Difference between revisions of "Pronoun"

Revision as of 08:10, 29 July 2013

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Pronouns can substitute in for regular nouns and proper nouns so that you aren't just repeating yourself over and over again. They also have some special characteristics that we'll get into.

Characteristics

There are many different kinds of pronouns depending on what you are referring to: personal pronouns (he, she, we, etc.), demonstrative pronouns (this, that), and interrogative pronouns (who, what). Pronouns can go anywhere that a noun goes, but you have to be sure to use the right kind. If you are talking about a person, use a personal pronoun. If you are asking a question, use an interrogative pronoun. They can all be modified for expressing possession by adding "的". This does not apply to close relationships with personal pronouns.

Additional Notes

In order to pluralize pronouns that ask questions, you have to put "些" after them. This is similar to "that type" or "that kind". It just broadens the question a little more.

There are also some set phrases modify pronouns:

可怜的...
美丽的...
善良的...

Subcategories

Sources

A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 95-105) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 28-35) →buy
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 22-8) →buy
实用汉语语法 (pp. 54-5) →buy

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 ==Characteristics==
-There are many different kinds of pronouns depending on what you are referring to: personal pronouns (he, she, we, etc.), demonstrative (this, that), and [[Placement of question words|interrogative]] (who, what). Pronouns can go anywhere that a noun goes, but you have to be sure to use the right kind. They can all be modified for [[expressing possession]] by adding "的". This does not apply to [[Expressing close possession|close relationships]] with personal pronouns.
+There are many different kinds of pronouns depending on what you are referring to: personal pronouns (he, she, we, etc.), demonstrative pronouns (this, that), and [[Placement of question words|interrogative]] pronouns (who, what). Pronouns can go anywhere that a noun goes, but you have to be sure to use the right kind. If you are talking about a person, use a personal pronoun. If you are asking a question, use an interrogative pronoun. They can all be modified for [[expressing possession]] by adding "的". This does not apply to [[Expressing close possession|close relationships]] with personal pronouns.
-===Personal Pronouns===
-Personal pronouns include 我, 你, 他, and 她. Those are all singular though. To make them plural, all you need to do is add the [[suffix]] "-们" to it. Additionally, there is a polite second person form "您", but that is falling out of usage, and it cannot take the "-们" suffix.
-When referring to a group, "他们" refers to a group of all males or a mixed group. "她们" refers to a group of females. Note that this is only important while writing, because otherwise they are pronounced the same! You can also use this to say "and that group" by saying a name and then putting "他们" behind it. When referring to a group in first-person (i.e. we), there are two constructions in Chinese: 我们 and 咱们. The former is used to exclude the listener, while the latter includes them.
-When making reflexive sentences (sentences with himself, myself, etc.), you have to add "自己" after the personal pronoun. This is sort of the "self" marker.
 == Additional Notes ==