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How to Understand Pronoun References

Pronouns are in nearly every piece of literature we read. Because of this, learning how to understand what a pronoun refers to in a sentence or a paragraph is an essential part of basic reading comprehension. Fortunately, only a few simple rules are needed to help you define the noun that the pronoun represents by matching the pronoun with its antecedent.

Instructions

    • 1

      Know how to identify a pronoun. A pronoun is any word that can be used in the place of a noun. It will always have a numerical value (singular or plural), a gender (masculine, feminine or neuter) and will be in either first, second or third person. Some pronouns may also be possessive.

    • 2

      Locate a noun that comes before the pronoun--either within the sentence or in the context of the literature--that you believe to be the antecedent of the pronoun.

    • 3

      Check to make sure the antecedent and the pronoun match each other. For example, if the pronoun is "she," make sure the noun you have selected as the antecedent is singular, feminine and in third person. If they don't match, select another noun to test as the antecedent.

    • 4

      Read the context surrounding the pronoun and the antecedent to make sure you haven't missed another noun that could be the antecedent. If you have two or more logical possibilities, decide which one fits best in the context.

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