Demonstrative Pronoun

This is so big!

Demonstrative Pronoun: replaces the word or group of words for a person, place or thing that is near or far from the speaker.
Function: Replacing the words or groups of words reduces the number of words needed. It is more comfortable, natural and more interesting the repeated the word or words. Different words are used to tell if the speaker considers the person, place or thing near and if there is one or more things
Sentence Position: see noun.
Level: beginner, intermediate.
Key Words

Singular	Plural
near in location or time to the speaker
this	these
ExamplesThisis my seat. (may be said when someone is in the speaker’s seat number and they are being asked to move)2) Please give Anna these. (the speaker is giving the listener more than one thing to give to another person, Anna)
location or time far from the speaker
that	those
Examples1) Would you like to come to my house on Saturday? That is the only day I will be home this weekend.2) There are four grammar textbooks at the back of the classroom Those are for the new students.
Indicates that speaker has negative information or a negative impression of two people, places or things; or more than two people, places or things
neither, none
Examples1) Would you like coffee or tea?  Neither, thanks.2) There were 14 students in class yesterday.  I am happy to say none were late.

Common Learner Difficulties
1) Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone, unlike demonstrative adjectives which must come in front of a noun. This is a source of confusion in using these two grammar terms to name a grammar point.

The demonstrative pronoun in the sentence, ‘’That camera needs a battery,” is ‘that’.

Correct: The demonstrative adjective in the sentence, ‘’That camera needs a battery,” is ‘that’

2) The person, place or thing the demonstrative pronoun noun refers to is unclear.

I have a grammar quiz, an essay to write and two presentations to prepare.  Those are easy! (not clear if ‘those’ refers to all of the work or just the presentations)

Better: I have a grammar quiz to study for, an essay to write and two presentations to prepare.  Those presentations are easy! (use demonstrative adjective form)

Also See: demonstrative adjective, pronoun, noun.

Reciprocal Pronoun

Reciprocal Pronoun: shows that an action or feeling is the same for two or people, animals or things

Function: indicates that two or more subjects (people, animals or things) do the same thing to each other or act in the same way with each other

 Key Words: each other, one another.  Each other is used with two subjects and one another with more than two subjects

 Sentence Position: usually directly after the verb or verb phrase

Examples:

People

Barbara and Leo count on each other for support and encouragement in class.

Leaders and followers need one another.

Animals

Monkeys groom one another.

Things

Companies usually don’t help one another.

Common Learner Difficulties:

1) Sometimes confused with reflexive pronouns

Maria loves Pancho and Pancho loves Maria.  They love themselves.

Correct: They love each other.

Also See: pronoun, reflexive pronoun, subject, verb

Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronoun: used when the subject and direct object are the same, or subject and the object of a prepositional phrase are the same, as an intensive pronoun to make a statement stronger with respect to who or what is responsible for something, in command (imperative) sentences where the subject ‘you’ is omitted. Also as intensive pronouns

Function: show that the verb activity is done by, to or the subject. This emphasizes the subject does the activity without help or alone.

Sentence Position:  after the verb, after the preposition in a prepositional phrase.

subject and direct object same

Example I need to care of myself now that I live away from my parents’ home.

subject and the object of a prepositional phrase are the same

Example Danny traveled to Paris by himself.

as an intensive pronoun to make a statement stronger with respect to who or what is responsible for something

Example Students themselves need to clean the classrooms.

in command (imperative) sentences where the subject ‘you’ is omitted

Example Help yourselves to the workbooks at the back of the classroom.

Key Words

Singular	Plural
myself	ourselves
yourself	yourselves
herself, himself, itself	themselves

Level: beginner, intermediate.

Common Learner Difficulties:

1) using a reflexive pronoun as a subject

Yourself needs to get to class on time.

Correct: You need to get to class on time.

Also See: direct object, imperative sentence, intensive pronoun, prepositional phrase, pronoun, noun, subject, verb.

Intensive Pronoun

Intensive Pronoun: emphasize information in a sentence.

Function: reflexive pronoun is used to make a statement stronger with respect to who or what is responsible for something.

Sentence Position:  either directly after the noun it modifies or after the direct object.  Much like with adjectives, intensive pronouns are not needed in sentences for the sentences to make sense.

Singular	Plural
myself	ourselves
ExamplesI myselflove grammar!I made the cake myself.  I didn’t buy it.
yourself	yourselves
ExamplesDid you yourself write this essay?Would you please do it yourselves?
herself, himself, itself	themselves
The exam must be written by students themselves.Sara approved the budget herself.

Level: intermediate.

Common Learner Difficulties:

1) putting the reflexive pronoun in the wrong position in the sentence for the intended meaning

I made myself the pizza.  (intended meaning, ’I made the pizza without help from other people.’ Meaning stated ‘I made the pizza to eat alone, not to share with other people.’

Correct: I made the pizza myself.

Also See: object, pronoun, reflexive pronoun, noun

Indirect Object Pronoun

Indirect Object Pronoun: pronoun identifies who or what the direct object is for, and in a few cases who or what the verb is for.

Function: answers the question ‘what’ or ‘who’ with respect to the direct object, or verb

Word Order	Examples
verb + indirect object + direct object (most verbs)	gave you the answer
I gave you the answer.
verb + direct object (in pronoun form) +preposition + indirect object (most verbs)	gave it to you
I gave it to you.
verb + preposition +indirect object (a few verbs, such as write and read)	write to me
When you have time, please write to me.
verb +direct object (a few verbs in some cases, such as show, tell and promise when the direct object has already been mentioned)	show James

Sentence Position: between the verb and direct object, or in few cases directly after the verb

Forms
Singular	Plural
me you her, him, it	us you them

Level: beginner, intermediate.

Common Learner Difficulties:

1) using subject, not object pronoun after the verb.

My sister gave the message to she.

Correct: My sister gave the message to her.

2) using an incorrect preposition to convey meaning

Maggie gave the award for Walter. (Walter received the award.)

Correct: Maggie gave the award to Walter.

3) adding an unnecessary preposition in front of the indirect object when it comes before the direct object

Tell to me the story.

Correct: Tell me the story.

Also See: direct object, object, plural, preposition, pronoun, singular, verb

BBC Learning English: Grammar Challenge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/grammar_challenge/

Internationally flavored buffet of grammar points with explanation, examples and exercises created in response to learner queries.

Format:  mp3, pdf. Adobe Flash, on line text

Level: intermediate, advanced.

Contents:

• adjectives: participle
• adverbs
• articles: definite, indefinite
• clause: conditional, main
• commonly confused word pairs
• conjunctions:
• infinitive
• intensifier
• noun: count and non-count
• participle: adjective
• preposition
• pronouns
• questions:indirect, tag, wh -(open)
• reported (indirect)  speech
• subject-verb agreement
• verb : auxiliary (helping), conditional, irregular, modal, participle, passive, tenses, mixed tenses

Activities:  check answer function, check if sentence provided on this website are correct or contain errors, choose correct sentence from pair provided, choose correct word form, combine clauses to make conditional sentences, examples, explanations, forum, identify if sentences provided contain errors, links to ideas and activities for teachers for learner communicative practice in class, match equivalent sentences, match question and response, match sentences in direct form to their equivalent reported speech form, match sentence parts, match sentence with its purpose, match sentences with statement agreeing with it, match sentences with statement disagreeing with it, multiple choice, order scrambled words to make sentences, put word in correct form for sentence supplied, question completion, rewrite sentences changing them from direct to reported speech.

Age suitability: teenage, adult.

Founders: BBC.

Around since:  unknown.

Pluses: explanations are clear and concise with minimal grammarian language, examples of learner application of grammar point provided, explanations in audio format  available for listening, free of advertising, very easy navigation, functional use explained, interesting passages formed in some exercises through sequence of sentences, navigation intuitive with no ads on this site, quizzes are downloadable, search within site available, site map, vocabulary in exercises is appropriate to the level of the grammar point.

Minuses: some exercises do not include naming of the grammar point covered in them.

BBC Learning English: Learn it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/index.shtml

No longer updated, but responses in this learner forum remain fresh, clear and useful

Level: intermediate, advanced.

Contents:

• adjectives: attributive (modifier),  comparatives, compound, irregular, participle, position, superlatives
• adjective – noun collocation
• adverbs:  clauses, comparative, conjunctive, emphasizing, irregular, linking, phrases (adverbial/adverbial particles), sentence position
• articles: definite, indefinite
• clause: dependent; independent, main, participle; reduced adverb, relative, restrictive (defining/identifying), non-restrictive (non-defining/non-identifying), subordinate
• commonly confused word pairs and confusing words
• conjunctions: adverbial, contrastive, coordinating , subordinating
• determiners
• discourse markers (linking words)
• noun: abstract  compound, phrases (with prepositions), plural, proper,  possessive
• preposition
• pronouns: reflexive, relative (relative adverb)
• punctuation
• quantifier
• questions (interrogative adverb):  declarative, indirect, tag,  wh -(open) , yes/no (closed)
• reported (indirect)  speech
• sentence types: cleft, conditional, inverted,
• noun (subject)-verb agreement
• verb : auxiliary (helping), conditional, contractions, double object, imperative, infinitive, intransitive, modal, participle, passive, phrasal, prepositional, stative (state) , subjunctive, tenses, transitive,  mixed tenses
• verb –noun collocation

Activities: examples, explanations.

Age suitability: teenage, adult.

Founders: BBC

Around since: unknown.

Pluses: explanations are clear and concise in plain, non-grammarian language; no ads to clutter the site; search within site available.

Minuses: no exercises or activities, some grammar points are explained but not named in grammatical terms.

past-simple.com: Verb Tenses

www.past-simple.com

Overview of verb tenses clearly illustrated.  Good stock for a grammar soup!!

Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced.

Contents:

• verbs : irregular, signal/key words, tenses, mixed tenses

Activities: check answer function, examples, explanations, fill-in the blanks (gap-fill), insert words in the correct form, links to activities on other sites for each grammar point.

Age suitability: teenage, adult.

Founders: unknown.

Around since:  2002.

Pluses: explanations are clear and concise, with diagrams illustrating the use of all tenses; grammar points logically grouped and clearly named; interesting passages formed in some exercises through sequence of sentences; verb tense selection, formation, explanation and exercises exclusive focus.

Minuses: differentiating site text, links to other sites and advertising may be confusing for some learners;language used in some exercises is too complex for the level of the grammar point; language used in some explanations is too complex for the level of the grammar point; links to some tests and quizzes not functioning; no search within site; screens may be cluttered and confusing for some beginners to navigate through.

Preposition

Preposition: joins nouns and pronouns

Function: show relationship between and connect noun, pronouns and phrases- indicating physical location, point of or period of time, direction, manner/means of movement, amount

Functions
time	ago, after, at, before, between, by, during, for, from, in, on, past, since, to, until/till, throughout up to, within
After the test, we’ll all go out for pizza.
place	above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, behind, below, beside, between, by, close to, down, from, in, inside, into, near, off, on, onto, opposite, outside, over, past, round, through, to, towards, under, up
The bookstore is beside the registrar’s office.
direction	through, to, toward
You’ll need to walk toward the northeast corner of campus to reach the gym.
means/manner	by, on
Dan comes to work by bus.
source/content	about, from, out of
Today’s lesson is about prepositions.
comparison	as….as, like
This building is as tall as the one I used to live in.
purpose	for
Fernanda went the store for paper plates.
agent	by
Our textbook is published by a New York based company.
possession	of
There is a group of twenty new students starting classes next month.

Sentence Position:  variable

Level:  beginner, intermediate, advanced.

Common Learner Difficulties:

1) words that function as prepositions often also have other functions, eg as.  Some learners may want to master all the functions of a single word.

2) usage of prepositions frequently does not exactly translate between languages

3) difference between when a word is functioning as a preposition and a conjunction, may be confusing and may not be significant for effective communications.  This may be a significant point for grammarians only.

Also See conjunction, noun, phrase, prepositional phrase, pronoun.

Oxford University Press: English Language Teaching, Oxford Teachers’ Club: Grammar

http://elt.oup.com/teachersclub/?cc=ca&selLanguage=en

Loads of downloadable materials to flavour other Oxford produced materials.  Extensive collection for skills development in all aspects of language acquisition.

Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced.

Format: pdf, online, mp3, Word worksheets

Contents:

• adjectives: cardinal, comparatives, compound, extreme, gradable/non-gradable, ordinal, possessive, superlatives
• adjective –noun collocation
• adjective –preposition collocation
• adverbs: comparative, phrases  (adverbial), sentence position, superlative
• American and British English differences
• articles: definite, indefinite
• clause: adjective (adjectival), adverb (adverbial), participle; relative, restrictive (defining/identifying), non-restrictive (non-defining/non-identifying), participle
• commonly confused word
• connectors
• conjunctions
• determiners
• ellipsis
• English for work
• FCE (Cambridge) Exam
• gerund (verbal noun): clause
• glossary in plain language (with reference to Oxford books for skills development)
• infinitive: clause
• intensifier (adverb)
• noun:, abstract (insubstantive), collective, compound, count and non-count, phrases, plural, possessive, singular
• noun –preposition collocation
• phrase:, adverb, noun, prepositional, verb (participle, gerund, infinitive)
• preposition: object of, prepositional phrase
• pronouns: adjective, definite, demonstrative, direct object, indirect object, impersonal,  indefinite, interrogative, object, personal, possessive (adjective), reflexive, relative (relative adverb), subject (nominative)
• punctuation
• quantifier
• questions  indirect , tag,  wh -(open), yes/no (closed)
• reported (indirect)  speech
• verb : action, auxiliary (helping), conditional, imperative, irregular, linking, modal, negative,  participle, passive, phrasal, stative (state), tenses, mixed tenses
• verb –noun collocation
• verb – preposition collocation
• word order and position of words in sentences

Activities: add missing words to sentences, check answer function , check if sentence provided on this website are correct or contain errors, choose correct word from pair provided, classification of words by form, combine sentences with conjunctions, correction of sentences with errors, crosswords, diagnostic quiz for each level with answer keys, examples, explanations, fill-in the blanks (gap-fill), homework activities and ideas, identify and correct errors in sentence provided , insert words in the correct position, insert words in the correct form, lesson plans for communicative practice of grammar points, links to other sites, links to online videos with teaching tips and classroom activities, listening activities to apply grammar, match question and response, match sentence parts, match sentence with its purpose, multiple choice, order scrambled sentence words to make sentences and questions, pocket guides for key grammar points, progress checklists for various levels, put word in correct form for sentence supplied, rewrite sentences changing them from positive to negative, rewrite sentences, changing wording, samples of textbook pages, songs (mp3) for children to practice grammar points, tests with focus on specific grammar points, word search, write questions to match answers provided.

Age suitability: child, teenage, adult.

Founders: Oxford University Press.

Around since:  unknown.

Pluses: browse by book title, comprehensive collection of grammar points, dialogue context  for some exercises, excellent opportunity to sample textbooks, explanations are clear and concise, free of advertising, very easy navigation, functional use explained, grammar points contextualized, sort by level and age for textbook supplemental activities, interesting passages formed in some exercises through sequence of sentences, navigation intuitive, search within site available, site map, vocabulary in exercises is appropriate to the level of the grammar point.

Minuses: correct answers to exercises available in some, but not all exercises, links to some tests and quizzes not functioning, registration required.