The Sunday News
Charles Dube
A PRONOUN is a word used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns. You can also define pronouns as words that can be used instead of nouns so you do not keep using the same words. It is better to use pronouns in your work rather than using the same nouns over and over again. Examiners hate it when you repeat yourself. But you can avoid this annoyance to the examiners by using pronouns. For example, look at the following examples:
John and Kate were born on the same day. This means John and Kate are twins. This could be improved to: John and Kate were born on the same day. This means they are twins. There is a pronoun that replaces the nouns John and Kate. Your writing sounds more natural when you use pronouns because you are not repeating yourself. Note that pronouns change depending on their function in a sentence.
If the pronoun is doing the action it is called the subject of the sentence. If the pronoun is receiving the action it is called the object. She helped him. “She” is doing and “him” is receiving. She helped me. “She” is doing and “me” is receiving. You must use “I”, “you”, “he/she/it”, “we” or “they”, if the pronoun is doing something in the sentence. Pronouns can also show possession. This book is mine. This is who owns the book.
Pronouns also change depending on the number of people. Pronouns change depending on how many people you are talking about. You need to know the different singular and plural pronouns. Use singular plurals if you are talking about one person or thing. Singular pronouns are as follows: I, you, he, she, and it. These fall under the doing (subject) category. “Me, you, him, her, and it are the receiving (object). In other words they receive the action from the subject.
The following singular pronouns show possession: my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers and its. Use “it” for things that are not people. The pronouns “you” and “it” are the same whether they are the subject or object of a sentence. “I” stands for the 1st person, “you” 2nd person and “he” is the 3rd person. Learn these as a number of learners get confused when asked to write essays in the 1st or 3rd person.
Laura won the race though she decried weak competition. There is one person, so you need a singular pronoun. Use plural pronouns to talk about two or more people or things. These are the plural pronouns: 1st person doing — we, receiving — us, possession our/ours. 2nd person doing — you, receiving — you, possession — your/yours. 3rd person doing — they, receiving — them, possession their/theirs.
Example: Freedom and Jack jointly own the house. It is theirs. There is more than one person, so you need a plural pronoun. Use the right pronoun for the situation. Avoid using too many pronouns as doing so will make your writing confusing for the reader. Example: He listened to him when he delivered his message to them. There are too many pronouns in this sentence — it is not clear what they refer to.
Do not use “me” when you mean “I”. If you are writing about yourself and someone else, the other person’s name always goes first — the “I” or “me” always comes second. If a pronoun is doing the action, you cannot use “me” — you need “I” instead. Sihle and me wrote the essay. This sentence is wrong. Break it up into two sentences and you will see why. Sihle wrote the essay. This sentence is correct. Me wrote the essay. You cannot say “me wrote”, but you can say “I wrote”.
This is how the sentence should be written. Sihle and I wrote the essay. If a pronoun is receiving the action (that is, it comes after the verb), do not use “I” — you need “me”. Give the gift to Nash and I. This is incorrect, but, Give the gift to Nash and me is correct. Remove “Nash and” from the sentence to check you have used the correct pronoun.
Give the gift to I. This is incorrect, but, Give the gift to me is correct. After “Between” or “With” you must use “Me” When you use prepositions like “between” or with” you have got to use “me” rather than “I”. Between you and I, this is wrong. This is incorrect. Between you and me this is wrong. This is correct. You cannot say, He came here with Jane and I, but it is correct to say: He came here with Jane and me.
What a long lesson on pronouns! Learn how to use them correctly. Do not cram them but learn how to use them properly. Underneath is a self-help exercise on words commonly confused, try it at home and you will have gained.
Distinguish between words often confused.
From the choices in parentheses, select the correct word for each of the following sentences:
1. These supplies will (complement, compliment) those that you already have.
2. What did you order for (dessert, desert)?
3. Why does he use such (course, coarse) language?
4. I do not enjoy parties conducted as (formally, formerly) as this one.
5. We are not sure which (course, coarse) to follow. Are you sure (its, it’s) not too late?
6. I worked last summer as a camp (councillor, counsellor).
7. He spoke to both the mayor and the superintendent and the (later, latter) was more helpful.
8. Last season, Albert (lead, led) the team to a championship.
9. Our (consul, counsel) in Egypt has returned to Moscow.
10. Are you sure (it, it’s) not too late.
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