LESSON 1.27
Review: Determiners vs. Pronouns
We are going to add more determiners to your list. So far we have covered 16:
Always Determiners | |||
| a | an | the |
my | our | your | every |
| his | its | their |
noun + apostrophe | |||
Determiners if Attached to a Noun | |||
Numbers | |||
her | what | which | whose |
Review: SAM the MAN Pronouns
As you have learned, SAM the MAN pronouns can be singular or plural. It depends on the first noun following the SAM the MAN pronoun.
- some
- all
- more
- most
- any
- none (pronoun only)
Example:
Singular: Some of the pie was eaten.
Plural: Some of the pies were eaten.
Notice that none is marked as a pronoun only. That’s because if none is a determiner, it changes to no.
None of the pie was eaten.
None of the pies were eaten.
No pie was eaten.
No pies were eaten.
Placement of SAM the MAN Words
Prepositions usually separate pronouns from any nouns that follow them.
Pronoun: Some of the boys were tired.
Determiner: Some boys were tired.
Pronoun: All of the girls were happy about the win.
Determiner: All the girls were happy about the win.
Pronoun: None of the cars had been washed.
Determiner: No cars had been washed.
Other words can come between the determiner and the noun it refers to:
Determiner: Some big gorilla ruined my luggage.
Determiner: Some very angry giraffe ate all the leaves.
Class Activity
Indicate if the underlined words are determiners (D) or pronouns (P).
1. More pyramids have been discovered. |
2. Any profit is better than none. |
3. Ms. Teasdale assigned no homework today. |
4. It is true that all of the answers are in the back of the book? |
5. I ate some of the doughnuts, but Alberto ate most of them! |
Plural Pronouns
Some pronouns are always plural. Common sense shows you they refer to two or more things:
- both
- few
- many
- several
- others (pronoun only)
All the above words except others become determiners if they are attached to a noun. If they are not attached to a noun, then they are pronouns.
Pronoun: Both of the dogs were barking.
Determiner: Both dogs were barking.
Pronoun: Several of the cats were adopted.
Determiner: Several cats were adopted.
Exception
Notice that others is marked as a pronoun only. If others is a determiner, it changes to other or another.
Pronoun: We can use others instead.
Determiner: We can use other drill bits instead.
Pronoun: Others are missing.
Pronoun: Another of the drill bits is missing.
Determiner: Another drill bit is missing.
Class Activity
Indicate if the underlined words are determiners (D) or pronouns (P).
1. Maxine bought both comic books. |
2. Both of the crates have been shipped. |
3. I have another brother who looks like Bill. |
4. Can I borrow another piece of paper? |
5. We have both entered the race. |
6. I don’t have any confidence. |
7. None of you can go to the beach this afternoon. |
8. This assignment is more trouble than it’s worth. |
9. Thank goodness, I have no homework today. |
10. Some very ugly alien ate my textbook in one gulp. |
Singular Pronouns
Each, either, and neither are singular pronouns. You can prove that by inserting a number after the word. Only the word one fits.
Each of the girls brought home a blue ribbon.
Each [one] of the girls brought home a blue ribbon.
Neither of the girls lost a race.
Neither [one] of the girls lost a race.
Each, either, and neither become determiners if they are attached to a noun.
Pronoun: Each of the bikes is ready.
Determiner: Each bike is ready.
Pronoun: Neither of the cakes was purchased.
Determiner: Neither cake was purchased.
Small Group Activity
Indicate all the parts of speech in the following sentences.
1. Each of the dogs will receive a diploma of disobedience. |
2. Other dogs were sleeping. |
3. Some owners have taken their dogs home. |
4. Ten dogs are happy to have left. |
5. Most of the dogs in the show started barking. |
Individual or Small Group Activity
Complete the exercise: Spain