USE OF PRONOUNS

PRONOUNS ARE OF FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES.

USE OF PRONOUNS

ACTIVE PRONOUN PASSIVE PRONOUN POSSESSIVE PRONOUN REFLEXIVE PRONOUN

PRONOUN CHARTACTIVE PASSIVE POSSESSIVE REFLEXIVE

I ME MY/MINE MYSELFWE US OUR OURSELVESYOU YOU YOUR YOURSELFHE HIM HIS HIMSELF

SHE HER HER HERSELFTHEY THEM THEIR THEMSELVESONE ONE ONE’S ONESELF

THOU THEE THY/THINE THYSELF

EXAMPLES One should take care of his personal matters.

(incorrect) One should take care of one’s personal matters.

(correct) They tried to help us with our own way. (incorrect) They tried to help us with their own way. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUN

IN ONE SENTENCE WE HAVE ONE ACTIVE PRONOUN OR THE SUBJECT AND OWN PASSIVE PRONOUN OR THE OBJECT. IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TWO SUBJECTS OR TWO OBJECTS CAN NOT BE USED.

EXAMPLES You showed a lot of sympathy to he and I. (incorrect) You showed a lot of sympathy to him and me. (correct) You and me can complete this project easily. (incorrect) You and I can complete this project easily. (correct) The flowers were plucked by they from the garden. (incorrect) The flowers were plucked by them from the garden. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

IN COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS BOTH THE SUBJECT AND OBJECT ARE IN ACTIVE STATE.

EXAMPLES You are stronger and more skilled than him. (incorrect) You are stronger and more skilled than he is. (correct) Their musical system is more powerful and more effective

than us. (incorrect) Their musical system is more powerful and more effective

than our system. (correct)(Comparison should also be logical.)

USE OF PRONOUNS We always use passive pronouns with “let”. Let you and I find a new plan to get a good result.

(incorrect) Let you and me find a new plan to get a good result.

(correct) Let we be given another chance. (incorrect) Let us be given another chance. (correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR PRONOUNS

In a sentence with positive ideas and good intentions we always follow the formula, 2nd person, 3rd person and 1st person. e.g.

You, he and i were showing good result. (correct) He, you and i can tackle this situation quite easily. (incorrect) You, he and i can tackle this situation quite easily. (correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR PRONOUNS

In case of two pronouns coming together the following arrangements are used:

You and I. You and he. He and I. I and you have done the work with dedication and honesty.

(incorrect) You and I have done the work with dedication and honesty.

(correct)

PLACEMENT OF THE SINGULAR PRONOUNS

In a sentence with negative ideas and bad intentions we always follow the formula, 1st person, 3rd person and 2nd person. e.g.

You, he and I were arrested by the police on the charges of fraud and deception. (incorrect)

I, he and you were arrested by the police on the charges of fraud and deception. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUN

USE EITHER OR NEITHER TO REFER TO ONE OR TO THE OTHER OF TWO; ANY OR NONE REFER TO ONE MORE

THAN TWO.

USE OF NOUNS

NOUNS CAN COME IN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE POSITIONS.

EXAMPLES I met any of the two boys. (incorrect) I met either of the two boys. (correct) Neither of the five boys can do it properly. (incorrect) None of the five boys can do it properly. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

The following indefinite pronouns are always singular:ANYBODY, ANYONE, EACH, EVERY, NOBODY, EVERYONE, ANYTHING, SOMEBODY, EITHER, NEITHER, ONE, OTHER.

EXAMPLES

Neither of them did their homework. (incorrect) Neither of them did his homework. (correct) Nobody have paid attention to his work. (incorrect) Nobody has paid attention to his work. (correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS A PRONOUN PRECEDING A GERUND, OR SHOWING

POSSESSION IS ITS POSSESSIVE CASE. I like him reading poems at important ceremonies.

(incorrect) I like his reading poems at important ceremonies.

(correct) Fancy them deceiving us so early. (incorrect) Fancy their deceiving us so early.(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

Inanimate objects and abstract ideas, when personified, are used in masculine gender if they symbolize strength, cruelty, or abhorrence, feminine if they symbolize beauty, delicacy, elegance and charm.

EXAMPLES

The sun was shedding her rays with power and intensity. (incorrect)

The sun was shedding his rays with power and intensity. (correct)

The storm destroys its victims with speed and energy. (incorrect) The storm destroys his victims with speed and energy. (correct) Beauty has his own appeal and charm for the human eye.

(incorrect) Beauty has her own appeal and charm for the human eye.

(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

Following verbs take reflexive pronouns after them:AVAIL, ACQUIT, APPLY, ABSENT, AVENGE, ENJOY, BETAKE, EXERT, OVERREACH, RESIGN.

EXAMPLES You should avail of the chance. (incorrect) You should avail yourself of the chance. (correct) He applied to work with sincerity and honesty. (incorrect) He applied himself to work with sincerity and honesty.

(correct) They absented from college deliberately. (incorrect) They absented themselves from college deliberately.

(correct)

USE OF PRONOUNS

Don’t use reflexive pronouns after these verbs:BATHE, BURST, DRAW, ENLIST, FEED, FORM, HIDE, KEEP, MAKE, MOVE, OPEN, QUALIFY, REST, ROLL, SET, STOP.

EXAMPLES We bathe ourselves every morning to remain fresh and

alert. (incorrect) We bathe every morning to remain fresh and alert.

(correct) Let them make themselves merry in the party. (incorrect) Let them make merry in the party. (correct)

CORRECT THE FOLLOWING

I, you and he went there to attend the meeting. Everybody must not waste their time in trivial things. The moon has his beauty to charm and inspire humans. He stopped himself from moving in the wrong direction. Whom do you think stood first in the examination this

year?