Richbaub's Introduction to Middle School Grammar Book 1
middle school grammar book, grammar workbook middle school grammar book, grammar workbook
1.5 – Indefinite, Demonstrative, & Reflexive Pronouns A. Indefinite Pronouns – They’re called indefinite because it’s not definite who, what, or how many things you’re talking about when you use them. B. Everyone, nothing, and somebody are all indefinite pronouns. In fact, all the words ending in one, thing, and body are indefinite pronouns. Agreement, a topic you’ll study when you’re older, involves rules with indefinite pronouns… C. Other indefinite pronouns include: few several both either neither any all other many some most more none much one no one D. For your information, indefinite pronouns can sometimes switch to being adjectives (a kind of descriptive word): In the following sentence, some is the object of a preposition and a pronoun: (To some,) boxing is a barbaric sport. This next sentence also includes some, but it describes the word people and is therefore a descriptive word (adjective) and not a pronoun. Boxing is the greatest sport in the world (to some people.) In the following sentence, all is the object of a preposition and a pronoun: The Constitution promises life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (for all.) Below, all describes the word insects and is therefore a descriptive word (adjective), not a pronoun. My mom is terribly frightened (by all insects.) Do you see how the part of speech of a word depends on how it is used? RICHBAUB’S INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GRAMMAR, BOOK 1 27
E. Demonstrative Pronouns – The pronouns used when you point to something: this, that, these, and those. These words can also be adjectives, depending on how they’re used. English teachers don’t like it when you use demonstrative pronouns in essay conclusions… “That is why…” “This is why...” “Those are the reasons...” Aargh! For example: In the following sentence, these is the object of a preposition—it’s not a descriptive word; it’s a pronoun being used in place of the names of all of the things being referred to: I want you to make room (for these.) In the sentence below, these describes something, so it’s functioning as an adjective: Yesterday I ate a box (of these cookies) for dessert. F. Reflexive Pronouns – Words ending in “self” and “selves” are reflexive pronouns: myself, yourself, himself, ourselves, themselves, etc. Words like “hisself,” “theirselves,” “themself,” etc. are NOT real words! 28 RICHBAUB’S INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GRAMMAR, BOOK 1
- Page 2 and 3: Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 - GETTI
- Page 4: 5.3 - Locating Subjects in Sentence
- Page 7 and 8: 2. Learn by Letter Groups - Work to
- Page 9 and 10: Now study the prepositions from the
- Page 11 and 12: Exercise 1 Write your own prepositi
- Page 13 and 14: D. Sometimes a word from the prepos
- Page 15 and 16: Multiple Objects of Prepositions &
- Page 17 and 18: Extra Practice for Evaluation 2 Par
- Page 19 and 20: Exercise 4 Part 1: Using prepositio
- Page 21 and 22: Pronoun Basics A. Pronouns are a cl
- Page 23 and 24: 1.4 - Personal Pronoun Usage in Pre
- Page 25 and 26: Exercise 5 You will need to use Per
- Page 27: 18. “He’s wrapped up in this ga
- Page 31 and 32: Extra Practice for Evaluation 4 Par
- Page 33 and 34: 1.6 - Comma Usage with Introductory
- Page 35 and 36: Extra Practice for Evaluation 5 Par
1.5 – Indefinite, Demonstrative, & Reflexive Pronouns<br />
A. Indefinite Pronouns – They’re called indefinite because it’s not definite who, what, or<br />
how many things you’re talking about when you use them.<br />
B. Everyone, nothing, and somebody are all indefinite pronouns.<br />
In fact, all the words ending in one, thing, and body are<br />
indefinite pronouns.<br />
Agreement, a <strong>to</strong>pic<br />
you’ll study when<br />
you’re older,<br />
involves rules with<br />
indefinite<br />
pronouns…<br />
C. Other indefinite pronouns include:<br />
few<br />
several<br />
both<br />
either<br />
neither<br />
any<br />
all<br />
other<br />
many<br />
some<br />
most<br />
more<br />
none<br />
much<br />
one<br />
no one<br />
D. For your information, indefinite pronouns can sometimes<br />
switch <strong>to</strong> being adjectives (a kind of descriptive word):<br />
In the following sentence, some is the object of a preposition and a pronoun:<br />
(To some,) boxing is a barbaric sport.<br />
This next sentence also includes some, but it describes the word people and is therefore a<br />
descriptive word (adjective) and not a pronoun.<br />
Boxing is the greatest sport in the world (<strong>to</strong> some people.)<br />
In the following sentence, all is the object of a preposition and a pronoun:<br />
The Constitution promises life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (for all.)<br />
Below, all describes the word insects and is therefore a descriptive word (adjective), not a<br />
pronoun.<br />
My mom is terribly frightened (by all insects.)<br />
Do you see how the part of speech of a word depends on how it is used?<br />
RICHBAUB’S INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GRAMMAR, BOOK 1<br />
27
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