PERSONAL PRONOUNS / AGREEMENT WITH NOUNS.
(a) A student walked into the room. She was looking for the teacher. (b) A student walked into the room. He was looking for the teacher. (c) Some students walked into the room. They were looking for the teacher | A singular pronoun is used to refer to a singular noun, as in (a) and (b)
A plural pronoun is used to refer to a plural noun as in (c). |
(d) A student should always do his assignments. (e) A student should always do his / her assignments. A student should always do his or her assignments. | With a “generic noun”* (e.g., in (d): a student = anyone who is a student) a singular masculine pronoun has been used traditionally, but many English speakers now use both masculine and feminine pronouns, as in (e). |
* A generic noun does not refer to any person or thing in particular; rather, it represents a whole group. (See Appendix 1, Chart D-1, Basic Article Usage.)
II) AGREEMENT WITH INDEFINITE PRONOUNS .
The following are indefinite pronouns: everyone someone anyone no one everybody somebody anybody no body everything something anything no thing | |
(a) Somebody left his book on the disk. (b) Everyone has his or her own ideas. (c) INFORMAL: Somebody left their books on the disk. Everyone has their own ideas. | A singular personal pronoun is used in formal English to refer to an indefinite pronoun, as in (a) and (b). In everyday informal English, a plural personal pronoun is often used to refer to an indefinite pronoun, as in (c). |
III) AGREEMENT WITH COLLECTIVE NOUNS .
The following are examples of collective nouns: audience couple family public class crowd government staff committee faculty group team | |
(a) My family is large. It is composed of nine members | When a collective noun refers to a single impersonal unit, a singular pronoun (it, its) is used, as in (a). |
(b) My family is loving and supportive. They are always ready to help me. | When a collective noun refers to a collection of various individuals, a plural pronoun (they, them, their) is used as in (b).* |
* NOTE :
When the collective noun refers to a collection of individuals, the verb may be either singular or plural: My family is OR are loving and supportive.
A singular verb is generally preferred in American English.
A plural verb is used more frequently in British English, especially with the words government and public.
(American: The government is planning many changes.)
(British: The government are planning many changes.)
* If the sex of a particular animal is known, usually she or he is used instead of it.
IV) USING REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS :
The following are reflexive pronouns: myself ourselves yourself yourselves himself, herself, itself themselves | |
(a) He looked at himself in the mirror. | A reflexive pronoun usually refers to the subject of a sentence. In (a): he and himself refer to the same parson. |
(b) He himself answered the phone, not his secretary. (c) He answered the phone himself. | Sometimes reflexive pronouns are used for emphasis, as in (b) and (c). |
(d) She lives by herself. | The expression by + a reflexive pronoun usually means “alone,” as in (d). |
V ) USING YOUAND ONE AS IMPERSONAL PRONOUNS :
(a) One should always be polite. (b) How does one get to | In (a) and (b): one means “any person, people in general.” In (c) and (d): you means “any person, people in general.” One is more formal than you. Impersonal you, rather than one, is used more frequently in everyday English. |
(c) You should always be polite. (d) How do you get to | |
(e) One should take care of one's health. One should take care of his health. One should take care of his or her health. | In (e): Notice the pronouns that may be used in the same sentence to refer back to one. |