You will learn
- Say what a pronoun is.
- Use subject pronouns.
- Use object pronouns.
- Choose the right pronoun.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A pronoun takes the place of a noun.
- Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
- Object pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
- Pronouns avoid repeating names.
Words to know
a word that takes the place of a noun
a pronoun that does the action
a pronoun that receives the action
use instead of
1. Discover: Ama and Kofi
Ama is happy. She has a new book. Kofi sees the book. He asks, “Can I read it?” Ama says, “Yes, give it back to me later.” Ama and Kofi read. They enjoy the story. The teacher thanks them.
Think: Which words replace Ama, Kofi and the book?
2. Understand: Pronouns
Idea 1: Replacing nouns
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Instead of repeating Ama, we say she.
Idea 2: Subject pronouns
Subject pronouns do the action: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. She reads.
Idea 3: Object pronouns
Object pronouns receive the action: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. The teacher thanks them.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Replace
Replace Ama: Ama is happy.
- She.
Answer: She is happy.
Example 2 (We do it together): Plural
Replace Ama and Kofi: ___ read.
- They.
Answer: They read.
Example 3 (You try): Object
The teacher thanks ___ (Ama and Kofi).
Show the steps and answer
- Them.
Answer: them
Did you know?
Pronouns make writing smoother because we do not repeat names.
Why this matters
Pronouns make writing and speaking flow better.
4. Explore: Pronoun swap
Replace nouns with pronouns.
- Read the sentences.
- Find repeated nouns.
- Swap in pronouns.
- Read the new text.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can use pronouns.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- ___ is happy (Ama).
- ___ read (Ama and Kofi).
- The teacher thanks ___.
- Give it to ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Pronoun for Ama?
she
Question 2. Pronoun for Kofi?
he
Question 3. Pronoun for Ama and Kofi?
they
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A word that replaces a noun is a ___.
- ___ is a subject pronoun.
- ___ is an object pronoun.
- Instead of Ama we say ___.
- Instead of Ama and Kofi we say ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Replace Kofi: Kofi is tall.
- Replace the book: Ama reads the book.
- Replace me and my friend: ___ play.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why use pronouns?
- Is them a subject pronoun?
- Which pronoun for I and you?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Rewrite a paragraph using pronouns.
Show a sample answer
a smoother paragraph
Another one. Write 3 sentences using he, she, they.
Show a sample answer
He runs. She reads. They play.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Use pronouns.
Fix: I, not me.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a pronoun is.
- I can use subject pronouns.
- I can use object pronouns.
- I can choose the right pronoun.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Pronouns replace nouns.
- Subject pronouns: I, he, she, it, we, they.
- Object pronouns: me, him, her, us, them.
- Do not repeat names.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Verbs and verb tenses. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a pronoun? [1 mark]
- Give pronouns for Ama and for Kofi. [2 marks]
- Replace Ama and Kofi: ___ read. [1 mark]
- Name two object pronouns. [2 marks]
- Explain why we use pronouns. [3 marks]
Total: 9 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- a word that takes the place of a noun [1]
- she [1]; he [1]
- They [1]
- me/him/her [1]; us/them [1]
- replace nouns [1]; avoid repeating names [1]; smooth writing [1]
Score guide: 8 to 9 = secure. 6 to 7 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A word that replaces a noun is a ___.
- For Ama: ___.
- For Kofi: ___.
- For the book: ___.
- For Ama and Kofi: ___.
- True or false: them is a subject pronoun.
- True or false: pronouns replace nouns.
- Replace: Ama reads.
- Fix: Me am happy.
- Write a sentence with they.
Homework
Rewrite a short paragraph using pronouns.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A word that replaces a noun is a ___. | pronoun | 1 |
| 2. For Ama: ___. | she | 1 |
| 3. For Kofi: ___. | he | 1 |
| 4. For the book: ___. | it | 1 |
| 5. For Ama and Kofi: ___. | they | 1 |
| 6. True or false: them is a subject pronoun. | false | 1 |
| 7. True or false: pronouns replace nouns. | true | 1 |
| 8. Replace: Ama reads. | She reads. | 1 |
| 9. Fix: Me am happy. | I am happy. | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with they. | They play. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 pronoun; 2 She; 3 Them; 4 she; 5 they. Level 2: 1 He is tall.; 2 Ama reads it.; 3 We play.. Level 3: 1 not repeat names; 2 no, object; 3 we.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what a pronoun is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use subject pronouns | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use object pronouns | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Choose the right pronoun | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Repeating names. Use pronouns.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use picture cards.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns pronouns. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Listen for pronouns.
- Correct gently.
- Praise good use.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a pronoun is; use subject pronouns; use object pronouns; choose the right pronoun.
Prerequisite knowledge. Singular and plural nouns.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Review nouns.
Explanation (10 min). Teach pronouns.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Check.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Which noun does it replace?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures. Extension. Use possessive pronouns.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Repeating names. Use pronouns.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 9-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use picture cards. Enrichment. Find possessive pronouns. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.2.1c (use reflexive pronouns) and L.1.1d; Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (grammar and punctuation). These sources informed the lesson.