Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun to avoid repeating it.
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A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun to avoid repeating it.
- Personal pronouns include I, you, he and they
- Possessive pronouns include mine and theirs
- Reflexive pronouns end in self or selves
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Pronouns?
Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Pronouns. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.
Check that you can explain Pronouns in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Pronouns helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
Pronouns in detail
Pronouns replace nouns so that we do not have to repeat them: "Sam lost his book, so he borrowed hers." Personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) change form depending on whether they are the subject (she) or the object (her).
Other types include possessive pronouns (mine, yours, theirs), reflexive pronouns (myself, themselves), relative pronouns (who, which, that) and demonstrative pronouns (this, those). A pronoun must clearly refer to one noun, called its antecedent, otherwise the meaning is confusing, as in "Tom told Jack that he was late." Using them well makes writing smoother.
How the interactive helps you understand Pronouns
Click a card to flip it and reveal the answer, then move on to the next one.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Pronouns.
Real-life uses and examples
- Spot Pronouns when you read a poem, story or speech, then explain the effect it creates.
- Use Pronouns to make your own writing more precise and vivid.
- Support a point about Pronouns with a short, accurate quotation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
- Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Pronouns
What is Pronouns?
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun to avoid repeating it.
What are the most important points about Pronouns?
The main points are: Personal pronouns include I, you, he and they; Possessive pronouns include mine and theirs; Reflexive pronouns end in self or selves.
Why is Pronouns useful?
Understanding Pronouns helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
How can I practise Pronouns?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Pronouns?
Related topics in English include Adjectives, Conjunctions, Subjects and Predicates.