http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aPronounsSearch results for 'tag:Pronouns' matching tag 'Pronouns'en-USXMOD (Build: 3615.29165)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IHaveAQuestion/lqbrn/post.htm#997643Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:57:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997643cliveHi, The person whose job it is to process new applications is Jay Kim, the human resources manager. Is this a correct sentence? Yes. I have a trouble interpreting the phrase "whose job it is to process new applications" .. 'whose job' is the Subject of this small phrase and "is" is the verb.. then, what is the pronoun "it" doing here? Let me try to explain it this way. 'It' here serves the same function as 'it' in 'It is his job to process new applications'. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/IHaveAQuestion/lqbrn/post.htmTue, 24 Nov 2009 04:51:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997641bn77The person whose job it is to process new applications is Jay Kim, the human resources manager. Is this a correct sentence? I have a trouble interpreting the phrase "whose job it is to process new applications" .. 'whose job' is the Subject of this small phrase and "is" is the verb.. then, what is the pronoun "it" doing here?http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfThatAsAdverb/lpnzm/post.htm#997375Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:09:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997375cool breezeWhat do you think of this rewording: - That we can't afford it is the simple reason we aren't going. It occurs in informal speech, as you know. In no way does it change the grammatical nature of that, of course. I cannot think of relative that occurring in initial position. Relative that is possible only in restrictive relative clauses: This is the book that I bought. He told me something that happened yesterday. I read some of the books that he told me about. Very few people would say: That I bought this is the book. That happened yesterday he told me. (Possible, but that is a demonstrative pronoun, at least in Helsinki! ) That he told me about I read some of the books. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfThatAsAdverb/2/lpnzm/Post.htm#997182Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:40:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997182califjimThat is a conjunction in the second sentence, not a relative pronoun! I agree. More specifically I'd call it a complementizer. It makes the clause we can't afford it subordinate. In any case, that has no antecedent in the preceding text even though reason certainly seems to be a good candidate. that we can't afford it is a "content clause" in apposition to reason . Similarly, ... the fact that we can't afford it or ... the claim that we can't afford it. Contrast the reason that we gave as an explanation . CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfThatAsAdverb/lpnzm/post.htm#996799Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:09:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996799cool breezeI remember the day that he came. We aren’t going for the simple reason that we can’t afford it. Is 'that' used as an adverb in the above sentences ? In the first sentence that is indeed adverbial in character, which is obvious if we replace it with when: I remember the day when he came. You can also argue that that is a relative pronoun. If it is, then a preposition could be used with it and it would be interchangeable with whic h since the relative clause is restrictive: I remember the day he came on . I'll leave it to native speakers to pass judgement on the naturalness of this sentence. It is definitely grammatical, though. In your second sentence that doesn't resemble an adverb so much even though it is...http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfThatAsAdverb/lpnzm/post.htm#996629Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:56:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996629yankeeI remember the day that he came. We aren’t going for the simple reason that we can’t afford it. Why do you think "that" might be an adverb in those two sentences, Debpriya De? The word "that" is very often used as a relative pronoun, and that is what it is in your sentences. It refers back to a noun and introduces a relative clause. The word "that" refers to "day" in your first sentence, and to the word "reason" in your second sentence. Using "that" as an adverb is a very limited/specialized sort of usage. Look again at the examples I posted earlier. In my sentences, the word "that" modifies the adjective or adverb that comes after it and the meaning is similar...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Apostrophes/lpmhx/post.htm#996040Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:23:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996040aman_2580Hi, 'Its' is a pronoun where as 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is'. The first line is correct. The defence is just doing its job.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HasOrHave/lpjxv/post.htm#995429Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:38:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:995429buddhaheartThe 2 nd one is correct. The 2 nd main verb “has” in the subordinate clause must agree with the relative pronoun “who” in number (singular in this case) and person (3 rd person in this case).http://www.englishforums.com/English/BeThat/lpwkv/post.htm#995129Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:40:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:995129delmobileRight after I posted I thought about the children's story "Jack and the Beanstalk," in which the giant is heard to say, Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman! Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. So yes, I think any subjective pronoun can be put into that slot. I wish someone more expert than I would comment here about exactly how archaic this form now is, if certain phrases have been "frozen," or whatever.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsTheMeaningOfWhat/lpwbn/post.htm#994886Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:47:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994886gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, you'd better specify your question, as listing every possible meaning of 'what' will be of little help. Here are some of the most common meanings: 1. Interrogative pronoun - asking for information specifying something: What is your name?; - asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood: what? I can't hear you ; 2. Relative pronoun - the thing or things that (used in specifying something): what we need is a commitment ; 3. Interrogative determiner - asking for information specifying something: What time it is?; 4. Relative determiner - (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever: he had been robbed of what little money he had ; 5. Interrogative...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WithinMinutes/lpvmc/post.htm#993995Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:40:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993995philipI think the pronoun 'they' is appropriate here because its antecedent is so far removed and separated by phrases separated by commas.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrWhoWithInfinitive/lpbzh/post.htm#993230Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:23:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993230cool breezeI know where to go. (same sentence - no case conflict) I'm as comfortable saying that "where" is what I know and "to go" answers the question; as I am to say that "to go" is what I know and "where" modifies it. "To go" isn't a transitive verb. Why does it have to have an object anyway? Why is "where" such a great direct object? Have an Olvi, Avangi! I have noticed over the years that the grammar I am familiar with sometimes differs from what is used elsewhere or at least in the Anglo-Saxon world. In this particular case our opinions differ with regard to what is an object and what isn't. I'm not saying that I'm right and everybody else is wrong but...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsCorrect/lpcgj/post.htm#993146Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:41:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993146grammar geekWhich statement is correct? Sarah and I are going shopping. Sarah and me are going shopping Would you say "Me is going shopping"? Use the pronoun you would use if Sarah doesn't come.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GrammarPunctuationEvaluation/lpcdl/post.htm#993083Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:14:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993083grammar geekSend me a copy. It doesn't matter if your wife gets one or not. It won't change the pronoun. And PLEASE, don't change it to "Send a copy to my wife and myself." That's even worse! (But alas, so common.) "Me" is a perfectly fine word that has been eschewed lately.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrWhoWithInfinitive/lpbzh/post.htm#992986Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:08:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992986cool breezeI wouldn't hesitate to use who even in serious writing simply because it is so common. From a strictly grammatical point of view, whom will please those who insist on the object form when the pronoun is an object. It is the object of the infinitive to believe. (It is that in the grammatical thinking and terminology I am used to, that is! ) CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoInquiriesIntransitiveTransitive-ProblemRelativePronounPos/lxkrh/post.htm#992303Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:37:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992303gleb_chebrikoffHello, Chris, this clause would be an adjective clause , right? in fact, one should distinguish between relative clauses and adjective clauses , which are more precisely termed supplementive adjective clauses and represent only a special case of verbless clauses , as in The man, quietly assertive , spoke to the assembled workers. I wouldn't fault your explanation of the placing of the relative clause, though I suppose that it rests upon the unconsciously existing presupposition about what is 'given' and what is 'new'. By way of pure hypothesis, we can make up the following dialogue unfolding between two neighbours in a fictitious neighbourhood teeming with celebrities: - Who is the lady over there? - The...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoInquiriesIntransitiveTransitive-ProblemRelativePronounPos/lxkrh/post.htm#992258Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:30:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992258minofachinoGleb Chebrikoff, thank you for your response. It's really informative and interesting--I agree with your analysis of "tell." 3. (d; intr., tr.) ('to inform') to — about, of (he didn't want to — about the incident; — me about the game; she told everyone of her success) The definition from your combinatory dictionary works, but it still has that controversial element because switching in "to inform" (I'm going to inform about Ichiro Suzki) doesn't sound...well, sound--it's similar to the issues of substituting "to notify." Additionally, I feel like "tell" brings with it a sense of urgency, importance, mystery, sternness (when used to discipline) or secrecy, which...http://www.englishforums.com/English/InWhichCase/lxnzd/post.htm#992108Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:02:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992108cool breezeThe sentence is very awkward in my opinion. Which is a relative pronoun. The underlined phrase refers to the "that" clause. I would say: I know that it fell and that's why / therefore / consequently it has to be taken to a vet. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoInquiriesIntransitiveTransitive-ProblemRelativePronounPos/lxkrh/post.htm#990842Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:26:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990842gleb_chebrikoffGood evening, Chris, these are thought-provoking questions you have asked, and here is my opinion backed up by data from authoritative sources. 1. The possibility of tell filling the slot of talk in the example sentence seems questionable at first glance, and rightly so. Out of sixteen meanings of tell half of them are purely transitive (monotransitive or ditransitive); the other half may be used intransitively, but with implications such as to serve as an indication ( Her blush told of her embarrassment ) or to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain ( Every step told on his bruised feet ), etc, which, in all honesty, have little to do with the meaning suggested in your example. There is, however, one point which almost exactly...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectUseOfPronoun/lxkwv/post.htm#990700Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:51:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990700grammar geekPS: I'd hyphenate hand-in-hand.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectUseOfPronoun/lxkwv/post.htm#990696Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:47:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990696philipYes, as long as we know who 'she' refers to.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Terminology/lxkmp/post.htmTue, 17 Nov 2009 14:38:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990622yaggy74Could someone please check I have the right terminology for these words I will list first the terminology I have to use, then I will write the words and the terminology I think it is in red next to each word. Most of them are simple enough but there are one or two I am struggling with. I have 4 short sentences below. Many thanks for your help and assistance it is much appreciated. 1. Adjectives 2. Adverbs 3. Auxiliary verbs 4. Cardinal numbers 5. Conjunctions 6. Definate article 7. Indefinate article 8. Main verbs 9. Concrete nouns 10. Prepositions 11. Pronouns 12. Proper nouns When - (conjunction) the - (definate article) phone - (proper noun ) rang, - (main verb) I - (pronoun) was -...http://www.englishforums.com/English/EnglishTenses/lgmrc/post.htm#990412Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:34:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990412snowman73English presents a number of issues to non-native (and sometimes native) speakers. It is grammatically unlike other languages, even those from which it has borrowed large vocabulary groups, and possesses a number of irregularities. Understanding these features of English may help the non-native speaker grasp the language and help native speakers see why learning English can be so difficult. 1. One problem with learning English is that is not directly related to many languages. The two closest are Scots and Frisian, but even these are not, for the most part, mutually intelligible with English. One of the things that makes learning a new language easier is already speaking a related language, and very few people speak...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoInquiriesIntransitiveTransitive-ProblemRelativePronounPos/lxkrh/post.htmTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:30:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:990410minofachinoAfter talking it out with some fellow teachers and looking some terms up...we're still a little unsure about our conclusions. Any clarifications would be greatly appreciated! "I'm going to talk about Ichiro Suzuki." (Starting out a speech). When I substitute "speak" for "talk"--it works pretty good (I'm going to speak about Ichiro Suzuki). When I use "tell" it sounds really weird to me (I'm going to tell about Ichiro Suzuki). I feel like I need an object or something with "tell"--"I'm going to tell you about Ichiro Suzuki." Is this because "speak" and "talk" are generally more intransitive? Even if this is the case, "tell" can...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sentence/lnjzv/post.htm#985312Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:45:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:985312gleb_chebrikoffGreetings, Rajivme, one possible correction could be He enjoys gifting me with pens so much that he gives them to me every time we meet. (In this sentence, the repetition of the verb 'gift' and the pronoun 'me' is avoided; the conjunction is also inserted) Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#984867Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:25:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:984867cute572Thank you so much Guys for such informative answers. It was really helpfulhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SequenceAntecedentsPronouns/lmhcd/post.htm#979771Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:21:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:979771cliveHi, Both are fine, although the #1 form is more common. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfPronoun/llrmq/post.htm#972999Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:45:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972999mister micawber1. You both have good grades. Also why do we use 'I' in the middle of the sentence, shouldnt' it be 'me'?- The position is irrelevant; 'I' is the subject pronoun and 'me' is the object pronoun, wherever they might appear. 2. Charles took Richard and me to the party.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectPronounUsage/llrjz/post.htmMon, 16 Nov 2009 07:03:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972932mamabrendaEvery Girl Scout met their/her own fundraising goal. Or All the Girls Scouts met her own funraising goal. One tragic effect of Hurricane Katrina was/were massive flooding Politics are/were/is my least favorite conversation Correct Subject Verb Agreement on this one I am confusedhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsAboutPastConstruction/2/lkmkx/Post.htm#972858Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972858gleb_chebrikoffNormal 0 false false false RU X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Hello, Raja, It goes without saying that there is no blame in being a non-native speaker and a layperson in linguistic science, so you should not be troubled by that fact. What concerns me, my friend, is that you persist in advancing a number of terms and probably self-made rules which are fallacious at their very core, since they contain controversial and largely scholastic judgements about the language on a purely theoretical level (as opposed to the practical sinchronical level, with which the present forum is mostly concerned). However, let me begin from the beginning. ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#972789Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:08:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972789grammar geekTo add additional information to Avangi's post, if I saw "its exam... two separate room" I would think the entire class took the first part of the exam in one room and the second part in another room. If I say "their exams ... two separate rooms" I would think of the class as many individuals, and some of them took their exam in one room while some took it in another.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#972787Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:06:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972787cliveHi, A very minor comment that you don't need to use a capital letter for the word 'class'. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrThat/lkqlx/post.htm#972718Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:18:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972718gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, when the antecedent ( others ) is personal and the pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, who is favoured, irrespective of the style and the occasion, although there is nothing wrong or odd about using that. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#972592Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:25:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972592avangiThe Class took their examinations in two separ a te rooms. The Class took its examinations in two separ a te rooms. There's nothing wrong grammatically with either version, but in terms of communication, the plural "examinations" makes your task more difficult. Perhaps there were two consecutive sittings, and the class was not actually divided. Several interpretations are possible. It could be a single exam with multiple parts, and you want to express that each member of the class has one. If you're the author, and you wish to make yourself clear, you might find a better way to put it. (Hopefully, it's just something you read, which raised your curiosity.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PlsWriteSalaryIncrementLetter/2/znhcl/Post.htm#972444Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:50:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972444cliveHi, This is a very good letter. You need to add capital letters at the start of each sentence, and for the pronoun 'I'. Here are a few edits. Good luck with the increase, Clive dear sir , i appreciate the opportunity i have had during the last 3 years working as electrical foreman. this past year has been an especially challenging part of my work , but my accomplishment s have continued to build on my earlier achievement s , and i have high expectations for this succes s to continue for the foreseeable future. here are some highlights of how i have helped the company in the past year: 1 2 3 i look forward to continuing to play a key role within the company and, given all of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheInversionQuestionsQuestionWord-Questions/lkxxv/post.htm#972387Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:33:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972387cool breezeDo/does/did is not used in questions 1. with forms of to be : Is he happy? Were they swimming? 2. with perfect and past perfect auxiliaries : Have you seen him? Had it already begun? 3. sometimes with have/has/had when the verb is in the presnt tense, in other words, the finite verb: Have you money? This usage seems to be slowly disappearing and is seldom used these days, especially in AmE. It's far more common to say: Have you got money? / Do you have money? If have does not mean "to possess", do/does/did must always be used: Did you have your house painted? Why does he have to go there? 4. If an interrogative pronoun is the subject or a part of the subject of a clause, do/does/did is not used: What...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntecedentOfPronoun/lkxlq/post.htm#972300Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:42:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972300yankeeRight, "Edward" is not the antecedent of "that". Keep in mind that the word "that" is not used as a demonstrative pronoun in the sentence. It is used as a relative pronoun.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#972214Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:54:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972214gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, both a correct, but the first option is generally more common among British English speakers. The choice of the pronoun largely depends on your intention: if you wish to speak of a class as a number of individuals, you should resort to a plural pronoun, but if you want to mention a class as a single unit as such, your choice is a singular pronoun. The same applies to some other collective nouns: The committee hasn't reached a decision yet. - Implication: a single unit as part of parliament, etc. The committee haven't reached a decision yet. = The members of the committee... Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htmSun, 15 Nov 2009 13:30:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972190cute572The Class took their examinations in two separete rooms. Or The Class took its examinations in two separete rooms. Which one is correct? In my opinion first one seemed to be correct. But then read somewhere that class is a collective noun and should be treated as one unit so we use singular pronoun. Do clear this point and tell me the right pronoun to be used. Thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntecedentOfPronoun/lkxlq/post.htm#972177Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:11:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972177cute572Thank you so much for replying my question Mr Yankee ! Refers back to report... is this means that "report" would be the antecedent of relative pronoun of "that" and not Edward? as i never come accorss yet with two antecedent in the same sentence, so thats why asking thoroghly. Thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntecedentOfPronoun/lkxlq/post.htm#972164Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:53:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972164yankeeHi Cute572 The word "that" is a relative pronoun in your sentence. It refers back to "report" and it introduces a defining relative clause . The word "he" is the subject of the clause.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntecedentOfPronoun/lkxlq/post.htmSun, 15 Nov 2009 11:30:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972110cute572Hi Guys! I have a problem understanding antecedent of pronouns. In my knowledge the antecedent like pronoun is used in place of noun. In a sentence besides of repeating subject name again and again we use pronoun instead, and this noun is the antecedent of pronoun. Thats all I get from my text book. However one example confuses me here: In this sentence: "Although Edward was concerned, the report that he wrote was overwhelmingly approved". Here surely subject Edward is the antecedent of pronoun He. However, "That" is also a pronoun (demostrative pronoun), so where is its antecedent? Is the report is it's antecedent as report is a noun? Guys help me out here! Thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsAboutPastConstruction/lkmkx/post.htm#971766Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:10:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971766therajaHello Gleb, Thank you, again, for your answer! Let me say from the outset, that I am neither a native speaker, nor an expert in linguistics, but nonetheless interested, so please forgive me that I am not as well-versed as far as technical terms are concerned as you seem to be. Thus, I very much appreciate your remarks and corrections with regard to my admittedly willy-nilly and somewhat idiosyncratic choice of terms as well as the clarifications to which I now wish to turn. ad 1) I did, in fact, think of cases where the emphatic do is used, but I chose not to mention them, for as this term already indicates, it didn't seem relevant for my question, as the 'do' in such cases obviously has a different function than to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsAboutPastConstruction/lkmkx/post.htm#971669Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:01:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971669gleb_chebrikoffRaja, let me make a number of essential clarifications: 1. ' Hence , that the 'do'-construction in "Who went to the park?" is not possible or at least less preferable (which of the two is it in your opinion?) in "Who went to the park?"' - under neutral circumstances, the do-support would be impossible, but, in some exceptional cases, we may resort to using it in a context like: Tom, , and Harry intended to go to the park. - Yes, but who DID go to the park? in which case 'did' should carry the logical stress of the sentence (this is referred to as 'emphatic do'). 2. 'who', in this case, serves as a subject or, to put it differently, is an interrogative...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsAboutPastConstruction/lkmkx/post.htm#971587Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:11:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971587therajaThanks, Avangi and Gleb! 'Who' and 'what', as interrogative pronouns, can serve as subjects, I agree. That's what I meant when I said that they take the subjective case (other than 'when', 'where', etc., those only seem to specify the kind of question at hand). Or, as Gleb has put it, in using an interrogative pronoun you ask for the subject of the action. Of course, 'who(m)' can serve as object, too, and then the 'do'-construction is possible: "Whom did you see yesterday?" Hence , that the 'do'-construction in "Who went to the park?" is not possible or at least less preferable (which of the two is it in your opinion?) in "Who went to the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Pronouns/lkmxz/post.htm#971584Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:10:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971584gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, in your sentence, none is an indefinite negative pronoun. As it is followed by an of -phrase, it is sometimes called an of -pronoun. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsAboutPastConstruction/lkmkx/post.htm#971536Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:47:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971536avangiThat's a lot of stuff. I haven't digested it all. One observation: "Who" and "what" are pronouns and can serve as subjects. Therefore, it's possible to invert to question order without involving the "do." I can't ask, "Where went you?" "When slept you?" "Why stopped you?" (Unless it's a poem.) But I can ask, "Who spoke?" "What happened?" << Objection : As far as I can see, all other interrogative words take the did-construction, e.g.: >> Who did this dastardly deed?? Hmmm, no "you." Who told you I was married?? Hmmm, no "did." The problem now is that "who" is...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PronounTagQuestion/lklbm/post.htm#971085Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:10:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971085califjimAnd this is ... it? But changing this to she : And she is ... she? CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PronounTagQuestion/lklbm/post.htmSat, 14 Nov 2009 07:48:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971069sitifanAnd this is your mother, is ___? Which pronoun goes into the above blank, she or it?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Adjectives/lkwbv/post.htm#970507Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:970507billjI think the original post was referring to possessives in general, not just 'him'. Trad grams called my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their possessive adjectives . However, in many modern grammars they came to be called possessive pronouns, which strictly speaking is incorrect because they do not function as pronouns at all (they don't replace nouns or noun phrases and cannot occur independently), though he is a special case because it can act as both: his bike (poss adj), this bike is his (poss. pronoun). More recently, they've been reclassified as determiners in the noun phrase, which perhaps makes most sense of all. Personally, I like the term 'possessive determiner' , which sets them...