代名詞 (Pronouns)
The twins ran home from school because they knew their grandpa would have gifts for them.
這對雙胞胎從學校跑回家，因為他們知道他們的爺爺會有禮物給他們。
句子的主詞, The twins (這對雙胞胎)，被後面的三個代名詞 (they, their, them) 所替代。 The twins 是名詞，也是這三個代名詞的先行詞。
代名詞也因其扮演的角色不同，而有主格(they)、所有格(their) 與受格(them)的區分。
如果不用代名詞，將上面句子重寫：
The twins ran home from school because the twins knew the twins' grandpa would have gifts for the twins. （彆扭的句子）
相信讀者已領會到代名詞的好處。不用代名詞， the twins 得重複被使用，句子顯得累贅而且彆扭。
代名詞與先行詞一致： The twins 是複數名詞, 也是代名詞 they, their, them 的先行詞。 代名詞必須與它的先行詞的「數」一致 。所以我們不能用單數的代名詞 she, her, 或 his, him 等來取代 The twins 這個複數名詞。
- 每個女孩都穿著制服。
- Each girl wore their uniform.
然而，並不是每一個代名詞都要有先行詞。
Everyone wanted Michael to be the captain of the team.
每個人都希望 Michael 是團隊的隊長。
Everyone 是個不定代名詞在這裡它並沒有先行詞。
代名詞出現在先行詞前面
While kids his age were reading Shakespeare and dissecting frogs, Benito Vasquez was picking grapes and almonds in the Central Valley.
當同他這個年齡的孩子們在閱讀莎士比亞和解剖青蛙時，貝尼托·巴斯克斯在中央山谷採摘葡萄和杏仁。
有時候因為句子結構的改變，代名詞會出現在先行詞前面。像上句的代名詞 his 是指後面的名詞 Benito Vasquez。
美國一般高中生得修文學(閱讀莎士比亞)與科學(解剖青蛙)，而家境窮困的墨西哥小孩貝尼托·巴斯克斯可就沒那麼幸運了，他得在(加州)中央山谷忙著採摘葡萄和杏仁。
美國一般高中生得修文學(閱讀莎士比亞)與科學(解剖青蛙)，而家境窮困的墨西哥小孩貝尼托·巴斯克斯可就沒那麼幸運了，他得在(加州)中央山谷忙著採摘葡萄和杏仁。
“his age”修飾 kids，與他同年齡的孩子們。
以從屬連接詞 While 所引導的從屬子句 While kids his age were reading Shakespeare and dissecting frogs 是用來修飾主要子句的動詞 "was picking"。
主要子句 Benito Vasquez was picking grapes and almonds in the Central Valley. 是可以單獨存在的。
以從屬連接詞 While 所引導的從屬子句 While kids his age were reading Shakespeare and dissecting frogs 是用來修飾主要子句的動詞 "was picking"。
主要子句 Benito Vasquez was picking grapes and almonds in the Central Valley. 是可以單獨存在的。
代名詞種類非常多，我們把「常用2000字詞」中的代名詞歸類如下：
| 代名詞 | 範例 |
|---|---|
| 人稱代名詞 | I, me, my, you, your, he, him, his, she, her, it, its, we, us, our, they, them, their |
| 所有格代名詞 | mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs |
| 反身代名詞 | myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves |
| 指示代名詞 | this, that, these, those |
| 疑問代名詞 | who, whom, whose, which, what, where |
| 關係代名詞 | who, whom, whose, which, that |
| 相互代名詞 | each other, one another |
| 不定代名詞 | all, another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, both, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, most, neither, nobody, none, nothing, oneself, other, some, somebody, someone, something |
代名詞和名詞同樣具有：「數」、「性」、「 格 」的特性。在格方面，代名詞作主詞時用主格,作受詞時用受格；代名詞的所有格形式與主格或受格不一樣，讀者更應該區別人稱代名詞的所有格形容詞和所有格代名詞的不同用法。
| 人稱 | 數 | 性 | 主格 | 受格 | 所有格形容詞 | 所有格代名詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 第一人稱 | 單數 | 陽性/陰性 | I | me | my | mine |
| 複數 | 陽性/陰性 | we | us | our | ours | |
| 第二人稱 | 單數 | 陽性/陰性 | you | you | your | yours |
| 複數 | 陽性/陰性 | you | you | your | yours | |
| 第三人稱 | 單數 | 陽性 | he | him | his | his |
| 陰性 | she | her | her | hers | ||
| 中性/無性 | it | it | its | its | ||
| 複數 | 陽性/陰性/中性/無性 | they | them | their | theirs |
In my whole life, I follow what inspires me.
在我的一生中，我追隨啟發我的事物。
人稱代名詞有主格(I)、受格(me)、所有格(my)之區分。
I loved his visits and found myself thinking of him a lot when he was away.
我喜歡他的來訪，並且當他不在的時候，發現自己非常想他。
人稱代名詞有主格(he)、受格(him)、所有格(his)之區分。
- 它是件可愛的禮服。
- Its a lovely dress.
- 其含義是深埋在故事的後頭。
- It's meaning is buried deep in the rest of the story.
介系詞後面的代名詞要用受格
This is a matter for me to decide.
這是一件由我來做決定的事。
介系詞 for 之後的代名詞要用受格。
- 這是Fred 和我該決定的事。
- This is a matter for Fred and I to decide.
底下這兩個句子哪一個是對的？
I like you more than him.
I like you more than he.
其實這兩個句子都是正確的，但意義不同。
I like you more than him.
（= I like you more than I like him.）
（= I like you more than I like him.）
我喜歡你勝過於喜歡他。
I like you more than he.
（= I like you more than he does.)
（= I like you more than he likes you.)
（= I like you more than he does.)
（= I like you more than he likes you.)
我喜歡你勝過於他喜歡你。
兩個句子的"than"都是連接詞。 第一句的"him"用的是受格，它的地位等於句子前面另一個受格"you"，都是當作動詞 like 的受詞，第一句的"than"連接兩個代名詞。而第二句的"he"是主格，與"I"平行，只是 he 後面的 likes you 被省略掉了，第二句的"than"連接兩個子句。
一般國人使用代名詞比較容易出差錯的通常發生在主格與受格錯置。
- My sister and me went to the post office this morning.
- The teacher saw Michael and I last night.
One 也可以拿來當代名詞使用。
I can't remember, Mommy. Do you owe me a hug or do I owe you one?
我不記得了，媽咪。是您欠我一個擁抱，還是我欠您一個(擁抱)？
"one" 代替先前提及的名詞"a hug"， 一個擁抱。
