Practice
Pronouns: types, rules, and examples
In the sentence "Nora called Amir because she needed help," she replaces Nora. A pronoun can save us from repeating the same noun, but the reader still needs to know who the word means.
Identify a pronoun and choose a pronoun that clearly replaces a noun in a simple sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
They are waiting for us. /ðeɪ ɑr ˈweɪ.tɪŋ fɔr ʌs/
The short answer
A pronoun replaces a noun. Choose a pronoun that agrees with the noun and makes the meaning clear. In Elena put her coat on the chair, her refers to Elena.
Marcus forgot his phone at home.
Why it works: His replaces Marcus and shows that the phone belongs to him.
5 more examples
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Ava and Leo are waiting outside. They are ready to leave.
They replaces the two names and is the subject of are.
Not this:
Ava and Leoare waiting outside. What changes: The names are clear, but repeating them in the next sentence is often unnecessary. -
I sent her the meeting time.
Her is an object pronoun because it receives the action sent.
Not this:
Shesent me the meeting time. What changes: She is a subject pronoun because she does the action. -
Their apartment is near the station.
Their comes before apartment and shows who owns it.
Not this:
The apartmentis near the station. What changes: Without their, the sentence does not tell us whose apartment it is. -
Mina taught herself to use the new printer.
Herself refers back to Mina, who both did and received the learning action.
Not this:Mina taught
her neighborto use the new printer. What changes: Her neighbor names a different person, so a reflexive pronoun is not needed. -
These are the documents for today's appointment.
These points to more than one nearby thing.
Not this:
Thisis the document for today's appointment. What changes: This points to one thing, while these points to more than one.
Read the full guide
First, find the noun that the pronoun replaces. Then check whether the pronoun tells the reader who or what you mean. In The keys are on the table. They are beside the lamp, they refers to the keys.
Find the noun first
A pronoun usually replaces a noun that the listener or reader already knows. Find that noun before you choose the pronoun.
The manager is in a meeting. She will call later.
She replaces the manager. It is the subject of will call.
Who does she mean in the example?
She means the manager.
Choose subject and object pronouns
Subject pronouns do an action. Object pronouns receive an action or come after a preposition. Common pairs are she and her, he and him, we and us, and they and them.
They invited us to dinner.
They is the subject because it does the inviting. Us is the object because it receives the invitation.
Choose the object pronoun: The teacher spoke to I or The teacher spoke to me?
Use me: The teacher spoke to me. After to, use an object pronoun.
Show who owns something
Possessive words can show ownership. Use my, your, his, her, its, our, or their before a noun. The noun tells you what belongs to that person, animal, or group.
Our tickets are in the drawer.
Our tells us who owns the tickets.
Complete the sentence: Priya found ___ keys.
Use her: Priya found her keys.
Use reflexive pronouns for the same person
Use myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, or themselves when the subject and object are the same person or thing.
We made ourselves sandwiches.
We did the action, and ourselves received the action.
Which word completes the sentence: Daniel hurt ___ while moving the chair?
Use himself: Daniel hurt himself while moving the chair.
Keep the reference clear
Do not use a pronoun when the reader cannot tell which noun it means. Repeat a name, or change the sentence, when two possible nouns are nearby.
After Mei met Sofia, Mei sent the address.
Repeating Mei makes the meaning clear. She sent the address could mean Mei or Sofia.
Why is he unclear in Omar called Daniel because he had news?
He could mean Omar or Daniel. Use a name to show who had news.
Before you go
Remember this
A pronoun replaces a noun. Match it to the person or thing it refers to, and make sure the reader can identify that person or thing. Use a name again when a pronoun could cause confusion.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Pronouns: types, rules, and examples"
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or noun phrase. It can stop a sentence from repeating the same name. In Ava and Leo are waiting outside. They are ready to leave, they replaces Ava and Leo.
Ava and Leo are waiting outside. They are ready to leave.
What is the difference between she and her?
Use she as a subject pronoun when the person does the action. Use her as an object pronoun when the person receives the action or follows a preposition. She sent me the meeting time uses she as the subject, while I sent her the meeting time uses her as the object.
Ava and Leo are waiting outside.
What do possessive pronouns show?
Possessive words show who owns or is connected to something. Use their before a noun in a sentence such as Their apartment is near the station. The word their tells the reader whose apartment it is.
I sent her the meeting time.
When do I use myself or herself?
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person. In Mina taught herself to use the new printer, Mina did the teaching and received the learning action. The pronoun herself refers back to Mina.
She sent me the meeting time.
How can I avoid an unclear pronoun?
Use a name again when a pronoun could refer to two different people or things. In When Sam spoke to Jordan, he was late, he is unclear. Say Sam was late or Jordan was late so the reader knows who the sentence means.
Their apartment is near the station.