1. Research shows that one of the most overused words in any language is the word for I. Changing I to me (or vice versa) brings greater variety to your speech and writing. 2. Just between you and me, this course is a disaster. 3. It takes two, me and you, to make a dream come true. 4. Hello! Is that me you are looking for? 5. The relationship between them was often strained. 6. Look at the fish. It is alive! 7. He wanted her to go to a movie with him. 8. — Who is there? — It is I (me). 9. Max loved ice-cream more than she. 10.The future is yours, don't let them take it from you. 11. My name should come after yours if the list is alphabetical. 12. Will you share your life with mine? 13. Everything I have is yours. 14. The responsibility is hers. 15. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. 16. Jack and Amelia changed my life, just as I changed theirs. 17. "By the way, Catherine sends her love to you and Pete." — Blanche smiled. "And give her ours." 18. Theirs was a true love story. 19. I don't want any partners. I want this business to really be mine. 20. Like most people who keep diaries, Judy usually writes in hers each evening. 21. Is there any place for me in this heart of yours, Susan?
Ex. 2. Read the text about Keiko Wilson. It's not very natural. Which nouns can you replace with pronouns or possessive adjectives? Underline them. Rewrite the text to make it more natural.
Keiko Wilson is Japanese, but Keiko lives in New-York because Keiko is married to an American. Keiko is an interpreter. Keiko lives in New York because New York is interesting, but Keiko's husband, Walter, doesn't like New York. Walter wants to leave and live in the country.
Keiko and Walter have two children. Walter takes the two children and the two children's dog out of the city in Walter's free time. Walter and the children go walking in summer and skiing in winter, but Keiko doesn't go with Walter and the children because Keiko doesn't have any free time.
Ex. 3. Choose the correct pronoun.
1. Bob is one of (our, us, ours) best pupils.
2. It isn't (my, mine) bag. I've left (my, me, mine) at home.
3. I've just waxed the floor. Don't walk on (it’s, it, its) yet.
4. Let (they, them, their) read the story again.
5. (You, your, yours) ticket is on the table and where is (her, she, hers)!
6. (Your, you, yours) house is not far from (our, us, ours).
7. Whose cigarettes are these? They may be (our, ours) cigarettes. Oh, yes, they are (our, ours).
8. (Our, ours) car is faster than (their, theirs).
9. Could you help me sort out these things? I cannot tell which are (your, you, yours) and which are (we, our, ours).
10. This is not (my, mine, me) car. (My, Mine, Me) is a 1980 model.
11. We know (they, them, theirs) very well and both Peter and Nell know (we, us, ours).
12. You can do it without (mine, my, me) help but not without (they,
their, theirs).
13. Can I borrow (your, yours, you) umbrella? — I'm sorry, it isn't (me, my, mine).
14. Who told you about it? — A friend of (you, your, yours).
15. This suitcase isn't (us, our, ours). There's somebody's name on it.
Ex. 4. Translate into English.
1. Можно мне воспользоваться твоим принтером? Мой ремонтируют. 2. Этот калькулятор наш, а тот их. 3. Это редкая книга, ее стоимость очень высока. 4. Ты знаешь, что все, что я имею — твое. 5. Не паркуй свою машину рядом с моей. 6. Это недорогой фотоаппарат, но его качество хорошее. 7. Все это случилось не по моей вине. 8. Ты не знаешь, что это такое — быть мной. 9. Конференция открывается через несколько дней, а ее программа еще неизвестна. 10. Ну что же, выбор за вами.
11. Он рассказал мне свою историю жизни (life story), а я свою. 12. Один из ваших пациентов только что звонил. 13. Он закончил письмо и подписался «Искренне Ваш Роберт».
Reflexive Pronouns
The reflexive pronouns are:
singular myself / yourself (one person) / himself/ herself / itself
plural ourselves / yourselves (more than one person) / themselves
We use myself, himself, yourself etc., when the subject and the object are the same.
Study this example.
George cut himself when he was shaving this morning. I don't want you to pay for me. I'll pay for myself. Julia had a great holiday. She enjoyed herself very much.
Compare:
It's not our fault. You can't blame us. It's our own fault. We blame ourselves.
Ø We do not use myself / yourself etc. after bring / take something.
