Kinds of Pronouns - 6th Grade Grammar
Kinds of Pronouns
A subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they) is the subject of a sentence:
He runs every morning.
He runs every morning.
Gabriella and I organized the book drive.
They also made posters to announce the book drive.
We asked each student in our school to donate one book.
An object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them) is the object of a verb or a preposition:
Mr. Coleman will bring them.
Mr. Coleman will bring them.
The class helped us decorate bins to collect the books.
A reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) is an object that is the same as the subject of the sentence:
Milan made herself lunch.
Milan made herself lunch.
An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent but does not act as an object:
Ivy herself drew the picture.
Ivy herself drew the picture.
Uses of Subject and Object Pronouns
Use the subjective case, I, you, he, she, we and they, for pronouns that follow a linking verb, including forms of be. Subject pronouns are in the subjective case.
The last to arrive was I.
The last to arrive was I.
We had a sixth-grade field day at school, with awards for the winners.
The person who handed out the awards was I.
He won the top award for winning three races.
The second place winner was she.
Use the objective case, me, you, him, her, us, them, for pronouns that are direct and indirect objects and objects of a preposition. Object pronouns are in the objective case.
Andrew gave him the pen.
I handed him the award.
He thanked me for it.
I recognized her for jumping the farthest.
Proper Use of Pronouns
Use a subject pronoun when the pronoun is the subject of a sentence or clause; use an object pronoun when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Use the correct form of a reflexive pronoun: himself, not hisself; ourselves, not ourself; themselves, not themself or theirself.
Use a reflexive pronoun only when it refers to an antecedent.
Keith made himself lunch.
<->
FAQs
1. What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word used to replace a noun in a sentence. It helps avoid repetition and makes sentences more concise. For example, instead of saying "Mary went to the store," we can say "She went to the store," where "she" is the pronoun replacing "Mary."
2. What are personal pronouns?
Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They can be singular or plural and change based on their role in the sentence. The most common personal pronouns are "I," "you," "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they."
3. Can you explain possessive pronouns?
Possessive pronouns show ownership or possession. They replace possessive adjectives and demonstrate who owns something. Common possessive pronouns include "mine," "yours," "his," "hers," "its," "ours," and "theirs."
4. What are reflexive pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person or thing. They end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural). Examples include "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves."
5. What do demonstrative pronouns do?
Demonstrative pronouns point out specific things or people. They include "this," "that," "these," and "those." For instance, "This is my book," or "Those are their toys."
6. How do relative pronouns work?
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses that give more information about a noun. Common relative pronouns include "who," "whom," "whose," "which," and "that." For example, "The boy who won the race is my friend."
7. What are indefinite pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things. Examples include "everyone," "someone," "anything," "nothing," "anybody," "everybody," "something," "nobody," and "all." For instance, "Everyone is invited to the party."
8. Can you clarify interrogative pronouns?
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. Common ones include "who," "whom," "whose," "what," and "which." For example, "Whose book is this?" or "Which color do you prefer?"
9. Are there possessive pronouns for inanimate objects?
Yes, possessive pronouns like "its" and "whose" can be used for inanimate objects. For example, "The dog wagged its tail" or "I found a lost backpack; I wonder whose it is."
10. How can I remember all the different kinds of pronouns?
To remember the kinds of pronouns, create a mnemonic or use flashcards. Practice writing sentences using different pronouns and identifying their types. Online grammar quizzes can also be helpful for reinforcement.
Resources
- "Warriner's Handbook: Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Sentences" by John E. Warriner: This book is a comprehensive grammar handbook widely used in schools to teach various grammar topics, including pronouns.
- "Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence-Composing Approach" by Don Killgallon and Jenny Killgallon: This book is tailored for middle school students and offers engaging grammar lessons, including pronouns and their different types.
- English Grammar Websites: a. Education.com: Provides educational resources for students of all ages, including grammar lessons and worksheets for 6th graders. b. Grammarly Handbook: The Grammarly website offers a dedicated section for grammar rules and explanations, suitable for middle school students.