Correct Use of Pronouns

Incorrect Pronouns

According to a Stanford University Study, using the wrong words is common in English writing, particularly in ESL learners.

So, be careful with your choice of words. Let’s take a look at the use of pronouns.

Possessive pronouns are: mine, yours, ours, his, hers.

This book is mine. = This is my book.

This pen is yours. = This is your pen.

This chair is ours. = This is our chair.

This car is his. = This is his car.

This hat is hers. = This is her hat.

This is its origin. = This is the origin of it.

APOSTROPHES are added to nouns to show possession.

e.g. The manager’s assistant (singular); the managers’ assistant (plural).

APOSTROPHES are added to pronouns to show contraction.

e.g. It’s = it is; they’re = they are; we’re = we are; he’s = he is; she’s = she is.

Pay attention to the difference between the subject pronoun and the object pronoun.

e.g. He and I took part in the competition. (not me)

e.g. It was I who won the medal. (not me)

e.g. Please discuss this between him and me. (not between he and I)

e.g. You will have to ride with him and me. (not with he and I)

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Paragraph Writing

Any piece of writing -- whether it is exposition (defining or explaining), description, narration (telling a story), or persuasion (arguing) -- is composed of paragraphs. To write well, you must have relevant ideas that are well presented in your paragraphs. 

How do you write an effective paragraph if you have all the ideas?

You begin your paragraph by identifying the topic. You can achieve this objective using several different approaches: 

• Direct approach -- saying directly what the paragraph is all about -- e.g. "Racial discrimination is a social problem in the United States." 

• Indirect approach -- "Iron is essential for life. It is required to transport oxygen in the blood, as well as to burn food and body fat. Iron deficiency has long been a health concern in the medical field. But, recently, scientists discovered that too much iron could cause cancer and heat diseases."

• Limiting-the-subject approach -- limiting and specifying the topic -- e.g. "Fasting is the most effective way to permanent weight loss," 

• Catching-attention approach -- arousing the curiosity of the reader -- e.g. "Do you want to lose weight without losing your mind?"

Do not make the opening too long or too short. If it too long, the reader seems to know what you are going to say and may not want to continue reading; if it is too short, the reader may not be able to digest what is about to be discussed.

An effective paragraph should be adequately developed. That means you need to give your point of view, and this can be expressed as:a personal tone: e.g. the use of I, me, and my, or as an impersonal tone, that is, keeping your own views well below the surface. Wherever possible, give examples or facts to support your point of view, followed by a logical deduction or conclusion.

Vary the length of your paragraphs. Make some paragraphs longer, and some shorter, but never too long.

To write an effective paragraph, you must practice writing as much as possible. The more you write, the more you know how to write, and the better you will write.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. Click here for more.