1

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent H. E. Colby

businessenglishace.com

2

• A pronoun is a word used in the place of or as a substitute for a noun.

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

businessenglishace.com

3

• A pronoun always refers to one particular noun – its antecedent.

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

businessenglishace.com

4

• Ex: Lisa makes good grades in math. She studies real hard.

She is the pronoun replacing or referring to Lisa.

Lisa is the antecedent.

businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

5

•

ERRORS

businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

6

• Two main errors often occur:

• 1) Incorrect Reference

• 2) Vague or Faulty Reference

businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

7

• Error 1: Incorrect Reference

• When my sister was younger, he read many books.

• My sister – female – needs pronoun she.

• businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

8

• Error 2: Vague or Faulty Reference

• Sparta attacked Athens and they won.1

• Who won?

• businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

9

• Error 2: Vague or Faulty Reference

• Better: The Spartans attacked Athens and they won.2

• They now refers to Spartans since it is the closest plural pronoun.

• businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

10

•

EXERCISES

businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

11

• Vague or Faulty Reference

• Exercise / Answers

•

• businessenglishace.com

Snackable Business English

Pronoun Referent

12

Snackable Business English

Please sign up for my FREE weekly Business English Ace

Newsletter for more Snackable English tips and

special offers!

businessenglishace.com