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VV.1 Identify personal pronouns

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What are personal pronouns?

Personal pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. They help writers avoid repeating the same names over and over again.

Examples:
  • Instead of: “Maria likes to read. Maria has many books.”
  • Use a pronoun: “Maria likes to read. She has many books.”
Helpful hint

Pronouns stand in for people, places, or things already known in the sentence or paragraph.

Why do writers use personal pronouns?

Writers use pronouns to make sentences smoother and less repetitive. Pronouns help the writing sound natural and easier to understand.

Example Sentences:
  • Without pronouns: “Tom plays soccer. Tom kicks the ball. Tom scores a goal.”
  • With pronouns: “Tom plays soccer. He kicks the ball. He scores a goal.”
Helpful hint

When writing, ask yourself: “Can I use a pronoun here to make the sentence less repetitive?”

Types of personal pronouns

Personal pronouns change depending on who is speaking or being spoken about. There are three main kinds:

Personal Pronoun List:
  • First person: I, me, we, us
  • Second person: you
  • Third person: he, she, it, him, her, they, them
Helpful hint

First person = the speaker; Second person = the person being spoken to; Third person = the person or thing being spoken about.

Using personal pronouns correctly

Personal pronouns must match the noun they replace. This means they should agree in number (singular or plural) and gender when needed.

Examples:
  • “Sarah is my friend. She is kind.” (singular, feminine)
  • “My brothers play soccer. They are fast.” (plural)
  • “I like ice cream. My dad likes it too. We eat it together.” (first person plural)
Helpful hint

Check your sentence: Does the pronoun clearly match the noun it replaces? If not, change it for clarity.

Putting it all together

Personal pronouns make writing smooth and easy to follow. They keep sentences from sounding awkward and help readers focus on the meaning.

Examples:
  • “Emily and I went to the park. We played on the swings. Then she bought ice cream.”
  • “My dog is playful. It loves to chase the ball. I throw the ball, and he runs after it.”
Helpful hint

Remember: Pronouns replace nouns. Use them carefully so your reader always knows who or what you are talking about.

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