ACT Reading: Track Pronoun References to Understand Complex Passages

Pronouns (he, she, it, they, this, that) are shortcuts authors use to avoid repeating nouns. When pronouns are clear, sentences flow smoothly. When they're ambiguous, readers get confused. ACT Reading tests whether you can track pronouns accurately across sentences and paragraphs. Example (confusing): "The teacher told the student she had made a mistake." Who made the mistake, the teacher or the student? The pronoun "she" is ambiguous. A clearer version: "The teacher told the student, 'You have made a mistake.'" Now there's no ambiguity. Pronoun questions on ACT Reading ask you to identify exactly what a pronoun refers to, which tests reading comprehension at its core.

When you encounter a pronoun, pause and ask: "What noun does this refer to?" Trace backward in the sentence or prior sentences to find the antecedent (the noun the pronoun replaces). This one habit prevents misreadings and makes complex passages instantly clearer.

Ambiguity 1: Multiple nouns in a sentence, and the pronoun could refer to either. "The president met the diplomat, and he..." Who is "he"? Both are male, so context is your only clue. Ambiguity 2: Pronouns separated by many sentences from their antecedent; you must trace backward through an entire paragraph. Ambiguity 3: Vague pronouns like "this" or "that" referring to an entire idea instead of a single noun; "this" might refer to a whole concept introduced three sentences ago. Ambiguity 4: Pronouns like "it" used impersonally; "It is clear that..." where "it" is just a placeholder, not referring to any noun. On ACT Reading, read the sentence with the pronoun and the 1-2 sentences before it, then ask: "What noun does this pronoun replace?" If you can't answer in 2 seconds, it's an ambiguous pronoun and the test will likely ask about it.

When you see a pronoun question, re-read the sentence and the surrounding context, then check each answer option to see which noun the pronoun logically refers to. Eliminate answers that don't match the antecedent.

Passage excerpt 1: "The inventor and the entrepreneur discussed their plans. She believed in the project, but he was skeptical." Who is "she"? The entrepreneur (female). Who is "he"? The inventor (male). This is clear from context. Passage excerpt 2: "The policy had three main goals: efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability. This was the most important to policymakers." What does "this" refer to? Likely "efficiency" or possibly the whole set of goals; context would clarify. Passage excerpt 3: "When the scientist presented her findings, the critics questioned them immediately. It was a tense moment." What does "it" refer to? The situation or moment of questioning; "it" is impersonal. Notice how context and noun placement help clarify pronouns; this is the exact skill ACT Reading tests.

Do this for five passages and your pronoun-tracking instinct will sharpen dramatically. By test day, you'll answer pronoun reference questions in seconds instead of re-reading paragraphs.

Pronoun reference questions appear on most ACT Reading sections and are often the easiest inference questions because the answer is directly stated; you just need to track the pronoun backward. Unlike tone or main idea questions, which require interpretation, pronoun questions have a single correct answer and no ambiguity once you identify the antecedent.

This week, mark every pronoun in your practice passages and draw an arrow from the pronoun to its antecedent. This visual habit will train your eye to spot antecedents instantly, and you'll answer pronoun questions faster than any other question type on the test.