Hello Grammarians, It's wonderful to meet you all after a long time. I just got stuck with doubts while forming sentences. As I always believe, I hope I'll get a solution here. These are the sentences: 1. These are our days where the term 'sharing' has become almost virtual. Is it wrong to use the pronoun 'where' after the noun 'days' in the above sentence? I am aware that 'where' denotes a place. And the word 'days' denotes a period of time. But it's bugging me whether or not to use the pronoun 'where' after 'a period of time' in a sentence. Kindly help me with this. 2. It is those people who actually contributed to the growth of this organization. In this 2nd sentence, Is it okay to have the singular pronoun 'It' and the plural pronoun 'those' closely? Because, as the sentence starts with 'It is', one usually expects a singular noun to come next. But in this sentence 'It is' is followed by a plural pronoun 'those' and then a plural 'noun'. Is this sentence correct? If it is, is there any case that a singular pronoun can precede a plural pronoun? Please help me. Awaiting your response. Cordially, Vivek S

Dear Vivek, Both of your sentences communicate clearly. Let that be your aim rather than the "rightness" or "wrongness" of your word choices. In the first sentence, my first impression was that you might better choose "when" than "where", but in your explanation, you made a good point for a day as a "space". I liked that. In your second sentence, the juxtaposition of "it" and "those" is somewhat jarring, but I sense that the sentence is mid-way through a paragraph where different sets of people have been set out, and the "it" refers to a particular set of people, not to a plural number. You write well and communicate clearly.

Are THEM and SOMEBODY pronouns?

Yes, both of them are pronouns. “Them” is an object pronoun, and “somebody” is an indefinite pronoun.

Is "the" a noun? Because at 0:23 you put it as "the log" I was just wondering if it actually should have been just "log" as the noun or if it is a combo noun thing I guess . . . . Also is there such thing as "combo" nouns like "the log" if it even is a noun please reply David

No, `the` is a special type of adjective called an article adjective. Go here to learn more: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-modifier/introduction-to-adjectives-and-articles/v/intro-to-articles-v1 P.S. In some cases, you might see something like a "combo noun," but they are usually reserved for proper nouns like places (like `Mount Everest`) and people (like `Barack Obama`).

But if theres two people and theyre both the sane gender, wouldn't you have to use theyre names or no?

Let's try this, starting from the idea that there are six people in the room: 2 identify as male, 2 as female, and 2 as non-binary. If I'm among them, and saying something about all 6, I use the pronouns we and us. If I'm not among them, and am speaking to all six, I use the pronoun "you". If I'm not among them, and am referring to any combination of them from 2 persons to 6 persons, regardless of gender, I use the pronouns "they" and "them". If I am referring to any single person among them, I should use the pronoun which that person prefers: they, she or he.

Does the pronoun ' he' cover females in a clause of law or legislation?

In laws and legislation, the phrase used is often "he or she". This is to avoid confusion.

What are some other pronouns?

There are several lessons on pronouns. As you watch them, keep a list. Then you'll have them all.

Teacher David, Where is "The question word" video?

Is this what you're looking for? https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-pronoun/introduction-to-pronouns/e/the-question-word

Main content

Grammar

Unit 3: Lesson 1

Introduction to pronouns

What is a pronoun?

Name: What is a pronoun?
Uploaded: 2016-04-13T23:46:27Z
Description: Pronouns are words that can replace nouns, like the way "it" replaces "elephant" in "I looked at the elephant. It was grey."

Google Classroom

Pronouns are words that can replace nouns, like the way "it" replaces "elephant" in "I looked at the elephant. It was grey.".

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Vivek Samy
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Vivek Samy's post “Hello Grammarians, It's w...”
Hello Grammarians,
It's wonderful to meet you all after a long time. I just got stuck with doubts while forming sentences. As I always believe, I hope I'll get a solution here.

These are the sentences:
1. These are our days where the term 'sharing' has become almost virtual.

Is it wrong to use the pronoun 'where' after the noun 'days' in the above sentence? I am aware that 'where' denotes a place. And the word 'days' denotes a period of time. But it's bugging me whether or not to use the pronoun 'where' after 'a period of time' in a sentence. Kindly help me with this.

2. It is those people who actually contributed to the growth of this organization.

In this 2nd sentence, Is it okay to have the singular pronoun 'It' and the plural pronoun 'those' closely? Because, as the sentence starts with 'It is', one usually expects a singular noun to come next. But in this sentence 'It is' is followed by a plural pronoun 'those' and then a plural 'noun'. Is this sentence correct? If it is, is there any case that a singular pronoun can precede a plural pronoun?

Please help me.
Awaiting your response.

Cordially,
Vivek S
(12 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Dear Vivek, Both of your ...”
  Dear Vivek,
  Both of your sentences communicate clearly. Let that be your aim rather than the "rightness" or "wrongness" of your word choices.
  In the first sentence, my first impression was that you might better choose "when" than "where", but in your explanation, you made a good point for a day as a "space". I liked that.
  In your second sentence, the juxtaposition of "it" and "those" is somewhat jarring, but I sense that the sentence is mid-way through a paragraph where different sets of people have been set out, and the "it" refers to a particular set of people, not to a plural number.
  You write well and communicate clearly.
  (8 votes)
nathan
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to nathan's post “Are THEM and SOMEBODY pro...”
Are THEM and SOMEBODY pronouns?
(7 votes)
Answer
- Johanna
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Johanna's post “Yes, both of them are pro...”
  Yes, both of them are pronouns. “Them” is an object pronoun, and “somebody” is an indefinite pronoun.
  (6 votes)
Dat_Asian_Kid 777
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Dat_Asian_Kid 777's post “Is "the" a noun? Because ...”
Is "the" a noun? Because at
0:23
you put it as "the log" I was just wondering if it actually should have been just "log" as the noun or if it is a combo noun thing I guess . . . . Also is there such thing as "combo" nouns like "the log" if it even is a noun please reply David
(6 votes)
Answer
- Captain Cryptic
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Captain Cryptic's post “No, `the` is a special ty...”
  No, the is a special type of adjective called an article adjective. Go here to learn more:
  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-modifier/introduction-to-adjectives-and-articles/v/intro-to-articles-v1
  P.S. In some cases, you might see something like a "combo noun," but they are usually reserved for proper nouns like places (like Mount Everest) and people (like Barack Obama).
  (5 votes)
wdxjames2010
Posted a year ago. Direct link to wdxjames2010's post “Is it me or I? Which ones...”
Is it me or I? Which ones are correct?
Did you invite Billy and me?
Should Billy and I go to the store?
Me and Sally sent gifts.
(6 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “For "Did you invite Billy...”
  For "Did you invite Billy and me?" Take out "Billy and" the answer will be clear.
  
  For "Should Billy and I go to the store?" Do the same thing.
  
  For "Me and Sally sent gifts." Take out "and Sally", the answer will be clear.
  (0 votes)
AmadisL
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to AmadisL's post “But if theres two people ...”
But if theres two people and theyre both the sane gender, wouldn't you have to use theyre names or no?
(2 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Let's try this, starting ...”
  Let's try this, starting from the idea that there are six people in the room: 2 identify as male, 2 as female, and 2 as non-binary.
  
  If I'm among them, and saying something about all 6, I use the pronouns we and us.
  
  If I'm not among them, and am speaking to all six, I use the pronoun "you".
  
  If I'm not among them, and am referring to any combination of them from 2 persons to 6 persons, regardless of gender, I use the pronouns "they" and "them".
  
  If I am referring to any single person among them, I should use the pronoun which that person prefers: they, she or he.
  (4 votes)
Lucas De Oliveira
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Lucas De Oliveira's post “So a pronoun is a general...”
So a pronoun is a general noun that i can put in place of specific nouns?
(3 votes)
Answer
John Kamwithi Githuga
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to John Kamwithi Githuga's post “Does the pronoun ' he' co...”
Does the pronoun ' he' cover females in a clause of law or legislation?
(2 votes)
Answer
- Oliver
  Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Oliver's post “In laws and legislation, ...”
  In laws and legislation, the phrase used is often "he or she". This is to avoid confusion.
  (3 votes)
Riley boyce
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Riley boyce's post “What are some other prono...”
What are some other pronouns?
(2 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “There are several lessons...”
  There are several lessons on pronouns. As you watch them, keep a list. Then you'll have them all.
  (3 votes)
darcy
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to darcy's post “0:28, why isn't "worm" a ...”
0:28
, why isn't "worm" a pronoun?
(0 votes)
Answer
- Cameron
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Cameron's post “its a worm bro”
  its a worm bro
  (5 votes)
Mooha Lee
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Mooha Lee's post “Teacher David, Where is "...”
Teacher David, Where is "The question word" video?
(2 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Is this what you're looki...”
  Is this what you're looking for? https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-pronoun/introduction-to-pronouns/e/the-question-word
  (3 votes)

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] Hello grammarians. We're going to start talking about pronouns today, and of course that begins with the question, What are pronouns? Allow me to answer that question by way of a demonstration. Emma laughed so hard, milk came out of Emma's nose. Zach lifted the log. Zach found a worm under the log. So, these sentences don't have pronouns, but what they do have is repeated nouns. Here we have Emma and then we say Emma's again, and then we say Zach and the log, and then we say Zach and the log. But, people are smart, right? We have relatively long attention spans, and so if we start off a sentence talking about Emma, and we're pretty sure that we're still talking about Emma, we don't need to say that name twice. We don't need to say Emma and then Emma again. So, what a pronoun does is it allows you to take out the unnecessary noun when we're very certain we know what we're talking about. So you don't have to say Emma a million times, you can replace Emma with her. Same thing applies to the second two sentences. We don't have to keep on mentioning Zach and the log when we know what we're talking about. So the first sentence would still read Zach lifted the log, but then in the second sentence we can replace the name Zach, since we already know who we're talking about, with the word he, and we can replace this little phrase, the log, with it, since we know we're talking about the log. Now, words like her and he and it are all pronouns. So, what are pronouns? They are words that stand in for other words. Now, obviously, her, he, and it are not the only pronouns in English, but for now I just want you to think about the idea that a pronoun is a word that stands in for another word. You can learn anything. David out.

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