Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar

So we don’t repeat ourselves!
Definition: 
The word ‘pronoun’ comes from the Latin 
pronomen
meaning ‘for a noun’. As the word implies, pronouns are the words 
that we use 
in place of 
nouns. It will become clear later when we 
discuss the difference between possessive and demonstrative 
pronouns and possessive and demonstrative adjectives (see pages 
38, 53), why this definition is so important.
We use pronouns to make clear whom or what we are talking 
about, while avoiding confusing or clumsy repetition.
It is wise to teach just personal pronouns initially and bring 
in the other kinds later. Recognition is important while fuller 
explanation and exercises can follow later (see pages 139–42).
Before learning about pronouns
, students should:
• understand the term noun
• recognise both common and proper nouns
Personal pronouns
Share this story with your students. This (true) story could sound 
something like the following.
‘Marjorie lost her false teeth. The dog had found Marjorie’s false teeth 
and buried Marjorie’s false teeth. Marjorie could not find Marjorie’s 
false teeth anywhere, but Marjorie dug up Marjorie’s false teeth two 
years later, while Marjorie was digging in the garden.’
2
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With the use of pronouns this would read much more smoothly, 
in spite of the repetition of the pronouns. Although equally impor-
tant to the sense, they are less prominent.
‘Marjorie lost her false teeth. The dog had found 
them
and buried 
them
. Marjorie could not find 
them
anywhere, but 
she
dug 
them
up 
two years later, while 
she
was digging in the garden.’
Without the words ‘I’ and ‘you’ (personal pronouns) we could 
become very confused. Instead of:
I saw her give you the letter for me.
We would have to say something like this:
John saw Maureen give Michael the letter for John. [John, referring 
to himself!]
And:
I hurt myself.
Would become:
John hurt John. [himself or another person called John?]
It becomes altogether very confusing!
Most languages have pronouns, though in some languages the 
pronoun is incorporated in the verb.
Pronouns change in form according to the work that they do in 
the sentence. For example they have number:
Singular – 
I
went to town with 
him
.
Plural – 
We 
went to town with 
them
.
Tables can be very useful, both now and for later reference, so 
we suggest that students begin by entering a table of personal pro-
nouns in their grammar exercise books.
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GrAMMAr for eVerYone

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