Mastering Pronouns: Fix Common Pronoun Mistakes Easily
Have you ever said “he” instead of “she”? Or mixed up “they” and “them”? You’re not alone. Everyone makes mistakes with pronouns from time to time. However, using the right pronoun helps your speaking and writing sound clear, polite, and confident.
In this blog, you’ll learn what pronouns are, why we use them, and the most common mistakes people make. You’ll also find simple ways to fix those mistakes. Let’s get started and make pronouns easy!
What Are Pronouns?
To begin with, pronouns are small words that take the place of nouns—like names or objects.
For example:
Instead of saying, “My dog Sparky is cute. Sparky likes to play,”
you can say: “My dog Sparky is cute. He likes to play.”
Here, “he” is a pronoun that replaces “Sparky.”
Pronouns – Number, Gender, and Person
There are several types of pronouns. Let’s look at each one with examples:
1. Personal Pronouns
These refer to people or things and change based on number, gender, and person.
Examples: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them
Example sentence:
“She gave it to me.”
2. Impersonal Pronouns
These refer to things, often without mentioning a person.
Examples: it, they (used for objects or unknown subjects)
Example:
“It is raining.”
“They say this movie is great.”
3. Relative Pronouns
These connect a part of the sentence to a noun.
Examples: who, whom, whose, which, that
Example:
“My doctor, whom I trust, gave me great advice.”
4. Demonstrative Pronouns
These point to specific things or people.
Examples: this, that, these, those
Example:
“This is my book. That is yours.”
5. Interrogative Pronouns
These are used to ask questions.
Examples: who, whom, whose, what, which
Example:
“Who is coming to the party?”
6. Reflexive Pronouns
These refer back to the subject of the sentence.
Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Example:
“He hurt himself.”
7. Reciprocal Pronouns
These show a shared action or feeling between two or more people.
Examples: each other, one another
Example:
“They helped each other during the test.”
8. Indefinite Pronouns
These refer to people or things in a general way.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, nothing, each, either, neither
Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
many, few, several, some, both, all (used as plural in many contexts)
Examples:
“Everyone is welcome.”
“Few attended the meeting.”
Learn English Grammar Online – Simple, real-world lessons to help you speak correctly and confidently.
Enhance Online Spoken English – Practice live, speak fluently in everyday situations.
Structured Online English Course for Adults – Ideal for professionals, students, and homemakers. Learn at your own pace.
Common Pronoun Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake 1: Mixing up Subject and Object Pronouns
Wrong: Me went to the store.
Right: I went to the store.
Tip: Use I, he, she, we, they as subjects. Use me, him, her, us, them as objects.
Mistake 2: Confusing Gender
Wrong: John loves her job.
Right: John loves his job.
Tip: Make sure the pronoun matches the person’s gender.
Mistake 3: Mismatching Number
Wrong: Each student must bring their book.
Right: Each student must bring his or her book.
(Note: In informal English, “their” is now accepted as gender-neutral.)
Mistake 4: Using “Themself” Instead of “Themselves”
Wrong: They hurt themself.
Right: They hurt themselves.
Mistake 5: Repeating Nouns Unnecessarily
Wrong: Maria said Maria was tired.
Right: Maria said she was tired.
Final Thoughts
Nobody’s perfect when it comes to grammar, and pronouns are one of the trickiest parts. But with a little practice, you’ll get them right every time. Clear speaking and writing start with using the correct words—and that includes pronouns!
Tip: The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. Keep speaking, writing, and learning.
Level Up Your Communication Skills with Aksent!
Join our Online spoken english for beginners at Aksent and say goodbye to pronoun confusion. Learn to speak and write with confidence. Start today!"
Find out more
