Pronouns stand in for nouns so that we do not have to repeat them: Determiners ( …) come before nouns and specify which or how many.

Personal pronouns

Subject Object Possessive adj. Possessive pron.
1st sg. I me my mine
2nd sg./pl. you you your yours
3rd sg. masc. he him his his
3rd sg. fem. she her her hers
3rd sg. neut. it it its —
1st pl. we us our ours
3rd pl. they them their theirs

  • Subject pronouns perform the action:

  • Object pronouns receive the action or follow prepositions:

  • Possessive adjectives modify a noun (); possessive pronouns replace one ().

  • \(\to\) (subject position)

  • \(\to\) (object position — this hypercorrection is extremely common; test by dropping the other person: , not )

  • \(\to\) ( = ; = possessive)

  • \(\to\)

is now standard for a person of unknown or unspecified gender: This usage is centuries old (Shakespeare, Austen) and is accepted by all major style guides.

Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns

  • Use a reflexive when subject and object are the same person:

  • Use it for emphasis:

  • = alone / without help:

  • Reciprocal pronouns express two-way action:

Do not use a reflexive as a polite substitute for : \(\to\)

Demonstratives:

Near (here, now) Far (there, then)
Singular this that
Plural these those

Demonstratives also point within a conversation:

Quantifying determiners

and

  • : positive statements, offers, and requests —

  • : negatives and open questions —

  • in positives means “it doesn’t matter which”:

@L4.3cmL4.3cmL4.3cm@ & With countable plurals & With uncountables
Large quantity & many, a lot of, lots of & much, a lot of, lots of
Small quantity (positive: “some”) & a few () & a little ()
Small quantity (negative: “almost none”) & few () & little ()

and are positive (= some, enough); and without are negative (= not enough). Compare: vs. 

In everyday affirmative sentences, is more natural than : rather than . and are most at home in questions, negatives, and formal writing.

  • + singular noun, singular verb:

  • emphasizes individuals one by one:

  • + plural/uncountable:

  • = the two together; = one of the two; = not one and not the other:

Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns take a singular verb, even : (But follow-up pronouns are commonly plural: )

Avoid double negatives with negative pronouns: \(\to\) /

Exercises

Choose the pronoun Choose the correct form.

  1. Between you and (I / me), the plan won’t work.

  2. My brother and (I / me) grew up in Leeds.

  3. The committee gave the award to Sarah and (he / him).

  4. Everyone must bring (his or her / their) own laptop.

  5. The cat licked (its / it’s) paws.

some/any, few/little Fill the gap with or .

  1. Hurry — we have very

    time before the train leaves.

  2. Could you lend me

    money until Friday?

  3. There aren’t

    tickets left for tonight.

  4. Don’t worry, we still have

    minutes to spare.

  5. people ever read the terms and conditions, which is a pity.

Error correction Each sentence contains one error. Correct it.

  1. Neither of the answers were correct.

  2. Please send the report to myself by Friday.

  3. Every employees must complete the training.

  4. This shoes are too small for me.

  5. If anyone calls, tell him I’m in a meeting. (make it neutral and natural)