locating pronouns level one we recommend that you have reviewed the “nouns” and “adjectives”...

Locating PronounsLevel One

We recommend that you have reviewed the “nouns” and “adjectives” presentations before working at this one.

For many, pronouns is one of those topics that can challenge the best of us the first time around.

Let’s start with the realization that some memorization will be necessary – not much – but some.

Start with the easier ones – the personal pronounsThe words in parentheses are the personal pronouns in the possessive case

I, me (our) we, us (our)you, (your) you (your)he, him (his)she, her (her) they, them (their)it (its)

Look over the personal pronouns of the following sentence

Under her management they became a premiere organization.

“her” is a pronoun working here as an adjective for “management”“they” is a pronoun working as a noun

Now, your turn – find the pronouns in the following sentence

He is our good friend

He is our good friend.

“he” is a pronoun working as a noun“our” is a pronoun working as an adjective

Find the personal pronouns in the following sentence.

They bought a gift for her at their booth at the bazaar.

They bought a gift for her at their booth at the bazaar.

“They” is a pronoun working as a noun“her” is a pronoun working as a noun“their” is a pronoun working as an adjective

The personal pronouns, without too much practice, are fairly easy to recognize. So we will move to other groups. Here is a list of three distinct groups.

A. Somebody, everyone, each, anyone, nobody, either, anybody, everybody, someone, neither, no one

B. Some, most, none, all, anyC. Several, both, many, few

And yes, remember what we said about memorization. Memorizing these three groups will be necessary, not only for this unit on pronouns, but for what we will encounter in later topics as well.

So, let’s begin with group A, but rather than memorizing the 11 words, try this method of organizing them and you should find them easier to recall.

With apologies to George Lucas, we call them the OBEE -1 group:O all the “ones” – someone, anyone, everyone, no oneB all the “bodies” – somebody, anybody, everybody, nobodyEachEither/Neither

Most of these pronouns will always be nouns. The last three, however, “each, either, and neither,” are pronouns that can work as either adjectives or nouns.

Here is an example of some pronouns at work.

Someone must count each of the ballots.

“Someone” is a pronoun; it works as a noun“each” is a pronoun; it also works as a noun in this sentence.

See if you can find the pronouns in the sentence and identify whether they are working as a noun or an adjective.

Either of them could make either choice for themselves.

See if you can find the pronouns in the sentence and identify whether they are working as a noun or an adjective.

Does anyone know her background in each area?

Either of them could make either choice.“Either” (the first one) is a pronoun working as a noun.

“them” is a pronoun working as a noun.“either” (the second one) is a pronoun working as an adjective.

Does anyone know her background in each area?“anyone” is a pronoun working as a noun“her” is a pronoun working as an adjective in this sentence“each” is a pronoun working as an adjective in this sentence

Let’s add the next group of pronouns – some, any, most , all, and none.

Again, we have a way of organizing these pronouns as a way of remembering them, and that is to imagine that you can’t spell too well but like a particular kind of fish.

Try them in this order – Some, any, most, all, noneWhat kind of fish does that spell – badly?

Take the first letter of each word and you end up withSAMAN

The “SAMAN” words “some, any, most, all, and none” can all work as either a noun or an adjective.

See if you can locate the pronouns and detect how they are are being used.

Some discussion about all of the candidates would be worthwhile.

Find the pronouns in the sentence, and identify whether they are working as a noun or an adjective.

They saw most of us at their concert.

Some discussion about all of the candidates would be worthwhile.

“some” is a pronoun that works as an adjective.“all” is a pronoun that works as a noun

They saw most of us at their concert.

“They” is a pronoun working as a noun

“most” is a pronoun working as a noun in the sentence.

“us” is a pronoun working as a noun

“their” is a pronoun working as an adjective.

Now add the third group – many, several, few, and both. We utilize a phrase here “Many Seas Few Boats” as a way of remembering the pronouns.

Many, Several, Few, Both

Like the last set, these pronouns can all work as either a noun or an adjective.Several students are here – “several” works as an adjectiveSeveral of us are ready – “several” works as a noun Both crocodiles just yawned. – “both” works as an adjectiveI know both of them from camp. – “both” works as a noun

Find the pronouns and identify how they work as either a noun or adjective

Few knew of the many different options on their menu.

Few knew of the many different options on their menu.

“few” is a pronoun working as a noun

“many” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing

“options”

“their” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing “menu.”

There is one last group of pronouns for now; they are called demonstrative pronouns

this, that, these, and those

this, that, these, and those

These pronouns can work as nouns or as adjectives. For example

This table is made of oak. – “This” works as an adjective describing “table.”This is a perfect example – “This” works as a noun.That is a nice looking car. -- “That” works as a noun.I saw that movie last week – “that” works as an adjective describing “movie”


Several offered her their seats for that concert.

Several offered her their seats for that concert.

“several” is a pronoun working as a noun

“her” is a pronoun working as a noun

“their” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing “seats”

“that” is a pronoun working as an adjective describing “concert”


Does anyone want any of these books on this table?

Does anyone want any of these books on this table?“anyone” is an OBEE-1 pronoun and always works as a noun“any” is from the SAMAN pronouns and works as a noun in this

sentence“these” is a demonstrative pronoun working as an adjective in this

sentence describing “books”

Find the pronouns and identify how they work as either a noun or adjective.

Several suggestions from some of the students caused a revision of this organization’s charter.

Several suggestions from each of the students caused a revision of this organization’s charter.

“several” is a pronoun from the “Many Seas Few Boats” pronouns and works here as an adjective describing “suggestions.”

“each” is a pronoun from the OBEE-1 group and here it works asa noun.

“this” is a demonstrative pronoun and in this sentence works as an adjective describing “charter.”


She gave most of the players an additional question.


At that time no one knew about this.

She gave most of the players one additional question.

“she” is a personal pronoun that always works as a noun.“most” is a pronoun from the SAMAN group that here works as

a noun

At that time no one knew about this.

“that” is a demonstrative pronoun working as an adjective describing “time” in this sentence

“no one” is a pronoun from the OBEE-1 group that always works as a noun

“this” is a demonstrative pronoun that works as a noun in this sentence.

Last one –

Our journey provided many challenges to each of us.

Our journey provided many challenges to each of us.

“our” is a personal pronoun working as an adjective describing “journey”

“many” is a pronoun from the “Many Seas Few Boats” group and

works here as an adjective describing “challenges.”

“each” is a pronoun from the OBEE-1 one group and works here as a

noun

“us” is a personal pronoun that always works as a noun

There are still more pronouns to learn; to learn those, you will need to go on to Level 2, where there will be additional practice with the pronouns that you have seen here. The good news is that there are not many more new pronouns to learn.

locating pronouns level one we recommend that you have reviewed the “nouns” and “adjectives”...

Documents