Pronouns — 2nd Grade Lesson
Students will identify pronouns and use the correct pronoun to replace a noun.
2nd Grade · Pronouns · ~15 min lesson
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. It stops us from repeating the same name again and again.
Tom ran. He jumped. (instead of “Tom ran. Tom jumped.”)
The pronoun chart
| It stands for | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| one boy or man | he |
| one girl or woman | she |
| one thing or animal | it |
| you and I | we |
| more than one | they |
Replacing nouns with pronouns
Find the noun, decide who or what it is, then pick the pronoun.
Maria is tall. She is tall. The dogs bark. They bark. The sun shines. It shines.
Why pronouns make writing smoother
Without pronouns, writing is clunky and repetitive:
✗ Mom cooked. Mom called. Mom laughed. ✓ Mom cooked. She called. She laughed.
Matching the pronoun
The pronoun must match the noun in two ways:
- Number: one (he/she/it) or many (we/they).
- Who: boy (he), girl (she), thing (it).
How to practice at home
- Replace it: say a sentence with a name, have your child swap in a pronoun.
- Fix the repeat: read a repetitive sentence and fix it with pronouns.
- Pronoun hunt: find pronouns in a book and say what each stands for.
- Two choices: “Maria is tall — he or she?”
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
Which word can replace 'Maria' in 'Maria is tall.'?
💡 Maria is one girl.
Replace 'the dogs' in 'The dogs bark.'
💡 More than one thing.
Which pronoun stands for a thing: he, it, or we?
💡 'It' stands for things and animals.
Fix the repetition: 'Tom ran. Tom jumped.'
💡 Use 'he' the second time.
Which pronoun fits: '___ (you and I) are friends.'
💡 You and I together.
Replace 'my mom' in 'My mom cooks dinner.'
💡 Mom is one person (a woman).
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Nouns
- Reading simple sentences
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Using the wrong pronoun for the noun (he for a girl, it for a person)
- Repeating the same noun over and over instead of using a pronoun
What to Learn Next
Browse more Pronouns worksheets or explore all 2nd Grade worksheets.
Related Worksheets
Pronouns Worksheet: He, She, It, They
A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Replace the underlined noun with the right pronoun.
Nouns: Person, Place, or Thing Worksheet
A noun names a person, place, or thing. Find the noun in each sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun so we don't repeat the same name. Instead of 'Tom ran. Tom jumped,' we say 'Tom ran. He jumped.'
How do I choose the right pronoun?
Match the pronoun to the noun: he/she for one person, it for a thing or animal, we for a group including you, they for more than one.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.