How do I Learn English Pronouns?
Pronouns are parts of speech that replace other words, usually nouns, in a sentence. They include words like "I," "we," "it," "myself" and "you." Using pronouns is beneficial because it makes a sentence sound less repetitive, and the pronouns may be shorter than the word to which they refer. People learning English sometimes have trouble with pronouns because pronouns have so many different uses. The best way to learn pronouns is to organize your study around the pronoun function.
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Things You'll Need
- Books about English pronouns
- Flashcards
- Pronoun audio lessons (optional)
Instructions
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Review the different types of pronouns and their functions. Find these in English-grammar books, or visit english-grammar-revolution.com for a pronoun list. Grammarians label pronouns as subjective, objective, possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, relative, indefinite, reflexive and intensive based on what they do in a sentence.
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Create a chart or set of flashcards with the most common pronouns and their function. For example, a flashcard could have the pronoun "I" on one side and function label "subject" on the other. Put the pronoun equivalent for your native language on the cards or chart if you are an English as a Second Language (ESL) student. A sentence example or anecdote is acceptable if there is no equivalent. You may want to make one chart or flashcard set for each type of pronoun, starting with the most common functions (subject, object, possessive and reflexive).
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Practice writing sentences with different pronouns, paying attention to how the pronoun must match in quantity (singular or plural) when compared to the item to which it refers.
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Visit an online site like englishpage.com, or the online writing labs for the University of Ottawa and Purdue University. Take quizzes for pronouns on these sites.
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Participate in conversation meet-ups where other people will practice English with you. Listen to pronoun audio lessons if such meet-ups are unavailable or inconvenient.
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Tips & Warnings
Because pronouns always replace something else in the sentence, always ask yourself what the pronoun substitutes. This will help you choose the correct pronoun quantity and place the pronoun in the sentence properly according to its proper function. Similarly, if you learn the other parts of speech, you will be better able to determine what you can substitute with a pronoun and what you cannot.
Be aware of instances where a pronoun might be ambiguous. For example, in the sentence "When Rose, John and Derek played, Rose gave the ball to him," "him" could refer either to John or Derek. In these cases, it's better to use the regular noun to eliminate confusion.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit dictionary image by Ben Higham from Fotolia.com
