Transcript Pronoun Reference

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©2014 by
Robin L. Simmons.
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Pronoun
Reference
Even more
pronoun
rules to learn!
Rule 1: Each pronoun must refer
clearly to a single antecedent.
Now read this sentence.
Samuel told Shane that his
hisskirt
skirtwas
wastoo
too
short and too tight.
Is there a problem?
Isn’t it possible to see two
different pictures? This one,
where Samuel is critical of
Shane …
Dude, that
skirt is a little
short and too
tight!
You really
think so?
… or this one, where he’s
critical of himself?
I know, I
know . .. It’s
too tight!
No time for
laundry
this week,
huh?
To fix the mistake, try
Strategy 1.
Use a specific word to replace the
pronoun. The correction looks like this:
Samuel told Shane that Samuel’s
his skirt skirt
Shane’s
skirt
was too short and too tight.
Yeah, but I don’t like the
repetition of the name!
Or try Strategy 2.
Completely revise the sentence, like this:
Samuel told Brian,
Brian that
“Your
“My
his
skirt
skirt
skirt
isis
was
tootootoo
short and too tight.”
tight.
Use Strategy 1 or 2
depending on what
works best for the
sentence you are fixing!
Rule 2: A pronoun should not
refer to a possessive noun [one
that ends in ’s or s’ ].
Now read this sentence.
The cockroach’s antennae searched the air
as ititattempted
attemptedto
tofind
findleftover
leftovercrumbs
crumbsor
or
spilled soda.
I’m confused! It is
singular; antennae is
plural; and cockroach’s
is adjectival!
To fix the problem, try
Strategy 1.
Revise the sentence so that you get rid of
’s or s’.
The cockroach
cockroach’s
searched
antennae
the air
searched
with its
antennae
as it attempted
find leftover
crumbs
the air as it attempted
to findtoleftover
crumbs
or
spilled
or
spilled
soda.
soda.
Notice that now
the pronoun it can refer to
cockroach since
this noun is free of the ’s!
Or try Strategy 2.
Change the unclear pronoun to a
specific noun.
The cockroach’s antennae searched the air
as this
it attempted
insectto
attempted
find leftover
to find
crumbs
leftover
or
spilled soda.
crumbs
or spilled soda.
No problem pronoun =
no pronoun reference
error! Sometimes the
pronoun has got to go!
Rule 3: Use they with precision.
They should have a single, clear
antecedent.
Now read this sentence.
Don’t worry if the stock market is down.
They
saythat
thatfluctuations
fluctuationsare
arenatural
naturaland
and
They say
won’t hurt your long-term investments.
Is there a problem?
They who?
Pay
attention!
I know you
can hear
me!
Clowns from
Talking ducks
the circus?
from Lake Eola?
Market
analysts?
Say what you mean!
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Circus
clowns say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
hurt your long-term investments.
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. The talking
ducks at Lake Eola say that fluctuations are
natural and won’t hurt your long-term investments.
Don’t worry if the stock market is down. Market
analysts say that fluctuations are natural and won’t
hurt your long-term investments.
Rule 4: Use it with precision. It
should have a single, clear
antecedent.
Now read this sentence.
It
saysin
inthis
thisweek’s
week’sNational
NationalInquisitor
Inquisitor
It says
that the Loch Ness Monster ate Elvis
Presley.
Is there a problem?
What says? Who says?
It
says
This
this
week’s
week’s
National
National
It says
in in
this
week’s
National
Inquisitor says
that the
thatLoch
the Loch
Ness Ness
Monster
ate Elvis ate
Monster
Presley.
Elvis Presley.
I must admit
that musicians
taste pretty
bad.
Rule 5: Make certain that this,
that, and which have one clear
antecedent.
Now read this sentence.
While juggling the kittens on the dining
room table, Lawrence lost his balance,
grabbed the chandelier, and pulled it out of
the ceiling, which
whichreally
reallyupset
upsetJulia.
Julia.
Is there a problem?
What really upset Julia?
Crash!
(No kittens were hurt during the juggling.)
Say what you mean!
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Scuff marks on
the table really upset Julia.
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Endangering the
kittens really upset Julia.
While juggling the kittens on the dining room table,
Lawrence lost his balance, grabbed the chandelier,
and pulled it out of the ceiling. Breaking the
chandelier really upset Julia.
Lawrence’s
shenanigans
are what really
upset me!
I’ll leave the
kittens alone!
I promise!
Rule 6: Use you [or any other
second-person pronoun] only for
direct address.
Now read this sentence.
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
because you
paytoo
toomuch
muchfor
foraasoda.
soda.
you pay
Is there a problem?
Fix the problem this way:
Andre refuses to eat at the campus cafeteria
because you
pay too
much
forfor
a soda.
he pays
too
much
a soda.
$1.89 for 16
ounces! Are you
kidding me?
Rule 7: Make sure that who,
which, and that refer to the right
types of nouns.
Now read this sentence.
My German shepherd King, which
which
barks incessantly, works better at
deterring thieves than an alarm system.
Is there a problem?
Use who for people, famous
animals, or named pets.
Roberto, who
plays guitar …
Flipper, who
had his own TV
show …
King, who
guards the
house …
Use which for inanimate objects
and unnamed animals.
Our fridge,
which makes
strange
noises …
My lucky pen,
which I use to
write …
The stray cat
which my
neighbor
juggles …
Use that for anything unnamed,
though who is best for people.
The jerk that
lives next
door …
The iguana
that Jason
has as a pet …
The coffee
maker that we
got as a gift …
Quick Test
Directions: Find and fix the pronoun
reference errors.
1. Valerie prefers eating at Tito’s
Taco Palace because its food is
cheap and she gets a chance to
flirt with the waiter that
that brings
who
brings
bringsher
her
her
extra jalapeno peppers without
Use who for
complaint.
a person like
waiter.
2. Many students rudely interrupt the
learning of their classmates by
walking in late or having their cell
phones ring. In Student Success,
they warn
they
Professor
warn students
students
Carter warns
that
that such
such
students
behavior
that
such adversely
behavior adversely
affects grades.
affects grades.
They had no
logical
antecedent.
3. Ranger, our six-month-old
Dalmatian puppy, sleeps on the
sofa, which is brand new, chews
on chair legs, and chases the cat.
When Mom discovers this,
this,chair
the
she
she
might she
legs,
takemight
Ranger
take
to Ranger
animal to
control.control.
animal
This did not have a
single, clear
antecedent.
4. Sam told Albert
Albert,that
“Sheila
Sheila
willwould
go out
without
go
mewith
only
him
him
if I only
only
shave
ifif he
he
my
shaved
shaved
his moustache.
his
moustache.”
moustache.
Him, he, and his
could refer to both
Sam and Albert.
5. Dorothy
Dorothy’speeked
Dorothy’s
eyes
eyespeeked
peeked
at Caleb’s
atat
quiz, hoping
Caleb’s
quiz,that
hoping
shethat
could
she
see
could
the
correct
see the
answer
correct
to answer
questionto
question 27.
27.
She should not
refer to a
possessive noun.
6. Worried about unexpected guests,
Kyle always keeps his bathroom
spotless. He
Youdoesn’t
You
don’t
don’twant
want
want
to make a bad impression with
toothpaste in the sink or a dirty
ring in the toilet bowl.
Avoid you unless you
are directly addressing
the reader.
7. Even on a limited budget, Carson
is always fashionable. In
This
this
magazine ititclaims
magazine
claims
claimsthat
that
thatthrift
thrift
thriftstore
store
store
purchases can save a lot of
money for the shopper who has
the patience to comb through all
the items.
Remove an
unnecessary it with
no clear antecedent.
8. Ted told his friend John that
John
he
would
would
have
have
made
made
a better
a better
impression on the dinner guests if
he had bought cheap glassware
instead of serving drinks out of
plastic cups.
He can refer to
both Ted and John.
Repeat the name
for clarity.
9. Thomas propped his feet on the
expensive coffee table and
explained that he had met another
woman, which
woman.
which
Scuff marks
infuriated
infuriated
onTonya.
Tonya.
the new
furniture infuriated Tonya.
Which did not have
a single, clear
antecedent.
10. As Jai
Jai’sstroked
Jai’s
fingers
fingers
the
stroked
stroked
long, the
soft
thelong,
hair
long,
of his
soft
hair
Persian
of his cat,
Persian
he tried
cat, to
herelax
tried to
after
a hard
relaxday
after
ataschool
hard day
andat
school and work.
work.
He should not
refer to a
possessive noun.
The End.