Pronouns in English – Examples
This grammar exercise helps you study and learn the following pronouns in English: those, these, this, that, they and them
These pronouns can be explained as follows:
- Those is a plural pronoun. It is used for something that is distant in time or location.
- These is also a plural pronoun, but it is used for something that is recent in time or near in location.
- This is a singular pronoun. It is used when speaking about something that is recent in time or near in location.
- That is also a singular pronoun. However, it is used when speaking about a past or distant thing.
- They is a plural pronoun. Is is used as a grammatical subject.
- Them is a plural pronoun. It is used as a grammatical object.
Pronouns in English – Exercise
Instructions: Put the correct pronoun (these, those, this, that, they or them) into the sentences below.
Please refer to the explanations above to guide you as you work through the exercise. The answers are after the last exercise.
(1) __________ cakes I saw in the kitchen looked so luscious.
(2) I gave so many gifts to __________ when __________ had their party.
(3) __________ result wasn’t what she had expected.
(4) __________ essay has been cut and pasted from a website.
(5) __________ holiday has really been an adventure!
(6) __________ was a catastrophe that you should have avoided!
(7) Low-income people need help. We should give __________ support when they need it.
(8) __________ people standing in the corner are from Albania.
(9) __________ shoes I wore yesterday look shabby now.
(10) __________ jacket that I’m wearing is my favourite one.
(11) __________ bag is so spacious. I glad I have it with me today.
(12) Do you like __________ picture hanging over there on the wall?
(13) __________ socks that you wore a couple of days ago were really colourful.
(14) __________ shoes are really hurting my feet today.
(15) I love __________ postcard you sent me last year.
Pronouns in English Exercises – Answers & Explanations
(1) Those – The phrase “in the kitchen” shows that the objects are distant.
(2) them, they – The first is a grammatical object, and the second is a grammatical subject.
(3) That – The verb “had” shows that the event was in the past.
(4) This – The verb present perfect form of the verb “has been” indicates that the object is present at the time of speaking.
(5) This – The verb “has been” indicates that the event is recent in time.
(6) That – The verb form “should have avoided” indicates that the event is distant in time.
(7) them – The gap requires a grammatical object.
(8) Those – The phrase “in the corner” indicates that the people are distant at the time of speaking.
(9) Those – The word “yesterday” indicates that the object is distant.
(10) This – The speaker is wearing the jacket, so it is near in location.
(11) This – She has the bag with her, so it is near in location.
(12) that – The phrase “over there” indicates that the item is distant at the time of speaking.
(13) Those – The words “a couple of days ago” indicate that the object is distant.
(14) These – The speaker is currently wearing the shoes.
(15) that – The phrase “last year” indicates that the time is not recent.
More Help with Pronouns in English
Rules for Demonstrative Pronouns
Pronouns Chart by Collins Dictionary
More IELTS exercises
