If you are about to play our new Pronoun Practice Speed Review Game, you might be wondering how to get the highest score possible. Pronouns are small words, but they are incredibly important in English.
Let's break down the two main concepts you will see in the game so you can play with confidence!
1. The "Singular" Secret of Indefinite Pronouns
Words like everybody, someone, nobody, and everything are called indefinite pronouns. We use them when we aren't talking about one specific, named person or thing.
Here is the most important rule to remember for the game: Treat them as singular!
Even though a word like "everybody" refers to a large group of people, grammar rules say it acts just like the words "he," "she," or "it." Because it is singular, it must be paired with a singular verb.
Examples from the game:
Everybodyis excited for the field trip. (Not are)
Nobodyknows the answer. (Not know)
Someonehas left an umbrella. (Not have)
Whenever you see words ending in -body, -one, or -thing, always look for the singular verb!
2. Identifying Different Types of Pronouns
A pronoun's main job is to replace a noun so we don't have to repeat the exact same words over and over. In the second half of the game, you will need to identify the pronouns in a sentence.
Here are the different types of pronouns you will encounter:
Subject Pronouns: These do the action in the sentence.
Example: "She walked to the library."
Object Pronouns: These receive the action.
Example: "The teacher gave the book to us." or "Please tell him the good news."
Possessive Pronouns: These show that something belongs to someone.
Example: "Is that car yours?" or "Those blue shoes are mine."
Reflexive Pronouns: We use these when the subject and the object are the exact same person or thing. They always end in -self or -selves.
Example: "I bought myself a new shirt." or "The dog hurt itself playing outside."
Ready to Play?
Good luck, have fun, and let's see how fast you can complete the Speed Review!
[
{
"title": "M.4 Pronoun & Noun Practice",
"questions": [
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Everybody in the classroom ___ excited for the field trip.",
"options": ["are", "is", "be", "am"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "Indefinite pronouns like 'everybody' take a singular verb like 'is'."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "They ___ going to the cinema tonight to watch a movie.",
"options": ["is", "are", "am", "be"],
"answer": "are",
"explanation": "The regular pronoun 'They' is plural, so it takes the verb 'are'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: The **teacher** gave us homework.",
"options": ["pronoun", "noun", "verb", "adjective"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'Teacher' is a person, which makes it a noun, not a pronoun."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: **He** walked to the store.",
"options": ["noun", "pronoun", "verb", "adverb"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'He' is a pronoun used to replace a man or boy's name."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Someone ___ knocking at the door right now.",
"options": ["is", "are", "be", "am"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "'Someone' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so we use 'is'."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "We ___ studying very hard for the math exam.",
"options": ["is", "am", "are", "be"],
"answer": "are",
"explanation": "'We' is a plural pronoun, so it must be paired with the verb 'are'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: My **brother** plays football.",
"options": ["pronoun", "adjective", "noun", "verb"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'Brother' is a specific person, so it is a noun."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: The book belongs to **her**.",
"options": ["noun", "pronoun", "adjective", "preposition"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'Her' is an object pronoun that replaces a female's name."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Nobody ___ the answer to the difficult question.",
"options": ["know", "knowing", "knows", "is know"],
"answer": "knows",
"explanation": "With the singular pronoun 'nobody', we add '-s' to the verb in the present tense."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "She ___ a very good singer and dancer.",
"options": ["are", "is", "am", "be"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "'She' is a singular pronoun, so it uses the verb 'is'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: I bought **myself** a new shirt.",
"options": ["noun", "verb", "pronoun", "adverb"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject 'I'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: The **cat** slept comfortably on the sofa.",
"options": ["pronoun", "noun", "verb", "preposition"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'Cat' is an animal, which is a noun."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Everything ___ going to be alright.",
"options": ["are", "is", "be", "am"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "'Everything' is treated as singular, so it uses the verb 'is'."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "I ___ not ready to leave for the airport yet.",
"options": ["is", "are", "am", "be"],
"answer": "am",
"explanation": "The pronoun 'I' is always paired with the 'to be' verb 'am' in the present tense."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: Is that car **yours**?",
"options": ["noun", "pronoun", "adjective", "conjunction"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'Yours' is a possessive pronoun that shows who owns the car."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: The **students** are working hard.",
"options": ["pronoun", "noun", "adverb", "adjective"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'Students' names a group of people, making it a plural noun."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Anyone ___ allowed to join the club if they are interested.",
"options": ["are", "is", "be", "were"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "Even if it refers to many people, the word 'anyone' grammatically takes a singular verb."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "It ___ raining very heavily outside right now.",
"options": ["are", "am", "is", "be"],
"answer": "is",
"explanation": "'It' is a singular pronoun used for things or weather, so it takes 'is'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: **Someone** left the window open.",
"options": ["noun", "verb", "pronoun", "interjection"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'Someone' is an indefinite pronoun standing in for an unknown person."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: The **city** is very beautiful at night.",
"options": ["pronoun", "adjective", "noun", "verb"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'City' names a place, which means it is a noun."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Nothing ___ impossible if you work hard.",
"options": ["seem", "seems", "seeming", "are seem"],
"answer": "seems",
"explanation": "'Nothing' is a singular subject, so the verb 'seem' needs an '-s'."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "You ___ my best friend.",
"options": ["is", "am", "are", "be"],
"answer": "are",
"explanation": "The pronoun 'You' always takes the verb 'are', even when talking to just one person."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: They are proud of **themselves**.",
"options": ["noun", "pronoun", "adjective", "preposition"],
"answer": "pronoun",
"explanation": "'Themselves' is a reflexive pronoun referring back to 'They'."
},
{
"category": "Parts of Speech",
"question": "Identify the part of speech of the bolded word: We need more **water** for the trip.",
"options": ["pronoun", "noun", "verb", "adverb"],
"answer": "noun",
"explanation": "'Water' is a thing, so it functions as a noun in this sentence."
},
{
"category": "Subject-Verb Agreement",
"question": "Someone ___ left an umbrella in the hallway.",
"options": ["have", "has", "having", "are"],
"answer": "has",
"explanation": "'Someone' takes the singular helping verb 'has', not the plural 'have'."
}
]
}
]
