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Core English Pronouns

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Core English pronouns is an introduction to a variety of types of pronouns and how they are used in the English language.

Contents

English Pronouns

Types of English Pronouns

Practice Exercises

Exit Exercise

What is a Pronoun?

  • Pronouns replace or refer to a noun (noun phrase)
  • John was at work all day, he was tired.
    • he refers to the noun John
  • Emma had a cup of coffee, she drank it then went out.
    • she refers to the noun Emma, it refers to the noun phrase ‘a cup of coffee’

Use pronouns to replace the subject or object

  • The boy kicked the ball
  • He kicked the ball
  • The boy kicked it

Notice we replace the nouns, but also the article with the noun

  • The boy-> he
  • The ball -> it

Use pronouns to replace the noun phrase:

  • The tall boy kicked the blue ball
  • He kicked it
  • A young boy kicked an orange ball
  • He kicked it
  • A good artist can paint a tasty apple
  • She/He can paint it

Personal Gender

Replace the underlined noun with the correct pronoun:

  • My friend likes soccer. _____ plays it every day.
  • My friend likes soccer. He plays it every day.
  • My friend likes soccer. She plays it every day.

Personal Agreement

  • Wrong: “Me and him went to the store”
  • Correct: “He and I went to the store.”

Personal Pronouns

  • I am happy
  • You and I are learning English
  • You have a nice bag
  • She is my friend
  • He plays soccer
  • It is a cat
  • We like ice cream
  • They are students
  • She and he are siblings
  • We love our parents

person

singular

plural

1st

I

we

2nd

you

you

3rd

she / he / it

they

Subject and Object Pronouns

pronouns shown by people

Subject pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence – I, you, he, she, it, we, they

  • I went to school
  • She was there
  • It was red
  • We went together
  • They were cold

Object pronouns are used as the object of a verb: me, you, him, her, it, us, them

  • The ball hit me
  • It is up to you
  • The car is owned by him
  • The cat looked at us
  • Share the cake between them
core english pronouns - subject and object pronouns

English Pronouns

full list of types of pronouns

Image source: https://7esl.com/english-pronouns/

Possessive Pronouns

  • to possess is to own

  • No ‘ in possessive pronouns

like a noun

  • mine
  • ours
  • yours
  • hers
  • his
  • its
  • theirs

like an adjective

  • my
  • our
  • your
  • her
  • his
  • its
  • their
  • That book is my book – used as an adjective
  • That book is mine – used like a noun
  • Mine is the red one – used like a noun
  • That is Jon’s cat (Jon is a proper noun)
  • That is his cat (his used as a possessive adjective)
  • The cat is his. (his is used as a possessive pronoun)

Reflexive Pronouns

  1. I hurt myself when I fell off the bike.
  2. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
  3. He always talks to himself when he’s alone
  4. The cat is grooming itself.
  5. You need to believe in yourself to succeed.
  6. They cooked dinner themselves last night.
  7. We should be proud of ourselves for finishing the project on time.

refers to the same thing

  1. I – myself 
  2. She – herself
  3. He –himself 
  4. The cat –itself
  5. You – yourself
  6. They –themselves
  7. We – ourselves 

Relative Pronouns

put phrases together

  • that
  • who
  • which
  • whom
  • whose
  • where
  • The book that I am reading is very interesting.
  • The person who won the race is my friend.
  • The car, which is blue, belongs to my brother.
  • This is the house where I grew up.
  • She is the one whom we chose as the team captain.
  • The cake that you baked was delicious.
  • The movie, which was released last week, received great reviews.
  • The man whom I met yesterday is a famous actor.
  • The dog that barks loudly lives next door.
  • The project, which took months to complete, was a huge success.

Lesson Exercises

Song Listening: Avril Lavigne – I’m with you

Worksheets

Exercises

Exercise 8.5 Pronoun Practice (see above)

0. John and I saw Peter yesterday. He bought John and me a cup of coffee

    ___We___  saw Peter yesterday. He bought _____us_____ a cup of coffee

1. David and Mike are arriving today. I’m meeting David and Mike at the station

    ______________are arriving today. I’m meeting ______________at the station

2. I’m looking for Mary. Have you seen Mary? Mary isn’t at home.

    I’m looking for Mary. Have you seen ____?  ____ isn’t at home.

3. John and I saw a film called ‘The Tiger’ yesterday. Have you seen ‘The Tiger’?

    _________ saw a film called ‘The Tiger’ yesterday. Have you seen __________?

4. Come to the swimming pool with Joanna and me. Joanna and I are leaving now.

    Come to the swimming pool with _____________. ___________  are leaving now.

5. George and Jane are meeting Paul today. Paul is having lunch with George and Jane.

    ______________   are meeting Paul today. ____ is having lunch with ______________ .

6. There’s Jack! Jack’s got a heavy suitcase. Shall we help Jack?

    There’s ____! Jack’s got a heavy suitcase. Shall we help ____?

Useful Resources & Links

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📖 Question 1 — Subject Pronouns
Replace the underlined words with the correct subject pronoun.

"John and I saw a film yesterday."
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📚 What to do next

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Lesson 9 Adverbs

coming next week

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