practice A and B
You DO NOT have to write the sentences for Practice A.
Simply write each pronoun and tell me whether it is
personal or possessive.
You must write the sentences for Practice B. Replace
any unnecessary or repetitive nouns with personal or
possessive pronouns.