Grammar Essentials for Writers and Editors (CDPB 400)

Pronoun Worksheet: Six Exercises

List Examples of Different Types

1. List three different personal pronouns.

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2. List three different relative pronouns.

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3. List three different interrogative pronouns.

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4. List five different indefinite pronouns.

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5. Identify all four demonstrative pronouns.

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6. List one singular reflexive pronoun and one plural reflexive pronoun.

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7. Identify the two pronouns often referred to as expletives.

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Mix and Match Words and Properties

Pronouns have four properties: gender, number, person, and case. We associate each of these properties with certain words. Which words in the left column match which words in the right column? Draw lines to show matches.

possessive genderfirstfeminineplural numbersecondneutralsubjective personthirdsingularmasculine caseobjective

Identify the Exact Pronoun

Write down the exact pronoun that matches each description.

1. First-person plural pronoun, subjective case ________________________________________

2. First-person singular pronoun, objective case ________________________________________

3. First-person plural pronoun, possessive case ________________________________________

4. Second-person singular or plural pronoun, objective case _______________________________

5. Second-person singular or plural pronoun, subjective case ______________________________

6. Second-person singular or plural pronoun, possessive case _____________________________

7. Second-person singular or plural possessive adjective _________________________________

8. Third-person singular pronoun, masculine, subjective case ______________________________

9. Third-person singular pronoun, feminine, objective case ________________________________

10. Third-person plural pronoun, masculine, possessive case _______________________________

Count the Pronouns

How many pronouns (including possessive adjectives) are in this text? Underline each one and write the total at the bottom.

The morning after the party, the two roommates had an argument.

“I’ve had enough!” the first roommate said. “Who do you think you are, leaving everything to me? I

spent two hours cleaning up the mess that your friends made.”

“What do you mean?” the second roommate said. “I washed all the dishes myself, and some of your

friends chipped a few of my plates, the ones that I got at Ashley’s. There are cracks in most of them.”

“You bought them on sale,” replied the first. “Besides, who insisted that we use china?”

“Those of us concerned about the environment,” the second said stiffly, “avoid disposables. It is

important to protect the planet. I hope you remembered to put food scraps in the green bin.”

“Some of them,” the first said. “I hope you put the leftovers in the fridge.”

“Of course. Speaking of the fridge, don’t touch the muffins.” The second roommate opened the

refrigerator door and pointed. “Those are mine.”

Number of pronouns __________

Identify the Pronoun Type

The following text contains 20 pronouns (including possessive adjectives such as his and their). In the space above each pronoun, identify the type. Note: one of the highlighted words, called an expletive, is sometimes classified as a pronoun.

When Oliver thought back to elementary school, he always remembered Ms. Sharp, his Grade

8 teacher. Ms. Sharp had a strict manner that made all the children nervous. They always feared

saying something silly in class or making a mistake on their homework. Perhaps because math

was her passion, she made a habit of calling students by number rather than by name. Oliver, who

was Number 16, hated that and knew that none of the kids enjoyed being a digit. Every month,

there were dark days when Ms. Sharp would try to teach the children grammar. She would write a

sentence on the board and demand that they parse it on the spot. Most of the class would panic.

“Which did I find worse?” Oliver asked himself. “Being Number 16 or learning grammar?”

Find the Antecedent

In the sentences below, draw an arrow from each pronoun, or possessive adjective, to its antecedent.

1. Have the students purchased the textbook? Yes, Kuong has his, and Anita has hers.

2. The painting that Sangita bought last week hangs in her living room.

3. Unfortunately, Ali told Lena about the surprise party, which will take place on Saturday.

4. When the Giller-nominated authors read at Harbourfront, they received a warm welcome. 5. The blues singer whom Pina loves best will perform on Canada Day.

6. Roberto searched frantically for the box of Tim Hortons doughnuts, but it remained hidden.

7. Narvan wanted one of the giant apple fritters, which were lurking below the walnut crullers.

8. Elan requested a plain old-fashioned doughnut, but he longed for one with sprinkles.

9. Each of the sopranos in the girls’ choir auditioned for her spot.

10. Please turn off your cell phone.

11. The study of grammar requires strength and courage; these, in turn, require caffeine.

12. Here is a mystery: all of the sugar is in its bag, yet none of the sugar cubes are in their box.

Pronoun Charts (for extra reference)

These pronoun charts are copyright © Elizabeth d’Anjou. Used with permission.