Pronouns as determiners in English - Ingliz tili - Kurs ishlari

Dokument ma'lumotlari

Narxi	12000UZS
Hajmi	355.3KB
Xaridlar	1
Yuklab olingan sana	16 Aprel 2024
Kengaytma	docx
Bo'lim	Kurs ishlari
Fan	Ingliz tili

Pronouns as determiners in English

Sotib olish

THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION,SCIENCE AND
INNOVATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
SAMARKAND STATE INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY
OF ENGLISH PHILOLOGY AND TRANSLATION
SUBJECT :
COURSE WORK
THEME: Pronouns as determiners in English
SAMARKAND
1

CONTENT
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………...…3
CHAPTER I. Pronouns and determiners in english ……………………………5
1.1. Definition of the concept of pronoun functions and role of pronouns English..5
1.2. Definition and examples of determiners…………….……………...…...……15
CONCLUSION ON CHAPTER I ……………………………………...…….…19
CHAPTER II. Different types of pronouns functioning as determiners …21
2.1. The action of determiners as a possessive pronoun …….................................21
2.2. Demonstrative pronouns as determiners as a language ……………...............25
2.3. The description of indefinite pronouns can serve as determiners……………28
CONCLUSION ON CHAPTER II ……………………………………………..31
CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………..…32
THE LIST OF USED LITERATURE …………………………………….…...34
2

INTRODUCTION
Pronouns as determiners in English fulfill the vital function of specifying or
identifying nouns within a sentence. These unique words, which often stand in
place of nouns, also serve to indicate possession, quantity, or definiteness. Unlike
traditional pronouns that replace nouns directly, pronouns as determiners precede
nouns and modify them to provide additional information. Common examples of
pronouns functioning as determiners include possessive pronouns like "my,"
"your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their," which indicate ownership or
belonging. Demonstrative pronouns such as "this," "that," "these," and "those"
point out specific objects or groups of objects. Indefinite pronouns like "some,"
"any," "many," and "few" are also used as determiners to refer to unspecified or
unknown quantities. Additionally, personal pronouns like "his," "her," and "their"
can function as possessive determiners when followed by a noun, as in "her book"
or "their house." Reflexive pronouns such as "myself," "yourself," "himself," and
"themselves" can also serve as determiners in sentences like "I did it myself" or
"He built the house himself." Understanding the role of pronouns as determiners is
essential for mastering English grammar and effectively conveying meaning in
writing and speech. They provide clarity, specificity, and nuance, enriching our
communication by adding depth and detail to our language.
Pronouns as determiners not only modify nouns but also play a crucial role
in indicating possession, quantity, or definiteness. They provide essential context
and clarification within sentences, guiding readers or listeners to understand the
specific reference of the noun they accompany. By using pronouns as determiners,
speakers and writers can convey precise information while avoiding unnecessary
repetition of nouns. Pronouns as determiners contribute to the overall flow and
coherence of a sentence, allowing for smoother and more concise communication.
Whether expressing ownership with possessive pronouns, indicating proximity
with demonstrative pronouns, or referring to unspecified quantities with indefinite
pronouns, these linguistic tools enhance the clarity and effectiveness of language
3

use. Pronouns as determiners in English serve as versatile modifiers that enrich
communication by specifying, quantifying, and contextualizing nouns within
sentences. Their nuanced usage adds depth and clarity to language, making them
an integral part of effective communication in both written and spoken forms.
Actuality of research: The study of pronouns as determiners in English
remains highly relevant and practical in coursework, reflecting the ongoing
importance of understanding and mastering foundational elements of grammar for
effective communication.
The purpose of this coursework pronouns as determiners in English, the
primary objective is to analyze and understand the various functions and roles that
pronouns serve in specifying or quantifying nouns within the English language.
The subject of research focused on the subject of pronouns as determiners
in English, the primary objective is to delve into the various roles and functions
that pronouns serve in specifying or quantifying nouns within the language.
The object of this course work focusing on the object of pronouns as
determiners in English, the primary objective is to examine how pronouns function
to specify or quantify nouns within sentences.
Structure of the course work. The content of the work is reflected in the
structure of the work, which consists of an introduction, chapters, conclusion,the
list of used literature. The introduction substantiates the relevance of the chosen
research topic; formulates the goal and objectives; defines the object and subject of
study; presents the methodology and basic research methods; reveals scientific
novelty, theoretical significance and practical value of the work. The first chapter
analyses the the pronouns and determiners in English. The second chapter analyses
the outline different types of pronouns that can function as determiners.
4

CHAPTER I. Pronouns and determiners in english
1.1 . Definition of the concept of pronoun functions and role of pronouns
english
In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a word or a group of words that
one may substitute for a noun or noun phrase. Pronouns have traditionally been
regarded as one of the parts of speech, but some modern theorists would not
consider them to form a single class, in view of the variety of functions they
perform cross-linguistically. An example of a pronoun is "you", which is both
plural and singular. Subtypes include personal and possessive pronouns, reflexive
and reciprocal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative and interrogative
pronouns, and indefinite pronouns. The use of pronouns often involves anaphora,
where the meaning of the pronoun is dependent on an antecedent. For example, in
the sentence That poor man looks as if he needs a new coat, the meaning of the
pronoun he is dependent on its antecedent, that poor man. The adjective associated
with "pronoun" is "pronominal".A pronominal is also a word or phrase that acts as
a pronoun. For example, in That's not the one I wanted, the phrase the one
(containing the prop-word one) is a pronominal [1,36-37].
Pronoun versus pro-form
Pronoun is a category of words. A pro-form is a type of function word or
expression that stands in for (expresses the same content as) another word, phrase,
clause or sentence where the meaning is recoverable from the context. In English,
pronouns mostly function as pro-forms, but there are pronouns that are not pro-
forms and pro-forms that are not pronouns see the following examples:
1. It is a good idea.
2. I know the people who work here.
3. Who works there?
4. It is raining.
5. I asked her to help, and she did so right
away
6. James and Petra helped, but the others
5

didn't [2,116].
Examples [1 & 2] are pronouns and pro-forms. In [1], the pronoun it "stands in" for
whatever was mentioned and is a good idea. In [2], the relative pronoun who
stands in for "the people". Examples [3 & 4] are pronouns but not pro-forms. In
[3], the interrogative pronoun who doesn't stand in for anything. Similarly, in [4], it
is a dummy pronoun, one that doesn't stand in for anything. No other word can
function there with the same meaning; we don't say "the sky is raining" or "the
weather is raining". Finally, in [5 & 6], there are pro-forms that are not pronouns.
In [5], did so is a verb phrase that stands in for "helped", inflected from to help
stated earlier in the sentence. Similarly, in [6], others is a common noun, not a
pronoun, but the others probably stands in for the names of other people involved
(e.g., Sho, Alana, and Ali), all proper nouns [3,30].
Grammar
Pronouns (antōnymía) are listed as one of eight parts of speech in The Art of
Grammar, mentioned by Dionysius Thrax. The pronoun is described there as "a
part of speech substitutable for a noun and marked for a person. Pronouns
continued to be regarded as a part of speech in Latin grammar (the Latin term
being pronomen, from which the English name – through Middle French –
ultimately derives), and thus in the European tradition generally. Because of the
many different syntactic roles that they play, pronouns are less likely to be a single
word class in more modern approaches to grammar.
Linguistics
Linguists in particular have trouble classifying pronouns in a single
category, and some do not agree that pronouns substitute nouns or noun categories.
Certain types of pronouns are often identical or similar in form to determiners with
related meaning. This leads some linguists, such as Paul Postal, to regard pronouns
as determiners that have had their following noun or noun phrase deleted. (Such
6

patterning can even be claimed for certain personal pronouns; for example, we and
you might be analyzed as determiners in phrases like we Brits and you tennis
players.) Other linguists have taken a similar view, uniting pronouns and
determiners into a single class, sometimes called "determiner-pronoun", or
regarding determiners as a subclass of pronouns or vice versa. The distinction may
be considered to be one of subcategorization or valency, rather like the distinction
between transitive and intransitive verbs – determiners take a noun phrase
complement like transitive verbs do, while pronouns do not. This is consistent with
the determiner phrase viewpoint, whereby a determiner, rather than the noun that
follows it, is taken to be the head of the phrase. Cross-linguistically, it seems as
though pronouns share 3 distinct categories: point of view, person, and number.
The breadth of each subcategory however tends to differ among languages [4,1-5].
Binding theory and antecedents
The use of pronouns often involves anaphora, where the meaning of the
pronoun is dependent on another referential element. The referent of the pronoun is
often the same as that of a preceding (or sometimes following) noun phrase, called
the antecedent of the pronoun. The grammatical behavior of certain types of
pronouns, and in particular their possible relationship with their antecedents, has
been the focus of studies in binding, notably in the Chomskyan government and
binding theory. In this binding context, reflexive and reciprocal pronouns in
English (such as himself and each other) are referred to as anaphors (in a
specialized restricted sense) rather than as pronominal elements. Under binding
theory, specific principles apply to different sets of pronouns. Example reflexive
structure.
Since "himself" is immediately dominated by "John", Principle A is satisfied.
In English, reflexive and reciprocal pronouns must adhere to Principle A: an
anaphor (reflexive or reciprocal, such as "each other") must be bound in its
governing category (roughly, the clause). Therefore, in syntactic structure it must
be lower in structure (it must have an antecedent) and have a direct relationship
with its referent. This is called a C-command relationship. For instance, we see that
7

John cut himself is grammatical, but Himself cut John is not, despite having
identical arguments, since himself, the reflexive, must be lower in structure to
John, its referent. Additionally, we see examples like John said that Mary cut
himself are not grammatical because there is an intermediary noun, Mary, that
disallows the two referents from having a direct relationship. Example pronoun
structure. Since "him" is immediately dominated by "John", Principle B is violated.
On the other hand, personal pronouns (such as him or them) must adhere to
Principle B: a pronoun must be free (i.e., not bound) within its governing category
(roughly, the clause). This means that although the pronouns can have a referent,
they cannot have a direct relationship with the referent where the referent selects
the pronoun. For instance, John said Mary cut him is grammatical because the two
co-referents, John and him are separated structurally by Mary. This is why a
sentence like John cut him where him refers to John is ungrammatical.
Binding cross-linguistically
The type of binding that applies to subsets of pronouns varies cross-linguistically.
For instance, in German linguistics, pronouns can be split into two distinct
categories — personal pronouns and d-pronouns. Although personal pronouns act
identically to English personal pronouns (i.e. follow Principle B), d-pronouns
follow yet another principle, Principle C, and function similarly to nouns in that
they cannot have a direct relationship to an antecedent.
Antecedents
The following sentences give examples of particular types of pronouns used with
antecedents:
Third-person personal pronouns:
o That poor man looks as if he needs a new coat. (the noun phrase that poor man
is the antecedent of he)
o Julia arrived yesterday. I met her at the station. (Julia is the antecedent of her)
o When they saw us, the lions began roaring (the lions is the antecedent of they;
as it comes after the pronoun it may be called a postcedent)
8

Other personal pronouns in some circumstances:
o Terry and I were hoping no one would find us. (Terry and I is the antecedent of
us)
o You and Alice can come if you like. (you and Alice is the antecedent of the
second – plural – you)
C. Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns:
o Jack hurt himself. (Jack is the antecedent of himself)
 We were teasing each other. (we is the antecedent of each other) [5,79].
Relative pronouns:
The woman who looked at you is my sister. (the woman is the antecedent of who).
Some other types, such as indefinite pronouns, are usually used without
antecedents. Relative pronouns are used without antecedents in free relative
clauses. Even third-person personal pronouns are sometimes used without
antecedents ("unprecursed") – this applies to special uses such as dummy pronouns
and generic they, as well as cases where the referent is implied by the context.
English pronouns
English personal pronouns have a number of different syntactic contexts (Subject,
Object, Possessive, Reflexive) and many features.
 person (1st, 2nd, 3rd);
 number (singular, plural);
 gender (masculine, feminine, neuter or inanimate, epicene)
Personal and possessive Pronouns
Personal pronouns may be classified by person, number, gender and case. English
has three persons (first, second and third) and two numbers (singular and plural); in
the third person singular there are also distinct pronoun forms for male, female and
neuter gender. Principal forms are shown in the adjacent table. English personal
pronouns have two cases, subject and object. Subject pronouns are used in subject
position (I like to eat chips, but she does not). Object pronouns are used for the
9

object of a verb or preposition (John likes me but not her). Other distinct forms
found in some languages include:
Second person informal and formal pronouns (the T–V distinction), like tu and
vous in French. Formal second person pronouns can also signify plurality in many
languages. There is no such distinction in standard modern English, though
Elizabethan English marked the distinction with thou (singular informal) and you
(plural or singular formal). Some dialects of English have developed informal
plural second person pronouns, for instance, y'all (Southern American English) and
you guys (American English).
 Inclusive and exclusive first person plural pronouns, which indicate whether or
not the audience is included, that is, whether we means "you and I" or "they and I".
There is no such distinction in English.
 Intensive (emphatic) pronouns, which re-emphasize a noun or pronoun that has
already been mentioned. English uses the same
forms as the reflexive pronouns; for example: I did it myself (contrast reflexive
use, I did it to myself).
 Direct and indirect object pronouns, such as le and lui in French. English uses
the same form for both; for example: Mary loves him (direct object); Mary sent
him a letter (indirect object).
 Prepositional pronouns, used after a preposition. English uses ordinary object
pronouns here: Mary looked at him.
 Disjunctive pronouns, used in isolation or in certain other special grammatical
contexts, like moi in French. No distinct forms exist in English; for example: Who
does this belong to? Me.
 Strong and weak forms of certain pronouns, found in some languages such as
Polish.
10

 Pronoun avoidance, where personal pronouns are substituted by titles or kinship
terms (particularly common in South-East Asia) [6,45].
Possessive
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession (in a broad sense). Some occur
as independent noun phrases: mine, yours, hers, ours, theirs:
Those clothes are mine.
Others act as a determiner and must accompany a noun: my, your, her, our, your,
their, as in:
I lost my wallet. (His and its can fall into either category, although it is nearly
always found in the second.) Those of the second type have traditionally also been
described as possessive adjectives, and in more modern terminology as possessive
determiners. The term "possessive pronoun" is sometimes restricted to the first
type. Both types replace possessive noun phrases. As an example, Their crusade to
capture our attention could replace The advertisers' crusade to capture our
attention.
Reflexive and reciprocal
Reflexive pronouns are used when a person or thing acts on itself, for example,
John cut himself. In English they all end in -self or -selves and must refer to a noun
phrase elsewhere in the same clause. Reciprocal pronouns refer to a reciprocal
relationship (each other, one another). They must refer to a noun phrase in the
same clause. An example in English is: They do not like each other. In some
languages, the same forms can be used as both reflexive and reciprocal pronouns
[7,83].
Demonstrative
Demonstrative pronouns (in English, this, that and their plurals these, those) often
distinguish their targets by pointing or some other indication of position; for
example, I'll take these. They may also be anaphoric, depending on an earlier
expression for context, for example, A kid actor would try to be all sweet, and who
needs that?
Indefinite
11

Indefinite pronouns, the largest group of pronouns, refer to one or more
unspecified persons or things. One group in English includes compounds of some-,
any-, every- and no- with -thing, -one and -body, for example: Anyone can do that.
Another group, including many, more, both, and most, can appear alone or
followed by of ) In addition,
 Distributive pronouns are used to refer to members of a group separately rather
than collectively. (To each his own.)
 Negative pronouns indicate the non-existence of people or things. (Nobody
thinks that.)
Impersonal pronouns normally refer to a person but are not specific as to first,
second or third person in the way that the personal pronouns are. (One does not
clean one's own windows.)
Relative and interrogative Pronouns
Relative
Relative pronouns in English include who, whom, whose, what, which and that.
They rely on an antecedent, and refer back to people or things previously
mentioned: People who smoke should quit now. They are used in relative clauses.
Relative pronouns can also be used as complementizers.
Interrogative
Relative pronouns can be used in an interrogative setting as interrogative pronouns.
Interrogative pronouns ask which person or thing is meant. In reference to a
person, one may use who (subject), whom (object) or whose (possessive); for
example, Who did that? In colloquial speech, whom is generally replaced by who.
English non-personal interrogative pronouns (which and what) have only one form.
In English and many other languages (e.g. French and Czech), the sets of relative
and interrogative pronouns are nearly identical. Compare English: Who is that?
(interrogative) and I know the woman who came (relative). In some other
languages, interrogative pronouns and indefinite pronouns are frequently identical.
Archaic forms
12

Though the personal pronouns described above are the current English pronouns,
Early Modern English (as used by Shakespeare, for example) use a slightly
different set of personal pronouns, shown in the table. The difference is entirely in
the second person. Though one would rarely find these older forms used in recent
literature, they are nevertheless considered part of Modern English.
Kinship
In English, kin terms like "mother," "uncle," "cousin" are a distinct word class
from pronouns; however many Australian Aboriginal languages have more
elaborated systems of encoding kinship in language including special kin forms of
pronouns. In Murrinh-patha, for example, when selecting a nonsingular exclusive
pronoun to refer to a group, the speaker will assess whether or not the members of
the group belong to a common class of gender or kinship. If all of the members of
the referent group are male, the MASCULINE form will be selected; if at least one
is female, the FEMININE is selected, but if all the members are in a sibling-like
kinship relation, a third SIBLING form is selected. In Arabana-Wangkangurru, the
speaker will use entirely different sets of pronouns depending on whether the
speaker and the referent are or are not in a common moiety. See the following
example:
They two [who are in the classificatory relationship of father and son] are fighting.
(The people involved were a man and his wife's sister's son.)
I. Generic you and Generic they
Some special uses of personal pronouns include:
 Generic you, where second person pronouns are used in an indefinite sense: You
can't buy good old-fashioned bulbs these days.
 Generic they: In China they drive on the right.
Gender non-specific uses, where a pronoun refers to a non-specific person or a
person whose gender is not specified: English usage and acceptance varies (and
has varied) regarding generic he and singular they, among others.
13

 A closely related usage is the singular they to refer to a person whose gender is
specified as non-binary or genderqueer, which.Vernacular usage of "yo" as a
gender neutral pronoun has also been recorded among school students in
Baltimore.
 Preferred gender pronoun selected to reflect gender identity
Dummy pronouns (expletive pronouns), used to satisfy a grammatical requirement
for a noun or pronoun, but contributing nothing to its meaning: It is raining.
 Royal we, used to refer to a single person who is a monarch: We are not amused.
 Nosism: The use of the pronoun we to refer to oneself.
 Resumptive pronouns, "intrusive" personal pronouns found (for example) in some
relative clauses where a gap (trace) might be expected: This is the girl that I don't
know what she said [8,123].

14

1.2. Definition and examples of determiners
A determiner also called determinative is a word, phrase, or affix that occurs
together with a noun or noun phrase and serves to express the reference of that
noun or noun phrase in the context. That is, a determiner may indicate whether the
noun is referring to a definite or indefinite element of a class, to a closer or more
distant element, to an element belonging to a specified person or thing, to a
particular number or quantity, etc. Common kinds of determiners include definite
and indefinite articles (like the English the and a or an), demonstratives (this and
that), possessive determiners (my and their), cardinal numerals, quantifiers (many,
both, all and no), distributive determiners (each, any), and interrogative
determiners (which). Most determiners have been traditionally classed along with
either adjectives or pronouns, and this still occurs in classical grammars: for
example, demonstrative and possessive determiners are sometimes described as
demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives or as (adjectival) demonstrative
pronouns and (adjectival) possessive pronouns respectively. These classical
interpretations of determiners map to some of the linguistic properties related to
determiners in modern syntax theories, such as deictic information, definiteness and
genitive case. However, modern theorists of grammar prefer to distinguish
determiners as a separate word class from adjectives, which are simple modifiers
of nouns, expressing attributes of the thing referred to. According to the OED
(Second Edition), the word determiner was first used in its grammatical sense by
Bloomfield. This distinction applies particularly in languages like English that use
definite and indefinite articles, frequently as a necessary component of noun
phrases – the determiners may then be taken to be a class of words that includes
the articles as well as other words that function in the place of articles. (The
15

composition of this class may depend on the particular language's rules of syntax;
for example, in English the possessives my, your etc. are used without articles and
so can be regarded as determiners, whereas their Italian equivalents mio etc. are
used together with articles and so may be better classed as adjectives.
Not all languages can be said to have a lexically distinct class of
determiners. In some languages, the role of certain determiners can be played by
affixes (prefixes or suffixes) attached to a noun or by other types of inflection. For
example, definite articles are represented by suffixes in Romanian, Bulgarian,
Macedonian, and Swedish. (For example, in Swedish, bok ("book"), when definite,
becomes boken ("the book"), while the Romanian caiet ("notebook") similarly
becomes caietul ("the notebook").) Some languages, such as Finnish, have
possessive affixes, which play the role of possessive determiners like my and his.
Some theoreticians unify determiners and pronouns into a single class. Universal
grammar is the theory that all humans are born equipped with grammar, and all
languages share certain properties. There are arguments that determiners are not a
part of universal grammar and are instead part of an emergent syntactic category.
This has been shown through the studies of some languages' histories [9,217].
Types
Determiners may be subcategorized as predeterminers, central determiners and
postdeterminers, based on the order in which they can occur. For example, all my
many very young children" uses one of each. "My all many very young children"
is not grammatically correct because a central determiner cannot precede a
predeterminer.
Articles
Articles are words used with a noun (as a standalone word or a prefix or suffix) to
specify the grammatical definiteness of a noun, and, in some languages, to volume
or numerical scope.
Definite article
16

The definite article in the English language is the word the. It denotes people,
places, and things that have already been mentioned, implied, or presumed to be
known by the listener.
Indefinite article
The indefinite article takes the forms of a and an in English. It is mostly
synonymous with one, but the word one is usually used when emphasizing
singularity.
Demonstratives
Demonstratives are words, such as this and that, used to indicate which entities are
being referred to and to distinguish those entities from others. They are usually
deictic, which means their meaning changes with context. They can indicate how
close the things being referenced are to the speaker, listener, or other group of
people. In English Demonstratives express proximity of things with respect to the
speaker.
Proximal demonstratives
In English, the words this and these are the proximal demonstratives. They express
that the particular things being mentioned are very close to the speaker.
Distal demonstratives
The distal demonstratives in the English language are that and those. They express
that there is some distance between the things being referenced and the speaker.
Possessive determiner
Possessive determiners such as my and their modify a noun by attributing
possession (or other sense of belonging) to someone or something, and usually
reflect the noun's genitive case. They are also known as possessive adjectives.
Quantifiers
Quantifiers indicate quantity. Some examples of quantifiers include: all, some,
many, few, and no. Quantifiers are also dependent of a noun. Quantifiers only
indicate a vague quantity of objects, not a specific number, such as twelve, dozen,
first, single, or once, which would be considered numerals.
Distributive determiners
17

Distributive determiners, also called distributive adjectives, consider members of a
group separately, rather than collectively. Words such as each, any, either, and
neither are examples of distributive determiners. This type of determiner also
depends on a noun. These determiners are not to be confused with distributive
pronouns, which can operate without a noun. Each went his own way. (Each is
used as a pronoun, without an accompanying noun.) Each man went his own way.
(Each is used as a determiner, accompanying the noun man.)
Interrogative determiners
Interrogatives are used to ask a question, such as which, what, and whose (personal
possessive determiner). These determiners also depend on a noun.
As a functional head
Some modern grammatical approaches regard determiners as heads of their own
phrases. In such approaches, noun phrases are generally dominated by determiner
phrases whose heads are often null. Noun phrases that contain only a noun and do
not have a determiner present are known as bare noun phrases [10,228].
18

Conclusion on Chapter I
In conclusion, pronouns and determiners play pivotal roles in the English
language, serving as essential tools for effective communication. Pronouns replace
nouns to avoid repetition and maintain coherence within sentences and
paragraphs. They encompass personal, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative,
relative, and indefinite pronouns, each serving distinct functions in conveying
meaning. Determiners, on the other hand, precede nouns to specify or quantify
them. They include articles, demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, and
distributives, each contributing to the precision and clarity of language.
Understanding the nuances of pronouns and determiners enhances language
proficiency, enabling speakers and writers to express ideas accurately and
succinctly. Mastery of these linguistic elements fosters effective communication
and facilitates the conveyance of complex concepts with clarity and coherence. As
such, a comprehensive grasp of pronouns and determiners is fundamental for
proficiency in the English language. Moreover, the study of pronouns and
determiners extends beyond mere grammatical structures; it delves into the
intricacies of language usage, social dynamics, and cultural contexts. Variations in
pronoun usage, such as the distinction between formal and informal pronouns in
different languages, reflect cultural norms and societal hierarchies. The evolution
of language continually shapes the usage and connotations of pronouns and
determiners. Changes in language usage reflect shifts in societal attitudes, values,
and norms, highlighting the dynamic nature of linguistic communication.
19

Furthermore, the role of pronouns and determiners extends beyond syntax; they
are integral to discourse analysis, pragmatics, and stylistic choices in writing and
speech. Understanding how pronouns and determiners function within discourse
structures enriches comprehension and interpretation, enabling individuals to
navigate linguistic nuances effectively. In essence, the study of pronouns and
determiners illuminates the intricate interplay between language, cognition, and
society. By examining their usage and functions, linguists, educators, and
language learners gain insights into the complexities of human communication
and the diverse ways in which language shapes our perceptions and interactions.
20

CHAPTER II. Outline different types of pronouns that can function as
determiners
2.1. Detail how possessive pronouns can act as determiners
Possessive determiners are determiners which express possession. Some
traditional grammars of English refer to them as possessive adjectives, though they
do not have the same syntactic distribution as bona fide adjectives. Examples in
English include possessive forms of the personal pronouns, namely: my, your, his,
her, its, our and their, but excluding those forms such as mine, yours, ours, and
theirs that are used as possessive pronouns but not as determiners. Possessive
determiners may also be taken to include possessive forms made from nouns, from
other pronouns and from noun phrases, such as John's, the girl's, somebody's, the
king of Spain's, when used to modify a following noun. In many languages,
possessive determiners are subject to agreement with the noun they modify, as in
the French mon, ma, mes, respectively the masculine singular, feminine singular
and plural forms corresponding to the English my [11,109].
Comparison with determiners
Possessive determiners, as used in English and some other languages, imply
the definite article. For example, my car implies the car that belongs to me/is used
by me. (However, "This is the car I have" implies that it is the only car you have,
whereas "This is my car" does not imply that to the same extent. When applied to
relatives other than parents or spouse, there is no implication of uniqueness – "my
brother" can mean equally well "one of my brothers" as "the one brother I have".)
It is not correct to precede possessives with an article (the my car) or (in today's
English) other definite determiner such as a demonstrative (this my car), although
21

they can combine with quantifiers in the same ways that the can (all my cars, my
three cars, etc.; see English determiners). This is not the case in all languages; for
example in Italian the possessive is usually preceded by another determiner such as
an article, as in la mia macchina ("my car", literally "the my car").
Nomenclature
While some classify the words my, your, etc. as possessive adjectives, the
differences noted above make others not consider them adjectives, at least not in
English, and prefer possessive determiners. In some other languages, the
equivalent parts of speech behave more like true adjectives, however. The words
my, your, etc. are sometimes classified, along with mine, yours etc., as possessive
pronouns or genitive pronouns, since they are the possessive (or genitive) forms of
the ordinary personal pronouns I, you etc. However, unlike most other pronouns,
they do not behave grammatically as stand-alone nouns but instead qualify another
noun, as in my book (contrasted with that's mine, for example, in which mine
substitutes for a complete noun phrase such as my book). For that reason, other
authors restrict the term "possessive pronoun" to the group of words mine, yours
etc., which replaces directly a noun or noun phrase. Some authors who classify
both sets of words as "possessive pronouns" or "genitive pronouns" apply the terms
dependent/independent or weak/strong to refer, respectively, to my, your, etc. and
mine, yours, etc. For example, under that scheme, my is termed a dependent
possessive pronoun and mine an independent possessive pronoun. In linguistic
terminology, possessive forms are also referred to as ktetic forms since Latin:
possessivus has its equivalent in Ancient Greek: κτητικός (ktētikós). Term ktetic is
used in reference to ktetic (possessive) adjectives and also to other ktetic
(possessive) forms, including names derived from ktetics (ktetic personal names).
In English
The basic pronominal possessive determiners in Modern English are my,
your, his, her, its, our, their and whose (as in Whose coat is this? and the man
22

whose car was stolen). As noted above, they indicate definiteness, like the definite
article the. Archaic forms include thy and mine/thine (for my/thy before a vowel).
For details, see English personal pronouns. Other possessive determiners (although
they may not always be classed as such though they play the same role in syntax)
are the words and phrases formed by attaching the clitic -'s (or sometimes just an
apostrophe after -s) to other pronouns, to nouns and to noun phrases (sometimes
called determiner phrases). Examples include Jane's, heaven's, the boy's, Jesus', the
soldiers', those men's, the king of England's, one's, somebody's. For more details of
the formation and use of possessives in English, see English possessive. For more
details about the use of determiners generally, see English determiners [12,94].
Other languages Semantics
For possessive determiners as elsewhere, the genitive does not always
indicate strict possession, but rather a general sense of belonging or close
identification with. Consider the following examples involving relational nouns:
my mother or my people
Here, a person does not own his or her mother, but rather has a close relationship
with her. The same applies to my people, which means people I am closely
associated with or people I identify with.
his train (as in "If Bob doesn't get to the station in ten minutes he's going to miss
his train")
Here, Bob most likely does not own the train and instead his train means the train
Bob plans to travel on.
my CD (as in "The kids are enjoying my CD")
my CD could refer to a CD that I own, a CD owned by someone else but with
music that I recorded as an artist, a CD that I have just given to someone here as a
gift, or one with some other relation to me that would be identifiable in the context.
A possessive determiner is a pronoun that is used to express possession or
23

belongingness. It helps the reader know who or what owns the noun that it
determines. Possessive determiners include pronouns such as ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘our’,
‘his’, ‘her’, ‘their’ and ‘its’.
Examples of Possessive Determiners – Learn How They Are Used
 Now, go through the following examples to understand how they work when
used in sentences.
 Firoz forgot his badge at home.
 Lea said that her parents would be home by six in the morning.
 My dog was acting strangely when I was leaving to work.
 We have all informed our parents about the school trip.
 Navya picked up her sister from school on the way home.
 The dog kept wagging its tail on seeing my brother.
 Our friends have reached the hotel.
 We had bought a car recently and its mileage is really good.
 Your dad is a doctor, right?
 Rahul and his friends are playing cricket [13,88].
24

2.2. Demonstrative pronouns as determiners
The four English demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those.
They are used to highlight something that was previously mentioned or that is clear
from the context. Demonstrative pronouns “demonstrate” something; using them is
the verbal equivalent of pointing at something or someone. They draw attention to
the thing or person you’re referring to. Demonstrative pronouns indicate number
(singular or plural) and the relative distance of the thing being referred to [14,182].
Demonstrative pronouns vs. demonstrative determiners
The demonstrative pronouns are identical to the demonstrative determiners
(often called demonstrative adjectives instead). The same words—this, that, these,
and those—are used for both grammatical functions in English. The pronouns and
determiners together can be collectively referred to as demonstratives. A
demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun, meaning that it stands alone as the subject
or object of the sentence. A demonstrative determiner modifies a noun, meaning
that it appears before the noun, telling you something about it. Examples:
Demonstrative pronouns and determiners.
 That is a misconception. I recommend reading this article to understand the
topic better.
 These are very good chocolates, but I still prefer these peanuts.
 I’m afraid I can’t answer that question. This is a classified investigation.
Near” and “far” demonstratives
Demonstratives—both pronouns and determiners—are used to indicate the
distance of the thing or person being referred to from the person speaking or
writing. This (singular) and these (plural) are the “near” (or proximal)
25

demonstratives. They indicate someone or something that is relatively close. That
(singular) and those (plural) are the “far” (or distal) demonstratives. They indicate
someone or something that is relatively far. This can refer to literal physical
distance—for example, contrasting the distance of two physical objects, people, or
locations from the speaker or writer.Examples: Demonstratives referring to
physical distance
 These flowers in my hand are tulips. Those, over on the windowsill, are
roses.
 No, this is my uncle Bill. That’s my dad over there.
 That’s the Van Gogh Museum in the distance, and this building on our left is
the concert hall.
It can also mean distance in time, when you’re contrasting the past or future with
the present.Example: Demonstratives referring to distance in time.
Example: Demonstratives referring to figurative distance.
 She didn’t do anything wrong. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
 This argument isn’t getting us anywhere. Let’s agree to disagree.
 Two major events are often said to mark the beginning of modern European
history. These are the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution
Antecedents of demonstrative pronouns
The antecedent of a pronoun is the noun or phrase it refers to. The
antecedent usually appears before the pronoun—earlier in the sentence or in a
previous sentence. But it can sometimes appear shortly after the pronoun.
Examples: Antecedents of demonstrative pronouns
 I really like orange juice. I think that’s my favorite drink.
 This is my fear: that we aren’t doing enough.
26

But demonstrative pronouns, because of the way they’re used, don’t always have
explicitly named antecedents. When the implied antecedent is clear from the
context, that isn’t a problem. Example: Implied antecedents
 Well, that was awkward. [antecedent = the meeting the speaker and the
person they’re speaking to just left]
 I want these! [antecedent = the toys the speaker is holding]
 What’s that? [antecedent = the building in the distance that the speaker is
pointing at]
In the context in which they were said, the above sentences would all be perfectly
clear, although they are ambiguous without that context.
Demonstratives vs. relative pronouns
As well as being a demonstrative, the word that can also be used as a relative
pronoun. Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses—phrases that
provide more information about the preceding noun. Example: “That” as a relative
pronoun.
 That was the last thing that I expected!
 The other demonstratives (this, these, and those) are not used as relative
pronouns [15,113].
27

2.3. Describe how indefinite pronouns can serve as determiners
English has a large set of words which refer to indefinite quantities, or to
definite but unknown people and objects. If they occur alone, they are pronouns, if
they occur in front of a head noun, they are determiners. Indefinite determiners are
determiners that express quantity or the indefinite ideas of quality. They agree in
number and gender with the noun they modify. Indefinite determiners are
determiners that express quantity or indefinite ideas of quality. We use indefinite
determiners when we want to answer the questions 'how much' or 'how many' and
give someone information about the quantity of something [16,347].
Indefinite Determiners: Types
Indefinite determiners are categorized into two groups:
 indefinite pre-determiners
 indefinite post-determiners
 Indefinite Pre-determiners
Indefinite pre-determiners are the determiners 'both' and 'all' and all the indefinite
partitives. Here are the most common indefinite pre-determiners on the list:
 most/many/much/more
 any/some
 plenty/several
 either/neither/each
 all/both
Most, Many, Much, More.
28

The indefinite determiners 'many' and 'much' refer to a large number and amount.
'Many' is used with plural nouns while 'much' is used with uncountable nouns.
'More' is the comparative form of them and 'most' is the superlative form of them.
 Like most people, I try to be respectful of others.
 I don't have many friends.
 Do you want more money?
Notice that 'more' and 'most' can also be pronouns. In this case, they come alone
and are not followed by a noun or a noun phrase. Some of my friends have their
own cars but many do not. I want more! [17,7].
Plenty, Enough, Several.
All these phrases are used to determine the amount or number of a particular noun.
'Several' and 'plenty' are used with plural countable nouns. The other ones can be
used with both countable and uncountable nouns. Here are the examples:
 Several family members were killed by the villagers.
 There are plenty more chairs in the next room.
Any, Some
'Any' is used in questions and negative sentences while some is used in positive
sentences. 'Any' and 'some' are used with plural countable or uncountable nouns.
Here are the examples:
 Does she need any help?
 I want some milk for breakfast.
 I don't want any money.
 Some cookies have raisins in them and some have chocolate chips.
Either, Neither, Each
'Neither' is used with countable plural nouns and it implies negative meaning, so it
is used with affirmative verbs, while 'either' is used in negative sentences with
negative verbs. Here are the examples:
 Neither car was well-priced.
 Either choice seems logical to me.
29

 Each is another distributive which is followed by the term of and used as an
indefinite pre-determiner.
 Each member is given a particular task to do.
Both and All
'Both' and 'all' are used as pre-determiners or determiners.
 Both my parents are invited to my birthday party
 All children should be taught to swim.
Indefinite Post-determiners
Quantifiers are used as post-determiners. Here are the most common quantifiers on
the list:
 some/any/many
 most/more/every
 several/little/enough, etc.
 I have had many orders.
 That little amount of milk ruined the whole cake [18,91].
30

Conclusion on Chapter II
In conclusion, Chapter 2 has provided a comprehensive overview of the
various types of pronouns that can function as determiners in English grammar.
These include personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns,
interrogative pronouns, and indefinite pronouns. Each type of pronoun serves a
distinct function in specifying or quantifying nouns within a sentence. By
exploring the characteristics and usage of these pronouns, we have gained valuable
insights into how they contribute to the clarity and precision of language.
Understanding the nuances of pronouns as determiners enhances our ability to
convey meaning effectively in both spoken and written communication. Moreover,
the study of pronouns as determiners extends beyond grammatical analysis; it
offers insights into the dynamic nature of language usage and its role in shaping
social interactions and cultural norms. By mastering the use of pronouns as
determiners, language learners and practitioners can enhance their proficiency in
English grammar and communication skills, enabling them to navigate diverse
linguistic contexts with confidence and precision. Furthermore, recognizing the
versatility of pronouns as determiners empowers individuals to express ideas with
conciseness and clarity, while also facilitating effective comprehension by listeners
or readers. Whether indicating possession, specifying objects or individuals, posing
questions, or expressing indefinite quantities, pronouns functioning as determiners
serve as indispensable tools in constructing coherent and cohesive sentences.
Understanding the subtleties of pronouns as determiners also enables language
users to appreciate the nuances of language variation across different contexts,
registers, and styles. By recognizing how pronouns can vary in usage based on
31

factors such as formality, familiarity, and cultural norms, individuals can adapt
their language choices to suit specific communicative goals and situational
requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the examination of pronouns functioning as determiners in
English grammar underscores their pivotal role in facilitating precise and efficient
communication. Throughout this exploration, we have delved into various types of
pronouns, including personal, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, and
indefinite pronouns, each contributing distinctively to the specification and
quantification of nouns. Understanding the nuances of pronouns as determiners not
only enhances grammatical proficiency but also fosters an appreciation for the
intricacies of language usage. Mastery of these linguistic elements empowers
individuals to express ideas succinctly and effectively, navigating diverse
communicative contexts with clarity and confidence. The study of pronouns as
determiners extends beyond grammatical analysis, offering insights into the
dynamic interplay between language, culture, and social dynamics. By recognizing
how pronouns can vary in usage across different contexts, individuals can adapt
their language choices to suit specific communicative goals and situational
requirements. In essence, the exploration of pronouns as determiners illuminates
the richness and complexity of English grammar, highlighting the fundamental role
that these linguistic elements play in shaping our interactions and perceptions. By
honing our understanding of pronouns as determiners, we not only refine our
language skills but also deepen our comprehension of the intricate mechanisms
underlying human communication. Furthermore, the versatility of pronouns as
determiners allows for flexibility in expression, enabling speakers and writers to
convey meaning with precision and efficiency. Whether indicating possession,
32

specifying objects or individuals, posing questions, or expressing indefinite
quantities, pronouns serve as indispensable tools in constructing coherent and
cohesive sentences. By mastering the use of pronouns as determiners, language
learners and practitioners can navigate the complexities of English grammar with
confidence. Understanding how pronouns function within sentences empowers
individuals to craft clear and concise communication, fostering effective
engagement with diverse audiences. Moreover, the study of pronouns as
determiners offers valuable insights into language variation and usage across
different registers, styles, and cultural contexts. By recognizing how pronouns can
vary in formality, familiarity, and sociolinguistic norms, individuals can adapt their
language choices to suit the communicative demands of specific situations.
33

The list of literature
1.Adams, V. Complex Words in English Pearson, (2001), 36-37p.
2.Adamson, S. “A lovely little example” In O. Fischer, A. Rosenbach and D. Stein
(eds.), (2000), 116-p.
3. Burling, R.The Talking Ape Oxford University Press, (2005), 30-p.
4.Burridge, K. Blooming English Cambridge University Press, (2004), 1-5p.
5.Cameron, D. (1995) Verbal Hygiene Routledge Working with Spoken Discourse
Sage, (2001),79-p.
6.Campbell, L. Historical Linguistics: An Introduction (2nd edition) MIT Press,
(2004), 45-p.
7.Cannon, G. The Life and Mind of Oriental Jones Cambridge University , (1990)
Press Huddleston, Rodney; Pullum, Geoff .The Cambridge Grammar of the
English Language. Cambridge University Press, (2002), 83-p.
8. "My Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster". Jesperson, All about grammar,
(1949), 123-p.
9.Myrna Bell Rochester, McGraw Hill Professional, 2008 Payne and Huddleston
2002, 217-p.
10. "Oxford Languages | The Home of Language Data". Archived from the original
on July 21, 2012, 228-p.
11.Quirk et al. (1985), 109-p.
34

12.Rosemary Allen, Easy French step-by-step, 2007, 94-p.
13.Rehg, Kenneth L.; Sohl, Damian G. (1981). Ponapean Reference
Grammar,PALI language texts: Micronesia. University of Hawaii Press, (1981),
88-p.
14.Swan, M. Grammar Oxford University Press, (2005), 182-p.
15.Tallermann, M. Understanding Syntax (2nd edition) Hodder Arnold, (2005),
113-p.
16.Tannen, D. (1984) Conversational Style Ablex You Just Don’t Understand
William Morrow, (1990), 347-p.
17.Valian, V. “Input and language acquisition” In W. Ritchie and T. Bhatia (eds.)
Handbook of Child Language Acquisition Academic Press , (1999), 7-p.
18.Valli, C., C. Lucas and K. Mulrooney Linguistics of American Sign Language:
An Introduction (4th edition) Gallaudet University Press, (2005), 91-p.
Online links :
1.www.britannic.com
2.www.englishgrammar.com
3.www.advancedenglish.com
4.http://fayllar.org
35

Pronouns as determiners in English

Sotib olish