I'm afraid I do find it objectionable to use the term "pronoun" for items that do not, in fact, function as such. It's another way that traditional grammar can cause confusion by mushing distinctions (as is done with form and function for adjectives) or by giving incomplete or inaccurate descriptions (e.g., that a pronoun stands in for a noun, not a noun phrase, or that simple present tense means actual present time for all verbs, not just state verbs). Now, language itself is pretty good at mushing distinctions, but we analysts of language can at least aim for clean-cut terminology use. I don't think much can be done about the use of "possessive pronoun" for the items in question, but ... if I were queen of the world ... Dr. Johanna Rubba, Ph. D. Associate Professor, Linguistics Linguistics Minor Advisor English Dept. Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 Ofc. tel. : 805-756-2184 Dept. tel.: 805-756-2596 Dept. fax: 805-756-6374 E-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/