Substituting with Pronouns, Such and So
If you have already done our lesson on Determiners and Pronouns, you will have seen how we can use the latter to replace nouns or noun phrases. If you haven’t, we would recommend that you do so in order to read more about how to avoid repetition in greater detail. This page will be focusing on the use of this/that/these/those as pronouns, as well as how you can use so and such.
This/That/These/Those
In Speaking and Writing, you can use the above as pronouns to reference back to things or ideas previously mentioned. For example:
I have always wanted to travel and this is why I decided to take a gap year before starting university.
Task Tips
In formal writing, it is correct to use this and these rather than that or those.
Therefore, when doing part 1 of the Writing exam (essay), or any formal genres in part 2 (proposals, reports, and formal letters or emails) , it is important that you follow this rule. For example:
In order to improve the school's facilities, it would be a good idea to make all areas accessible to those with disabilities. This would allow a greater number of students to participate in all activities.
So and Such
So can be used:
- to substitute an adjective. For example: The issue of obesity amongst young children has been problematic for years and it remains so today (It remains problematic);
- following the auxiliary verb do to avoid repeating a clause. For example: They decided to buy a house and were able to do so by living with his parents and saving money;
- after verbs such as think, believe, say, hope, and tell. For example: “Do you think the situation will improve?” ” I hope so. “
- in speaking at the start of a short response with reporting verbs, such as say, tell , hear, and read. For example: “Graham got that job he went for.” “So I heard.” (I heard that he got the job).
Such can be used to mean this/that kind of and is followed by a noun. For example:
I don’t think that legalising soft drugs is a good idea as such an approach could cause a number of problems.
With the above in mind, match the cards on the left below with those on the right. The second part of each pair contains strategies for avoiding repetition.