Vague Pronouns

​What is a Vague Pronoun?

By Cassie Collins

​Vague Pronouns Introduction

Vague pronoun examples include sentences where the pronoun's antecedent (the noun it refers to) is unclear because there are multiple possibilities, or when the pronoun refers to an entire idea instead of a specific noun.

Multiple Choice

What is a vague pronoun?

• a person, place, or thing.

• an action word.

• the pronoun's antecedent (the noun it refers to) is unclear

Multiple Choice

What is unclear when it comes to vague pronouns?

• Antecedent

• verb

• conjunction

Multiple Choice

What are the Vague Pronouns in the sentence?

" When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief."

• Lisa and Kim

• relief

Lisa and Kim are the vague pronouns

​Explanation

In this sentence Lisa and Kim are the vague pronouns. It is unclear who let out the sigh of relief. So therefore they are vague pronouns
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief. 
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. 

Multiple Choice

What would be considered the vague pronouns in this sentence " Sarah and Jane went shopping. She bought a new dress."

• Sarah and Jane

• The dress

Sarah and Jane are the vague pronouns

Sarah and Jane went shopping. Sarah bought a new dress. 

Fixed sentence

It is unclear who bought the new dress in the sentence

Explanation