Pronoun Detective Worksheet
Grammar Investigation Lab
Pronoun Detective Casebook
Name:
Date:
Subject Pronouns
Takes the place of a noun doing the main action in the sentence.
I you he she it we they
Possessive Pronouns
Shows ownership or belonging (without an apostrophe!).
my / mine your / yours his her / hers its our / ours their / theirs
Case File: The Lighthouse Keeper's Secret
Read closely & inspect the highlighted evidence
Leo adjusted the heavy brass lens while the rain pelted the glass tower. [1] He knew that the stormy sea was dangerous tonight. A stray cat wandered into the lantern room and shook [2] its soaked fur dry. "Don't worry," Leo whispered to the animal. "[3] We will guide every ship safely back to the harbor." Far below, two sailors signaled from a tugboat; [4] their vessel fought against the rising waves. Leo pulled the master lever so [5] it clicked locked. The glowing beacon cast [6] its bright beam across the dark water, and the grateful crew flashed [7] their amber lanterns in reply.
Evidence Breakdown: Classify & Connect Antecedents
| Item | Pronoun | Pronoun Type | Antecedent (Noun Replaced) |
|---|
| [1] | He | Subject Pronoun | Leo |
| [2] | its | Possessive Pronoun | the stray cat |
| [3] | We | | |
| [4] | their | | |
| [5] | it | | |
| [6] | its | | |
Repair the Clues: Replace Repetitive Nouns with Proper Pronouns
- Maya dropped Maya's notebook on the muddy trail. Maya hoped the notebook was not ruined.
Rewrite with pronouns:
- The detectives opened the case file. The detectives reviewed the case file's notes carefully.
Rewrite with pronouns:
Part 1: Guided Case File Practice Page 1 of 2
Independent Reading Application
Pronoun Field Checklist
Live Reading Mission
Book Title:
Author:
Pages Read:
Inspection Protocol: 4 Rules to Check While Reading
Check off each rule as you observe it in your book
1. Subject Pronoun Rule
Does the pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) tell who or what is performing the main action?
2. Possessive Pronoun Rule
Does the word (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) show that a noun belongs to someone or something?
3. Antecedent Match
Can you point directly to the original noun mentioned earlier that this pronoun replaces? Does it agree in number (singular/plural)?
4. Apostrophe Warning Check
Confirm: possessive pronouns never use apostrophes (its = possession vs. it's = it is).
Field Evidence Log: 4 Pronouns from Your Reading
| Pg # | Sentence from Book (Underline Pronoun) | Pronoun | Type (Subject/Possessive) | Antecedent (Noun Replaced) |
|---|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Case Debrief: Reflect on Author Craft
A. Choose one subject pronoun from your table. If the author replaced it with the actual noun repeatedly, how would the story sound?
B. Choose one possessive pronoun from your log. How does it make relationships or ownership clear to the reader?
Part 2: Independent Reading Application Page 2 of 2
