Pronouns
English Language: KS3, topic 3.1.2
Pronouns
Pronouns are words we can use to replace nouns. Here are some examples of pronouns:
It
He
She
They
Using Nouns and Pronouns
You want your writing to 'flow' and not sound boring. Your writing will sound boring if you repeat words too often! Changing whether you use a noun or a pronoun can help to make your writing more exciting.
Boring example
- Read this paragraph:
- Leo was a cat. Leo liked to go hunting. When Leo went hunting he liked to find mice. Leo enjoyed catching mice because they were a challenge. The mice knew Leo was looking for them, and often hid.
- Don't you think the paragraph sounds boring? This is because the person writing it has used the name 'Leo' over and over again.
- Now let's look at a more interesting example...
More interesting example
- Here is a more interesting version:
- Leo was a cat who liked to go hunting. When he went hunting he liked to find mice. He enjoyed catching them because they were a challenge. The mice knew Leo was looking for them, and often hid.
- As you can see, using a mixture of nouns (Leo) and pronouns (he) makes this paragraph 'flow' more easily. It is easier and nicer to read!
Test yourself on Pronouns
What type of words can we replace with pronouns?
Which of these is NOT a pronoun?
Which pronoun could you use instead of 'Cristiano'?
Cristiano liked playing football.What pronoun could replace Jasper?
Jasper lost his bicycle.What pronoun could you use to replace Tim in these sentences?
Tim wanted a bike. Tim went to the shops to buy one. Tim was very happy.