Them for inanimate objects. English language - grammar - pronoun - personal pronouns. Reinforcement task

Demonstrative pronouns in English ( demonstrative pronouns / demonstrations) indicate a person, object, or their features. There are several demonstrative pronouns in English.

Now you know what demonstrative pronouns are in English. Next, we will consider cases where each of them is used.

Demonstrative pronouns this and these

This these- with plural nouns. These pronouns should be used in the following cases:

1. When we talk about people or things that are close to us. Sometimes in sentences with this and these adverb is used here(here), which also indicates the proximity of the subject to us.

This table is wooden. - This table wood. (the table is nearby and we point to it)

These books belong to me. - These books belong to me. (several books are next to me)

This girl is here and she is waiting for you. - This girl here and she is waiting for you.

2. When a situation occurs in the present or in the future, we describe this situation with this/these.

We are going to meet this week. - We're going to meet at this week.

This month you are making a great progress. - AT this month you are making great progress.

3. When we talk about the same thing several times and want to avoid repetition.

I don't want to discuss this but I have to. - I don't want this is discuss, but I must. (it is assumed that this event has already been called before, thus avoiding repetition)

look at this! He seems to be looking for his money. - Look at this is! He seems to be looking for his money. (the pronoun indicates the situation described in the second sentence)

This is the main goal in my life. - it main goal in my life.

4. When we introduce people or introduce ourselves in a telephone conversation.

Jim, these are my brothers, Tom and Carl. – Jim this is my brothers, Tom and Carl.

Hello! This is Kate speaking! Can I speak to Mary? - Hi. it Kate. Can I speak to Mary?

Demonstrative pronouns that and those

demonstrative pronoun that used with singular nouns, pronoun those- with plural nouns. Let's see when we can use demonstrative pronouns that and those:

1. When we talk about people or things that are far away from us. Sometimes in sentences with demonstrative pronouns that and those the adverb is used there(there).

I don't like this piece of cake. give me that one please. I don't like this piece of cake. Give me that, please. (a piece of cake that the speaker liked is further away from him)

Those ships are too far. I can't see their names. - Those ships too far. I don't see their names. (the indicated ships are at a distance from the speaker)

look at that! There's a camel. - Look there! Won there camel.

That's my future husband. - That- My future husband.

2. When we talk about a situation that took place in the past.

In those days people didn't have cars. - AT those times people didn't have cars.

We made only four kilometers that day. - AT that day we walked only four kilometers.

3. When we refer to some information that was mentioned earlier and want to avoid repetition. Usually we talk about the past action.
   

   She got married a month ago. That was wonderful! She got married a month ago. It was wonderful!

4. When we start a conversation on the phone and ask the interlocutor to introduce himself. The person on the other end of the wire is far away from us, so you need to use a demonstrative pronoun that.
   

   good morning! This is Brenda White. Who's that speaking? - Good morning! It's Brenda White! Who am I talking to?

The picture clearly shows how demonstrative pronouns work. this/that and these/those when indicating the proximity or remoteness of an object.

We also invite you to watch a video from the teacher Alex. It is interesting how a native speaker explains this topic.

Demonstrative pronouns such, the same, it

Other demonstrative pronouns in English include such(such, similar) same(same) and it(this is). Consider how they should be used in speech:

1. When the noun is in the singular, then together with the demonstrative pronoun such(such, similar) the indefinite article is used.
   

   It's such an important decision. - It such important decision.

   If the noun is plural, the article after the pronoun such(such, similar) no.

   Don't do such things! - don't do such of things!

2. demonstrative pronoun same(same / the same) is always used with the definite article. Nouns after same can be both singular and plural.

Underline the word with the same meaning, please. - Please underline the word the same meaning.

He chose the same movies as I did. - He chose the same films, and me too.

3. demonstrative pronoun it corresponds to the Russian pronoun "it".

– What is it? - What this is?
- It's my ring. - This is my ring.

Is it your passport? - it your passport?

Don't miss it! - Do not miss this is!

Difference between this and it

Many linguists say that there is little difference between it and this no. You will be understood anyway if you say This is a cat or It is a cat. But there is a difference, albeit a small one.

This is a cat. - It's a cat. (we focus on the word “this”, that is, this, and not that cat)

It is a cat. - It's a cat. (we focus on the word "cat", that is, not a dog or a guinea pig)

And one small nuance in the end. In order not to repeat the same noun twice, the word is sometimes used instead one. And before that one you also need to use a demonstrative pronoun. If a demonstrative pronoun in English is not followed by an adjective, then one (ones) can be omitted.

Would you like to buy this hat or that (one)? – Would you like to buy this hat or that?

And if there is an adjective, then you must definitely save one or ones in a sentence.

I don't want to buy this hat, I will take that blue one. - I don't want to buy this hat, I'll take out that blue test

Demonstrative pronouns in English

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As you know, all parts of speech are divided into independent and auxiliary. As in Russian, pronouns in English belong to an independent part of speech, which denotes an object or is its attribute, but does not name persons and objects directly. These words do not name relations and properties, they do not give a spatial or temporal characteristic.

Pronouns (Pronouns) in English replace the noun, which is why they are called “in place of the name” - He, you, it. These words can also be used instead of an adjective - Such, that, these. As in Russian, so in English, there are a lot of such lexical units, but it is necessary to know them and use them correctly. Therefore, we proceed directly to the study.

According to their meaning, Pronouns can be classified into several groups. I suggest that you familiarize yourself with this classification and the features of each of the groups:

Personal (Personal) - the most important and common pronouns. In a sentence, they act as the subject. And the word "I (I)" is always capitalized, regardless of whether it is at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. And the pronoun you (you, you) expresses both the plural and the singular.

It should also be remembered that lexemes he (he) and she (she) use when they want to designate an animated person, and it- to refer to animals, abstract concepts and inanimate objects. BUT "they" It is used both for inanimate objects and for animate persons.

Personal pronouns in English are declined by case. In the case when they play the role of a subject in a sentence, they are in the nominative case, and when they play the role of an object, they are in the object case. To make it clearer to you, study the table

Possessive pronouns

English possessive pronouns (Possessive) we discussed in detail in the previous article. But still, let me remind you that they express belonging, have two forms - an adjective and a noun, answer the question “Whose?” and do not change in numbers. There is also a special absolute form. Look at the table, how Possessive Pronouns are declined:

Demonstrative pronouns in English

Demonstrative or demonstrative - point to a person or object. Demonstrative pronouns in English do not change by gender, but decline by number, that is, they have singular and plural forms. Wherein " this"They call an object that is next to the speaker, and the word" that” denotes an object located at a considerable distance.

In addition, “that” can be translated into Russian as “this, this”. Demonstrative pronouns in English in a sentence can act as a subject, object, attribute or noun.

Reflexive pronouns in English

Reflexive or reflexive - express a reflexive meaning, show that the action is directed to the actor himself, therefore, reflexive pronouns in English in a sentence correspond in form to the subject.

Their distinguishing feature is that they end in "- self"in the singular or "- selves" in plural)". In Russian, this is the verbal suffix “-sya (-s)” or the pronoun “himself (himself, himself, himself)”: He cut himself - He cut himself

Indefinite pronouns in English

Indefinite is one of the most numerous groups of English pronouns. In sentences, nouns and adjectives can be replaced. Indefinite pronouns in English can be conditionally divided into words, formed from “no” (no, not at all), “any” (any, a few, a little) and “some” (a few, a little).

Other Indefinite Pronouns include: every, each, both, all, few, little, many, much.

Interrogative pronouns in English

Interrogatives are very similar to relative ones, but perform completely different functions in a sentence where they are subject, adjective or object: Who is there? - Who's there? Sometimes they can be a nominal part of the predicate. Interrogative pronouns in English are also called "question words":

• who? - who?
• which? - which the?
• whom? - whom? to whom?
• where? - where?
• what? - what?
• whose? - whose?
• when? - when?
• why? - why?

Other pronouns

We have looked at the main and more numerous pronouns in more detail, but there are other groups of pronouns in English:

• Universal: all, both, everyone, everybody, everything, every, either, each
• Dividers: another, other
• Negative: no, nobody, nothing, no one, neither, none
• Relative: that, which, whose, who

Personal pronouns. in English they have two cases: nominative (usually as subject) and object (in a sentence as additions).

Pronoun I always written with a capital (capital) letter, regardless of the place it occupies in a sentence. If it is in the same sentence with other personal pronouns (or nouns), then it is placed after them:

In English, there is no distinction between a polite form of address You and more familiar - you like the Russian language. Pronoun you has one form for singular and plural, and the predicate after it is always plural.

Note: When they want to provide understanding of the pronoun you how plural numbers, then in British English they say: you two / three ..., you lot, you people, and in American - you folks, you all's, you guys (regardless of the gender of the interlocutors).

Pronoun he replaces a noun denoting males. Pronoun she replaces a noun denoting females. Speaking of animals, pronouns he or she they use it only when they want to emphasize their gender, as well as in various fairy tales, fables, or in descriptions of the habits and character of their pets, thus distinguishing them from the general mass.

Exception: In England, when talking about a ship (of any size and purpose) or a car, they use the pronoun she(but speaking, for example, about an airplane - it). The names of most countries are also considered feminine nouns: England, Russia, etc.

Pronoun it replaces a noun denoting an inanimate object, abstract concept, animal or plant, and also replaces a noun baby, child – child if they do not focus on the field of the child. Translated into Russian by the words he she it depending on the gender of the corresponding noun in Russian.

Pronoun they replaces both animate and inanimate plural nouns:

Personal pronouns in the nominative case perform the function subject and nominal part of compound predicate.

1 As subject:

2 As nominal part of compound predicate it is possible to use personal pronouns in nominative, as well as in object cases. At the same time, the forms of the nominative case are considered book-official, and the forms of the objective case are considered colloquial.

Who is there? – It is I. = It is me . (colloquial form) Who's there? - It I.

Pronouns without preposition.

Typical model: indirect object without preposition+ direct addition .

Personal pronouns in the objective case perform the function:

1 direct complement(accusative case, answer the question whom? what?)

2 or unprepositional indirect object(dative case answering the question to whom?):

In the last example, "book" is a direct object. A pronoun without a preposition that answers a question whom? - to whom?, is a non-prepositional indirect object and always comes before a direct object (unlike a pronoun with a preposition).

3 and also used in short replicas:

Who broke the vase? – Not me! / Me. Who broke the vase? - Not I! / I .

I am feeling tired. - Me too.I am (very) tired/(feeling tired). - I too.

Preposition pronouns.

Typical model: direct complement + indirect object with preposition .

Combining a pronoun in the objective case with a preposition is a prepositional indirect object and always comes after a direct object.

1 pronoun combination with a pretextto corresponds dative case in Russian ( to whom?):

2 pronoun combination with prepositionsby andwith corresponds in Russian creative case( by whom? how?):

3 Pronouns in the objective case, used with any prepositions, are translated into Russian by pronouns in various oblique cases (gen. who?, what?; dates to whom; to what?; creates. who?, what? and prepositional About who about what?) depending on the preposition followed by the pronoun:

After any preposition, you should use a pronoun in the form of an objective case, for example: From whom? From whom?-From me. From me .; To whom? To whom?- To me. Co. to me .; With whom? With whom?- With me. So me .

Pronoun it may be personal, index and impersonal:

1 Personal pronoun. Translation: he she it or his her etc.

a) If the pronoun it comes first in a sentence, replacing the previously mentioned inanimate noun, then it translates nominative case - he she it , for example:

b) If the pronoun it follows the predicate, taking the place of the direct complement, then it is translated. object case pronouns, namely his her, to him etc.

2 index pronoun. translate as " this is ".

Can be used instead of the previously mentioned words:

Instead of the previously mentioned concepts and descriptions:

3 Impersonal service word. Does not translate.

a) If the pronoun it comes first in a sentence, but does not replace a previously mentioned noun, it is formal subject of an impersonal sentence It is typical for sentences that talk about weather, time, distance, various measurements, etc.

It is cold. It is dark. It is raining. It is snowing.Cold. Dark. It's raining. Snowing.

It was winter. It was winter.

Time, distances and various measurements:

What day of the week is it ? What day of the week is today?

It 's Saturday. It 's the 12th of February. = It 's February 12th.It's Saturday now. 12th of February.

It 's 10 o'clock. Ten o'clock.

It is two miles to the station.The station is two miles away.

And other impersonal suggestions:

It 's too late. Too late.

b) Pronoun it can be a formal subject when the present subject is expressed infinitive, gerund (-ing form) or subordinate clause and is at the end of the sentence: In Russian, in these cases, they do without a formal subject:

in) in passive structures. With some passive verbs as the formal subject:

4 Included in amplifying turnover composition it is (was) ... who / that(does not translate). Here it refers to the predicative (part of the compound predicate), which becomes the informational focus of the sentence.

Used in set expressions:

“this” - it is used in many impersonal sentences, where it is almost always omitted when translated into Russian. The plural is not so simple. But first things first.

Functions of the pronoun it

1. As a personal pronoun

   Everything is simple here - the pronoun it replaces an inanimate noun:

   I have an apple. It is green- I have an apple. It's green.
   Give me that laptop. It is on the table Give me that laptop. He lies on the table.

2. It as an impersonal pronoun

   Here the pronoun it already has many more functions. Please note that in many cases where it is used as an impersonal pronoun, it is omitted when translated into Russian.

   • Indicates a fact or situation that is known or happening at the moment:

     When the factory closes, it will mean 500 people losing their jobs When a factory closes, that means 500 people lose their jobs.
     Yes, I was at home on Sunday. What about it? Yes, I was at home on Sunday. So what?

   • Is the subject of an impersonal verb:

     It is snowing on the mountains- It's snowing in the mountains.
     It is Sunday today- Today is Sunday.

   • Performs the function of a formal subject:

     It is not easy to defeat him It's not easy to defeat him.
     It is dangerous to play with fire- It is dangerous to play with fire.

   • As part of the construction it is + noun + who / that focuses on any part of the sentence:

     It was Susie who painted this picture It was Susie who painted this picture.
     It was John who broke the window It was John who broke the window.

   • It acts as the subject when it comes to date, time, distance:

     It's ten past twelve- It's half past one.
     It's two miles to the beach“It's two miles from the beach.

   • Used in the passive voice:

     It was decided that we should all swim across the lake before breakfast It was decided that we should all swim on the lake before breakfast.
     It is accepted that research into cancer has advanced considerably in the last few years– It is believed that research in the field of cancer has advanced significantly in the last few years.

3. As a demonstrative pronoun.

   In this role, the pronoun it is used in cases where in a conversation I introduce myself or ask about the identity of the interlocutor:

   Who is it?- Who is this?
   Hello, it's Jane Hello, this is Jane.

Plural pronoun it

The pronoun it is not used in the plural. In this case, they is used instead. They has three forms: the subject they, the object them, and the possessive form their(s). They and its forms are only used as personal pronouns:

They study English- They are learning English.
I gave them my English textbook I gave them my English textbook.
Their English friend never liked me Their English friend never liked me.

Exceptions and Features

The exceptions related to it concern the use of this pronoun with animate objects. There are three cases where it is used with animate objects.

With animals:

Look at this snake: it sleeps– Look at this snake: it is sleeping.
I love my dog. It is almost human- I love my dog. She is almost human.

With babies:

This baby is hungry, it hasn't been eating for three hours This child is hungry, he has not eaten for three hours.
The baby is crying. It must be hungry- The baby is crying. He must be hungry.

When in a conversation someone introduces themselves or asks about the identity of the interlocutor:

Who is it? It's your wife- Who is it? Is it your wife.

The peculiarities of the pronoun it include the confusion that often occurs when using the abbreviated form it is - it’s (this) and the possessive pronoun its (his). It is important to remember the difference between them and that these options are not interchangeable. Compare two examples:

It's an apple- This Apple.
Look at this tree. Its apples are gree n - Look at this tree. His apples are green.

Useful video on the topic: