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Third Person he, she, it theyThus, I is referred to as the first person singular; we is referred to as the first personplural; you is referred to as the second person; he, she and it are referred to as thethird person singular; and they is referred to as the third person plural.These pronouns are said to be in the subjective case, because they can each be used asthe subject of a verb. In the following examples, the personal pronouns in thesubjective case are underlined.e.g. ! am ready.He is fortunate.She is a teacher.J1 is raining.We are coming.You are right.They are determined.The agreement of verbs with subjects which are personal pronouns has been discussedin previous chapters.2. Agreement of personal pronouns with their antecedentsThe pronoun I is used to refer to the speaker or writer. The pronoun you is used to referto one or more persons or things which are being addressed by the speaker or writer.The pronoun we is normally used to refer to the speaker or writer together with one ormore other people.When a pronoun stands for a noun which has already been mentioned, the noun issometimes referred to as the antecedent of the pronoun.e.g. The apples are cheap, but they are not ripe yet.In the preceding example, the noun apples is the antecedent of the pronoun they.The antecedents of pronouns usually precede the pronouns. However, a pronoun mayalso stand for a noun which follows the pronoun, provided that it is obvious to what thepronoun is referring.e.g. Because they are sour, the apples will be used for cooking.In this example, the pronoun they stands for the noun apples, which occurs later In thesentence.a. Male and female antecedentsThe third person singular pronouns he and she are the only pronouns in the subjectivecase which are differentiated with respect to gender. The pronoun he is used to referto male antecedents, and the pronoun she is used to refer to female antecedents.e.g. A gi rl was sitting on the steps. She was waiting for her friend.A boy was delivering papers. He seemed to be in a hurry.In the above examples, the pronoun she agrees with the female antecedent girl, andthe pronoun he agrees with the male antecedent boy.

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