Pronoun 1st to 3rd Person Quiz

1. What does changing pronouns from first person to third person usually mean?

Changing I, me, my, and we to he, she, it, or they when we tell the story about someone else.

Changing he and she to I and we in every sentence.

Removing all pronouns from the sentence.

Using only you in every sentence.

When we move from first person to third person, we replace I or we with pronouns like he, she, or they to match the new point of view.

Explanation

When we move from first person to third person, we replace I or we with pronouns like he, she, or they to match the new point of view.

2. Direct: "I am reading a book," Tom said. Which sentence correctly changes this to third person in indirect speech?

Tom said that I was reading a book.

Tom said that he was reading a book.

Tom said that they were reading a book.

Tom said that we were reading a book.

I refers to Tom, so it changes to he, and am reading changes to was reading in indirect speech.

Explanation

I refers to Tom, so it changes to he, and am reading changes to was reading in indirect speech.

3. Direct: "I lost my pencil," Ben said. Indirect: Ben said that he had lost his pencil. This is a correct change from first person to third person.

True

False

I and my change to he and his to match the third-person point of view about Ben.

Explanation

I and my change to he and his to match the third-person point of view about Ben.

4. Direct: "I finished my homework," Carla said. Indirect: Carla said that I had finished my homework. This is correct.

True

False

I should change to she because Carla is the person who finished the homework.

Explanation

I should change to she because Carla is the person who finished the homework.

5. Which indirect sentences correctly change first-person pronouns to third person?

Direct: "I am tired," Jake said. Indirect: Jake said that he was tired.

Direct: "I am tired," Jake said. Indirect: Jake said that I was tired.

Direct: "I forgot my book," Lily said. Indirect: Lily said that she had forgotten her book.

Direct: "I forgot my book," Lily said. Indirect: Lily said that they had forgotten their book.

Direct: "I am nervous," Omar said. Indirect: Omar said that he was nervous.

In A, C, and E the I in direct speech is correctly changed to he or she in indirect speech.

Explanation

In A, C, and E the I in direct speech is correctly changed to he or she in indirect speech.

Submit

6. Which indirect sentences use the third-person pronouns incorrectly?

Direct: "I am late," he said. Indirect: He said that he was late.

Direct: "I am late," he said. Indirect: He said that you were late.

Direct: "I like soccer," Ana said. Indirect: Ana said that she liked soccer.

Direct: "I like soccer," Ana said. Indirect: Ana said that they liked soccer.

Direct: "I am hungry," Miguel said. Indirect: Miguel said that he was hungry.

B wrongly changes I to you and D changes I to they when it should match Ana with she.

Explanation

B wrongly changes I to you and D changes I to they when it should match Ana with she.

Submit

8. Direct: "I finished my project," Carla said. Indirect: Carla said that __________ had finished her project.

She replaces I because Carla is the one who finished the project.

Explanation

She replaces I because Carla is the one who finished the project.

Submit

9. Which sentence correctly changes this first-person sentence to third person about Mia? "I walked home after school."

Mia walked home after school.

I walked home after school, said Mia.

Mia says I walked home after school.

Mia will walk home after school.

We replace I with Mia and keep the past tense walked to show the same action in third person.

Explanation

We replace I with Mia and keep the past tense walked to show the same action in third person.

10. Direct: "I lost my backpack," Tom said. Which is the best third-person indirect sentence?

Tom said that I had lost my backpack.

Tom said that he had lost my backpack.

Tom said that he had lost his backpack.

Tom said that they had lost their backpack.

I and my must change to he and his to match Tom in third person.

Explanation

I and my must change to he and his to match Tom in third person.

11. Direct: "We are ready," we said. Indirect: We said that they were ready. This is a correct change from first person to third person.

True

False

We becomes they when someone reports the group from the outside point of view.

Explanation

We becomes they when someone reports the group from the outside point of view.

12. Direct: "We are ready," we said. Indirect: We said that we were ready. This can also be correct when the speakers report their own words.

True

False

If the speakers are still telling the story about themselves, they may keep we in indirect speech.

Explanation

If the speakers are still telling the story about themselves, they may keep we in indirect speech.

13. Direct: "We will help," the volunteers said. Which indirect sentences correctly change to third person?

The volunteers said that we would help.

The volunteers said that they would help.

The volunteers said that he would help.

The volunteers said that they will help.

The volunteers said that they would be helping.

B and E change we to they and keep the meaning that the volunteers are the ones helping.

Explanation

B and E change we to they and keep the meaning that the volunteers are the ones helping.

Submit

14. First-person: "I love reading," wrote Maya. Which third-person rewrites are correct?

Maya wrote that she loved reading.

Maya wrote that I loved reading.

Maya wrote that Maya loved reading.

Maya wrote that she loves reading.

Maya wrote that they loved reading.

A, C, and D replace I with Maya or she, keeping the sentence clearly in third person.

Explanation

A, C, and D replace I with Maya or she, keeping the sentence clearly in third person.

Submit

15. Direct: "I forgot my lunch," he said. Indirect: He said that he had forgotten __________ lunch.

My changes to his when we report what he said in third person.

Explanation

My changes to his when we report what he said in third person.

Submit

16. Why do we change I to he or she in indirect speech about another person?

Because we never use I in English.

Because indirect speech must always use he, she, or they.

Because the story is no longer told from the speaker’s view but from the reporter’s view.

Because we want the sentence to be longer.

The point of view changes from the speaker to the person reporting the speech, so the pronouns must change too.

Explanation

The point of view changes from the speaker to the person reporting the speech, so the pronouns must change too.

17. Changing a story from first person (I) to third person (he, she, they) means we must change all first-person pronouns to third-person ones.

True

False

To keep the point of view consistent, every I or we should be changed to the correct third-person pronoun or name.

Explanation

To keep the point of view consistent, every I or we should be changed to the correct third-person pronoun or name.

18. First-person: "I walked to the bus stop, and I waited for the bus." (about Leo) Which third-person rewrites are correct?

Leo walked to the bus stop, and he waited for the bus.

Leo walked to the bus stop, and I waited for the bus.

He walked to the bus stop, and he waited for the bus.

Leo walked to the bus stop, and they waited for the bus.

Leo walks to the bus stop, and he waited for the bus.

A and C replace I with Leo or he and keep the meaning and tense clear.

Explanation

A and C replace I with Leo or he and keep the meaning and tense clear.

Submit

19. Direct: "I am studying for my test," Rosa said. Indirect: Rosa said that __________ was studying for her test.

She replaces I, and her replaces my to show Rosa in third person.

Explanation

She replaces I, and her replaces my to show Rosa in third person.

Submit

20. When changing first-person sentences to third person, what should you check first?

That all pronouns are changed so they still point to the correct person.

That the sentence has as many pronouns as possible.

That you remove all names from the story.

That the verbs are all in future tense.

You must be sure each new third-person pronoun still clearly refers to the right character.

Explanation

You must be sure each new third-person pronoun still clearly refers to the right character.

Conversion Practice: Pronoun Changes from First to Third Person Quiz