Writing: Paragraphing and Text Organization (B1) - Lesson 4: Using Pronouns Correctly to Refer to Nouns

B1 Lesson 4: Using Pronouns Correctly to Refer to Nouns

You know how to connect sentences with transition words. Another key skill for creating smooth paragraphs is using pronouns¹. A pronoun is a word like he, it, or they that takes the place of a noun.

Using pronouns correctly helps you avoid annoying repetition² and makes your writing flow naturally.

Why Use Pronouns? To Avoid Repetition

Look at how pronouns improve this short paragraph.

Before (Repetitive robotic):

My brother's name is Vuthy. Vuthy is a university student. I often help Vuthy with Vuthy's homework.

After (Smooth and Natural ✅):

My brother's name is Vuthy. He is a university student. I often help him with his homework.

Rule 1: Pronoun Agreement

A pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces (this noun is called the antecedent³). This means it must match in number (singular/plural) and gender.

If the Noun is...	Use these Pronouns...
Dara (singular, male)	he (subject), him (object)
Srey (singular, female)	she (subject), her (object)
the moto (singular, thing)	it (subject/object)
my friends (plural)	they (subject), them (object)

Rule 2: Clear Reference

It must always be 100% clear which noun the pronoun is referring to. An unclear pronoun reference will confuse your reader.

⚠️ Example of an Unclear Reference

Unclear ❌: The teacher gave the student a book, and he seemed very happy.

(Who was happy? The teacher or the student? We don't know.)

Clear ✅: The teacher seemed very happy when he gave the student a book.

Clear ✅: The student seemed very happy when the teacher gave him a book.

✍️ B1 Pronoun Checklist

• ✔️ When I use a pronoun, does it agree in number and gender with the noun it replaces?
• ✔️ Is it completely clear which noun my pronoun is referring to?
• ✔️ Have I used the correct form (e.g., 'she' vs. 'her')?
• ✔️ Have I avoided repeating the same noun too many times?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Pronoun

Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence.

---

1. I saw Chan and Dara at the market. I waved to ______, but they didn't see me.

1. him
2. them
3. it

Answer: B. them (because Chan and Dara are plural).

---

2. My sister bought a new dress. ______ is blue and white.

1. She
2. They
3. It

Answer: C. It (because the pronoun refers to the dress, which is a thing).

📝 Homework: Improve the Paragraph

Get your notebook and pen. The paragraph below repeats nouns too many times. Rewrite it using pronouns to make it flow more naturally.

Paragraph to improve:

My manager's name is Mrs. Davy. Mrs. Davy is very professional. All the employees respect Mrs. Davy because Mrs. Davy is fair and very smart.

---

Example Answer:

My manager's name is Mrs. Davy. She is very professional. All the employees respect her because she is fair and very smart.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Pronoun: (Noun) - សព្វនាម - A word that is used instead of a noun (e.g., he, she, it, they, them). ↩
2. Repetition: (Noun) - ការនិយាយឡើងវិញ - The act of saying or writing something again. ↩
3. Antecedent: (Noun) - នាមដែលសព្វនាមត្រូវជំនួស - The noun that a pronoun replaces. ↩
4. Clarity: (Noun) - ភាព​ច្បាស់លាស់ - The quality of being easy to understand; clear.
5. Cohesion / Flow: (Noun) - ភាពស្អិតរមួត - The way a piece of writing flows and the ideas connect smoothly.