Pronouns – JSS1 English Lesson Note (First Term)

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun so that we do not have to repeat the noun in speech or writing. Most pronouns are very short words, such as he, she, they, it, we and who. We use pronouns when we talk about a person, animal, place or thing.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state what a pronoun is and why we use it;
• name the eight types of pronouns and give examples of some of them;
• use subject pronouns, object pronouns and possessive pronouns correctly in sentences;
• choose the correct pronoun to complete a sentence.

What are pronouns?

Without pronouns, we would have to keep repeating nouns, and our speech and writing would become repetitive and cumbersome.

Examples include:

• he
• she
• they
• it
• we
• who

Pronouns are usually used to replace nouns. However, they can also stand in for certain adverbs, adjectives, and other pronouns. Anytime you want to talk about a person, animal, place, or thing, you can use pronouns to make your speech or writing flow better.

What are the types of pronouns?

Pronouns can be divided into eight types:

1. Indefinite pronouns: those referring to one or more unspecified objects, beings, or places.
2. Personal pronouns: those associated with a certain person, thing, or group. All except you have distinct forms that indicate singular or plural numbers, for example I, we, us.
3. Reflexive pronouns: those preceded by the adverb, adjective, pronoun, or noun to which they refer, and ending in -self or -selves, for example yourself, myself, ourselves.
4. Demonstrative pronouns: those used to point to something specific within a sentence.
5. Possessive pronouns: those designating possession or ownership.
6. Relative pronouns: those which refer to nouns mentioned previously, acting to introduce an adjective (relative) clause, for example whose, whom, which, and who.
7. Interrogative pronouns: those which introduce a question, for example what.
8. Reciprocal pronouns: those expressing mutual actions or relationships, for example one another, each other.

What are the rules for using pronouns?

There are a few important rules for using pronouns. As you read through these rules and the examples, notice how each rule is followed.

• Subject pronouns may be used to begin sentences. For example: We did a great job.
• Subject pronouns may also be used to rename the subject. For example: It was she who decided we should go to Hawaii.
• Indefinite pronouns do not have antecedents. They are capable of standing on their own. For example: No one likes the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.
• Object pronouns are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. These include you, me, him, her, us, them, and it. For example: David talked to her about the mistake.
• Possessive pronouns show ownership. They do not need apostrophes. For example: The cat washed its whiskers.

Evaluation

These exercises will help you understand how pronouns work. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

1. This is __________ speaking.
   A. John
   B. He
   C. He John
   D. Am
2. Greg is as smart as __________ is.
   A. I
   B. me
   C. she
   D. we
3. The dog chewed on __________ favourite toy.
   A. it’s
   B. it is
   C. its’
   D. its
4. It could have been __________ .
   A. Jerry
   B. anyone
   C. better
   D. more difficult
5. Terry is taller than __________ am.
   A. I
   B. me
   C. she
   D. we

Assignment

1. List the eight types of pronouns.
2. Write one sentence each that uses a subject pronoun, an object pronoun and a possessive pronoun.