Template:YourPronouns
This template uses the current user's pronouns. The first parameter is which form of the pronoun is being used. There are multiple ways you can do indicate the form, but the easiest way is to use the corresponding form of "they". Contractions should go outside the template with the exception of the forms corresponding to "they're" and "they've". The second parameter determines the random seed for random pronoun selection. These random selections will only be from the pronoun sets selected by the user. This is optional, but if you would like to have different random selected pronouns in a piece of text; set this to different values in different sentences. Make sure that it's the same value within sentences, as some people prefer to have the same pronoun used in a sentence.
Add your pronouns at Module:UserPronouns.
By default, the template will not use pronouns and will instead use the user's username. If the user is not logged in, it will use "Y/N" in place of a username.
This template has an alias (Template:yp) in case you don't want to type out the whole thing.
Example usage
This morning, {{YourPronouns|they|1}} went to the park.<br>
I went with {{YourPronouns|them|2}}.<br>
And {{YourPronouns|they|3}} brought {{YourPronouns|their|3}} frisbee.<br>
At least I think it was {{YourPronouns|theirs|3}}.<br>
By the end of the day, {{YourPronouns|they|4}} started throwing the frisbee to {{YourPronouns|themself|4}}.<br>
Look out, {{yp|they're|5}} about to pull the self-destruct lever!<br>
Well... now {{yp|they've|5}} pulled the self-destruct lever...
Result:
This morning, Y/N went to the park.
I went with Y/N.
And Y/N brought Y/N's frisbee.
At least I think it was Y/N's.
By the end of the day, Y/N started throwing the frisbee to Y/N's self.
Look out, Y/N is about to pull the self-destruct lever!
Well... now Y/N has pulled the self-destruct lever...
Capitalization at the start of a sentence
Sometimes, you'll start a sentence with a pronoun. If you're doing that, it'll need to be capitalized. You can use the magic word ucfirst to inflict that on this template.
{{ucfirst:{{yp|they|6}}}} turned on {{yp|their|6}} computer.
Result:
Y/N turned on Y/N's computer.
Verbal agreement
Not all pronouns interact with verbs in the same way. Verbal agreement is the way in which verbs change depending on tense, gender, number, and/or person. In English, verb-subject agreement usually only changes for third person singular pronouns in the present tense (there are edge cases, but we'll get to those in a second). For most English verbs, the "-s" suffix is added when they are in simple present tense with a third person singular subject. Because they/them also functions as a plural third person pronoun, even when it is being used as singular it maintains the verbal agreement of a plural pronoun. That is to say, your verbs aren't always going to work with user pronouns. Some pronouns derived from they/them also use plural pronoun agreement, so simply checking for they/them is not going to work 100% of the time.
The template Template:YourPronounAgreement (alias: Template:ypa) exists to account for verbal agreement in all cases. Input the same random seed offset as the pronoun instance the verb is connected to, followed by the two forms of the verb. This template is only needed when the verb is in present tense and not in present participial form ("-ing" suffix).
When writing with this template, there are a few edge cases you'll need to be aware of. Firstly, there exists an additional form for first person singular pronoun subjects — consider "they are" vs "I am". For forms of the copula (the word "be" and its various forms), a third parameter may be set for the additional first person form (there is an option to use first person pronouns for yourself in the module). The past tense form of the English copula also has its own agreement forms — "was" and "were", and it is the only past tense verb to do so (that I know of).
To determine whether or not ypa is needed, simply imagine substituting the pronoun with they and a third person pronoun which uses singular agreement. If any verbs in the sentence change form, you'll need to use the agreement template on them.
{{ucfirst:{{yp|they|7}}}} {{ypa|7|are|is|am}} making edits to {{yp|their|7}} wiki pages, and {{ypa|7|prefer|prefers}} to use the source editor when doing so.<br>
{{ucfirst:{{yp|they|8}}}} and Nerpy Scuba edit them fairly often.<br>
I think that {{yp|they|9}}, or perhaps a nerpoing, {{ypa|9|find|finds}} great enjoyment in doing these edits.
Result:
Y/N is making edits to Y/N's wiki pages, and prefers to use the source editor when doing so.
Y/N and Nerpy Scuba edit them fairly often.
I think that Y/N, or perhaps a nerpoing, finds great enjoyment in doing these edits.
Common verbs with irregular agreement forms
| 3SG | 3PL | 1P |
|---|---|---|
| is | are | am |
| isn't | aren't | am not |
| was | were | was |
| wasn't | weren't | wasn't |
| has | have | |
| hasn't | haven't | |
| does | do | |
| doesn't | don't | |
| goes | go | |