Pronouns Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns They are generally used when it would not make sense to repeat a noun over and over again Example With Nouns Aunt Jenny was late because Aunt Jenny had waited for Aunt Jenny s computer technician Example With Pronouns Aunt Jenny was later because she had waited for her computer technician 1 Key Concept A pronoun is a word that takes place of one or more words acting as a noun Example My father opened his files first 2 A pronoun can also take the place of a noun used in an earlier sentence Example My father opened his email first He couldn t wait any longer 3 A pronoun may take the place of an entire group of words Example Trying to make the team us hard work It takes hours of practice everyday 4 Key Concept An antecedent is the noun for which a pronoun stands The Latin prefix ante means before and most antecedents do come before the pronouns that take their place Example My father opened his mail first 5 Sometimes an antecedent will come AFTER the pronoun Example Although he was known as an expert software developer Darryl enjoyed selling computers 6 Occasionally a pronoun will have no definite antecedent Example Who will represent the class Everything was lost in the flood 7 Key Concept Personal pronouns refer to the person speaking spoken to and spoken about Personal Pronouns Singular Plural FIRST PERSON I me my mine FIRST PERSON We us our ours SECOND PERSON You your s SECOND PERSON You your s THIRD PERSON He him his masculine she her hers feminine it its Neutral THIRD PERSON They them their theirs 8 First person pronouns are used by the person or people speaking to refer to himself herself or themselves Example I waited for my computer to boot up 9 Second person pronouns are used to speak directly to another person or people Example Sheila you left your computer on 10 Third person pronouns refer to someone or something that may not even be present Example I haven t seen my grandfather in a year he will arrive tomorrow 11 Key Concept A demonstrative pronoun points out a specific person place or think Demonstrative Pronouns Singular Plural This These That Those