pronoun

hanuman_2000 · Post by **hanuman_2000** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:00 pm

Sir,

Your book is good.

replacing "your book" with pronoun "yours".

Is it correct?

thanks.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 12:35 am

Possible, if there is a need to emphasize the book's owner. A more natural choice of pronoun, though, would be a simple 'it'.

hanuman_2000 · Post by **hanuman_2000** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 3:48 am

Sir,

Your book is good.

After replacing "your book" with a pronoun ,the sentence is written like "It is good."

Then one doubt arose in my mind.

Your English is excellent.

Now I have to replace "your English" with a pronoun.

Would it be like

Yours is excellent.

It is excellent.

Thanks.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 3:54 am

Grammatically, either is perfectly possible. It depends, as stated, on whether we wish to emphasize the 'owner' (or, in this case, the speaker). If no special emphasis is required, then 'it' is fine, otherwise 'yours' would obviously be preferable.

hanuman_2000 · Post by **hanuman_2000** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 4:43 am

Sir,

"Your book is excellent",She said.

"Your English is excellent", He said.

Here in both senetences What is being emphasize?

Please explain it.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:16 am

There is no particular indication of emphasis here.
Thus, as stated, the simple personal pronoun 'it' would be the most natural choice of pronoun to replace the boldfaced phrases.

On the other hand, in YOUR English is excellent, but your BROTHER'S is not, we could replace the subject NPs with possessive pronouns 'yours' and 'his' respectively.