Transcript Pronoun Shift

chomp!
chomp!
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Pronoun Shift
Do I mean
you, the
reader?
Or am I talking
about
someone
else?
This
presentation
covers
maintaining
consistency
in pronoun
point - of view.
A pronoun shift item on an
objective test might look
like this ...
Sample Item
We ordered
ordered with
withcare
careat
atthe
theexpensive
expensive
A
restaurant because you
youdidn’t
we
don’t
don’twant
want
wantthe
the
theshame
shame
shame
B
of not having enough money to pay our
our bill.
bill.
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
You should order
we didn’t
didn’t
your bill
No change is necessary.
You Is
don’t
we is a
ordered
, you
shift in person,
don’t
which, option
or ourBa
problem?
corrects.
Don’t Mix Pronoun
Per sons.
Shawna refuses to try mountain climbing
because she
you can get stuck in a blizzard
and freeze to death.
Grizzly!
If you were the
one who froze, I’d
be okay with
mountain
climbing!
Pronoun Persons
First
Person
 I
 me
 my, mine
 myself
 we
 us
 our, ours
 ourselves
Second
Person
 you
 your, yours
 yourself,
yourselves
Know your
persons!
Third
Person
 he, she, it
 him, her
 his, hers, its
 himself,
herself, itself
 they
 them
 their, theirs
 themselves
Second -per son pr onouns
must r efer to the r eader.
You
must study
study to
to do
do well
well on
on your
yourtest.
test.
You must
Preparation
success.
Preparation is
is the
the key
key to
to your
your success.
Yes, this
means you,
the reader!
Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
Show me
what you
know.
Item 1
We were starving but decided to make the long
drive home because the choices at the food court
would have poisoned you.
you.
A. us
us
B. her
C. them
D. No change is necessary.
Item 2
Today you
you can
can buy
buy fried
fried chicken
chicken in
in minutes
minutes at
at aa
A
fast food drive-thru. But in the 1800s, you
you
a
woman
had
had had
B B
to slaughter, pluck, and cook the bird herself
herselfto
to
C
serve chicken for dinner.
A.
B.
C.
D.
she
a woman
woman
ourselves
No change is necessary.
Item 3
When a student
studenthas
hasdisappointed
disappointedaaprofessor,
professor,
you can always try smiling in class or offering a
compliment to get back on the teacher’s good
side.
A. students have
B. I have
C. you
you have
have
D. No change is necessary.
Item 4
Athletes need to stay hydrated. They
They can
can choose
choose
A
plain water from a fountain, but you
you might
they
might
mightprefer
prefer
preferaaa
BB
drink that adds electrolytes so that their
their
C
performance is optimal.
A.
B.
C.
D.
You
they
they
our
No change is necessary.
Item 5
Fritz refuses to buy books until after the semester
has begun. The texts professors require on the
syllabus are often not necessary for your
your success
success
in class.
A. my
B. our
C. his
his
D. No change is necessary.
Item 6
I refuse
refuse to
to drive
drive on
on the
the interstate
interstate at
at rush
rush hour.
hour.
A
Too many drivers are whipping in and out of lanes,
careless about how their
their behavior
behavior affects
affects you.
you.
me.
B
CC
A.
B.
C.
D.
We should refuse
my
me
No change is necessary.
Item 7
If you are daring, try this bacon-maple ice cream
sundae that I made. The combination of salty and
sweet might appeal to you.
you.
A. me
B. them
C. her
D. No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
Item 8
You can
You
can fix
fix your
your money
money problems
problems with
with aa little
little
A
financial discipline. You
You must
must pay
pay yourself
yourselffirst,
first,
B
C
putting a few dollars into savings before tackling
any of the other bills.
A.
B.
C.
D.
We
People
themselves
No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
Item 9
Malcolm and Dwayne are in competition for
Yolanda’s love. Buying flowers would win you
you aa
woman’s affection.
A. them
them
B. him
C. us
D. No change is necessary.
Item 10
Professional race car drivers listen closely to their
their
A
engines. You
You can
They
can
cananticipate
anticipate
anticipateperformance
performance
performance
BB
variations based on sounds a regular
regulardriver
driverwould
would
C
miss.
A.
B.
C.
D.
your
They
They
we
No change is necessary.
The End.