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The option that best describes me is...
I have never had problems using pronouns. 36%  36%  [ 20 ]
I used to have problems using pronouns correctly but not anymore. 11%  11%  [ 6 ]
I have problems using pronouns correctly only when shut down or upset. 7%  7%  [ 4 ]
I have problems using pronouns under minimal stress or fairly often, but wouldn't consider it a huge problem (a mistake or two a day, more under stress) 21%  21%  [ 12 ]
I have obvious problems using pronouns daily, regardless of any outside stressor. 9%  9%  [ 5 ]
When I think to myself, I may use pronouns differently, especially in relation to myself, but haven't any problems with them in speech or text. 11%  11%  [ 6 ]
Something else describes me best / I want to know the answers. 5%  5%  [ 3 ]
Total votes : 56

buryuntime
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24 Mar 2011, 5:21 pm

pronoun: A function word that is used in place of a noun or noun phrase

I find it difficult to provide examples because confusing pronouns generally makes the whole thing confusing. But I think the most common problem would be using you/we/he/she/me/ instead of I, leaving out pronouns (not referring to self as I or anything, or speaking in the third person), and confusing who is who in a sentence (saying mine instead of your when your is what one means).

There are probably many other problems one can have with this.



jmnixon95
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24 Mar 2011, 5:23 pm

I always think of the right pronouns, but occasionally the wrong ones come out.
A very common example for me: when I don't know where to put something, I say, "Where do we put this?" It's nearly automatic. I'm not carrying or holding something along with someone else, so the usage of "we" isn't exactly appropriate grammatically.



pensieve
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24 Mar 2011, 6:14 pm

I said fairly often but I can pick up easily when a type or speak the wrong pronoun. I just think my brain is thinking faster than I type or speak.
When I was a kid, yeah, I really struggled with pronouns.


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SammichEater
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24 Mar 2011, 6:21 pm

When I was a little kid I referred to myself as "you" instead of "I" or "me".



the_curmudge
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24 Mar 2011, 7:13 pm

jmnixon95 wrote:
A very common example for me: when I don't know where to put something, I say, "Where do we put this?"


That strikes me as an elegant way of saying, "What is the proper or customary place to put this?" Of course, if that isn't what you mean, it isn't so elegant.

My problem with pronouns regards gender. Way back when I learned English, "he" could also mean "he or she". I've tried to update my usage by actually stating "he or she" or sometimes using "she" to mean "he or she," but I must admit to feeling uncomfortable with the latter. Frankly, I no longer know what acceptable, inoffensive usage is in this area.



jmnixon95
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24 Mar 2011, 7:16 pm

the_curmudge wrote:
jmnixon95 wrote:
A very common example for me: when I don't know where to put something, I say, "Where do we put this?"


That strikes me as an elegant way of saying, "What is the proper or customary place to put this?" Of course, if that isn't what you mean, it isn't so elegant.


I am not quite sure what I mean when I say it... I know I've been saying it since I was young, though. I don't have trouble with any other pronouns, so perhaps it is merely "elegant", as you put it.



patiz
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24 Mar 2011, 7:27 pm

In speech, I am useless at pronouns, in writing I am able to use them with ease.



buryuntime
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24 Mar 2011, 7:29 pm

Thanks so far.

Issues with pronouns seems to be something that I don't see discussed very often, if at all. And yet the only other autistic I know has very obvious problems with it and I confuse them annoyingly often.

I wonder how exclusive this is to the autism spectrum (or other language defects) and if the normal population also has issues sometimes though. Have you noticed "normal" people having trouble with pronouns?



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24 Mar 2011, 7:35 pm

I don't think I had it growing up, but I observed it in my son as he was learning to speak, (still learning and he's 9....) and I think it has to do with echolalia.
You ask a young child "do you want juice?" , he will answer "want juice". Then he will remember , and when he's thirsty, will ask "you want juice?" And you correct him: "I want juice". So he goes and get you juice. You laugh and explain, "if YOU want juice, you say "I want juice", ok?" "ok, I want juice?" "yes honey, good boy"....and he goes and gets you juice. Then you bang your head against the wall a few times and feel better. (just kidding).
It might be related because he still struggles sometimes.



andrew_w
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26 Mar 2011, 1:52 am

I have no problems using pronouns in speech or writing. I did reverse pronouns (using second person instead of first person) when I was a kid, though, but I stopped at around the age of 4 or 5. However, I use mostly third-person pronouns in my thoughts, except if I'm thinking of something to say (this is related to the way my mind is divided into "external" and "internal" sections).



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26 Mar 2011, 2:07 am

I reversed them a lot in childhood. Now, I do reverse them daily without any particular stressors, but it seems to mostly be because of the way my language system is set up (including that it's based on echolalia). It produces several other errors because of that language origin too.


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26 Mar 2011, 4:43 am

I never had a problem but i have always studyed latin alongside my native tounge.

My son who is 3.5(HFA) Has never had problems either, his problem is that he has no name. If I ask "what is your name?" he responds.... "I am me, myself or my daughter's brother" :D


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Shemesh
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26 Mar 2011, 8:02 am

My son who is nearly 4 often mixes up his pronouns, especially "I": and "you", and nearly always when he's excited.
It recently led to quite a funny (and somewhat embarrassing) situation when he started shouting at the top of his voice in public "Daddy, you farted! You did a really stinky fart!" (My son often laughs and finds certain bodily functions such as sneezing, hiccuping, farting, etc very funny) :)



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26 Mar 2011, 12:32 pm

Pronouns are fine, but nouns occasionally get lost.



Zen
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26 Mar 2011, 12:37 pm

I use "you" a lot when I mean some random person, but I don't know that that's unusual. Is it? Sometimes I use "you" when I mean "I", and sometimes I'll catch myself and say something like, "and by 'you' I mean 'me'." :lol:



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26 Mar 2011, 12:45 pm

I occasionally mix up pronouns but it's not a big deal for me.
In relation to myself in my thoughts, I use "I", "you" and less often "she".