Zurückverweisen: Pronomen verwenden (Anaphorische Referenz)
flüssige Sprache, Wiederholungen vermeiden und Klarheit schaffen.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Anaphoric reference uses pronouns to point back to previously mentioned ideas, ensuring your writing flows smoothly without repetitive nouns.
- Match the pronoun to the specific noun's number and gender: 'The CEO resigned; she left today.'
- Use 'this' or 'that' to refer to entire previous clauses or complex ideas.
- Avoid 'pronoun ambiguity' where it is unclear which of two previous nouns you are referencing.
Overview
he, she oder it zu ersetzen. Es geht um strategische Kohäsion.do so) einsetzt, um wie ein Native Speaker zu klingen, der auch in anspruchsvollen Business-Szenarien oder akademischen Kontexten die volle Kontrolle über den „roten Faden“ behält.The CEO (Antezedens) announced her resignation; she (Anapher) will leave in June.- Personalpronomen (
he,she,it,they,themetc.): Sie ersetzen spezifische Nominalphrasen. Wichtig: Im Englischen folgt das Pronomen dem natürlichen Geschlecht, nicht dem grammatikalischen (wie im Deutschen). - Possessivpronomen und -adjektive (
his,hers,their,its): Sie zeigen die Zugehörigkeit zu einem bereits genannten Akteur an. - Demonstrativpronomen (
this,that,these,those): Diese sind mächtige Werkzeuge für C1-Lerner. Währenditoft nur ein konkretes Objekt ersetzt, fassenthisoderthatoft ganze Sachverhalte zusammen. Beispiel:The company decided to cut costs by 20%. This led to a strike.Hier bezieht sichthisauf die gesamte Entscheidung. - Reflexivpronomen (
himself,themselves): Sie weisen innerhalb eines Satzes zurück auf das Subjekt. - Pro-forms (Ersatzformen): Konstruktionen wie
do so,do itoderthe sameersetzen ganze Verbphrasen. Beispiel:She asked me to write a summary, and I did so.(Statt:...and I wrote a summary.).
this und that oft subtiler und hängt von der „psychologischen Distanz“ im Text ab.the manager) | he | him | his | his |the analyst) | she | her | her | hers |the project) | it | it | its | - |the employees) | they | them | their | theirs |they“. Wenn das Geschlecht einer Person unbekannt oder irrelevant ist (z. B. a student, someone), nutzt man heute im modernen Englisch fast ausschließlich they/them/their.If a client calls, tell them I will call them back. (Vermeide das sperrige him or her).this, that, these, those)this/these(nah am Sprecher/gerade erwähnt)that/those(weiter weg/länger her oder distanzierend)
do als Hilfsverb:He promised to attend the meeting, and he did.They want to expand into Asia, and we plan to do the same.
- 1Vermeidung von Redundanz (Conciseness):
The marketing strategy is good. The marketing strategy will help the marketing strategy's goals.The marketing strategy is good. It will help achieve its goals.- 1Informationsfluss (Theme and Rheme):
We have implemented a new security protocol (Rheme). It (Theme) ensures that data is encrypted. Dies schafft eine logische Kette.- 1Zusammenfassen von Argumenten:
this, um komplexe Vorüberlegungen zu bündeln.The inflation rate rose while wages stagnated. This created a difficult environment for consumers. Das Wort this fungiert hier als „Klammer“ für den gesamten ersten Satz.- 1Präzision in Verträgen und Berichten:
the former (der Erstere) und the latter (der Letztere), um zwischen zwei zuvor genannten Dingen zu unterscheiden.We discussed the budget and the timeline; the latter (the timeline) is our main concern.The sun is shining; she is very bright.it. Ausnahmen gibt es nur bei Personifizierungen (Schiffe sind oft she), aber im professionellen Kontext bleibst du bei it.The manager told the employee that he was being promoted.he ist nicht eindeutig.The manager told the employee that the latter was being promoted.this am Satzanfang:This is why... oder nur This..., ohne dass klar ist, worauf sich this bezieht, besonders wenn der vorherige Absatz lang war.this, um Klarheit zu schaffen: This decision..., This trend..., This development....The same als Pronomen:I'll have the same, aber als anaphorischer Verweis auf ein Objekt ist es oft falsch.I bought a new car and my neighbor bought the same....and my neighbor bought one, too. oder ...bought the same model.The cake was great; I ate it. |When he arrived, John was tired. |Look at that! (man zeigt auf etwas) |We need action, and we need action now. |they wirklich für eine einzelne Person benutzen?he/she.it und this, wenn ich mich auf einen Satz beziehe?It ist schwächer und bezieht sich meist auf ein direkt zuvor genanntes Objekt. This ist stärker, demonstrativer und wird genutzt, um einen ganzen Sachverhalt oder eine neue Idee als Thema zu etablieren. Wenn du eine Schlussfolgerung ziehst, nimm this.do so formeller als do it?Do so wird häufig in der Schriftsprache und in formellen Reden verwendet. Do it ist direkter und eher umgangssprachlich oder für physische Handlungen reserviert. In einem C1-Essay ist do so meist die bessere Wahl.Common Anaphoric Referents
| Type | Singular | Plural | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Personal (Subject)
|
he, she, it
|
they
|
Replaces the subject noun
|
|
Personal (Object)
|
him, her, it
|
them
|
Replaces the object noun
|
|
Demonstrative
|
this, that
|
these, those
|
Points to specific items or ideas
|
|
Relative
|
who, which, that
|
who, which, that
|
Connects clauses
|
|
Pro-forms
|
do so, one
|
do so, some
|
Replaces verb phrases or nouns
|
Meanings
The use of a word (typically a pronoun) to refer back to a word or phrase mentioned earlier in a text to avoid repetition and create cohesion.
Personal Anaphora
Using personal pronouns (he, she, it, they) to replace specific people or objects.
“Dr. Aris is a pioneer in her field.”
“The students finished the exam; they looked exhausted.”
Demonstrative Anaphora
Using 'this', 'that', 'these', or 'those' to refer to objects or entire preceding statements.
“The company lost 40% of its value. This led to immediate layoffs.”
“He claimed he was innocent, but no one believed that.”
Relative Anaphora
Using relative pronouns (who, which, that) to link back to a noun in a complex sentence.
“The report, which I sent yesterday, contains the data.”
“The man who called you is my lawyer.”
Pro-form Anaphora
Using words like 'so', 'do', or 'did' to refer back to an entire verb phrase or action.
“If you want to leave, please do so quietly.”
“She thinks we will win, and I hope so too.”
Reference Table
| Pronomen-Typ | Pronomen | Beispiel für Antezedens | Funktion |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Personal (Subject)
|
he, she, it, they
|
Dr. Anya Sharma -> She
|
Ersetzt Nomen als Subjekt
|
|
Personal (Object)
|
him, her, it, them
|
My new laptop -> it
|
Ersetzt Nomen als Objekt
|
|
Possessive (Adjective)
|
his, her, its, their
|
The team -> their
|
Zeigt Besitz an, beschreibt Nomen
|
|
Demonstrative (Singular)
|
this, that
|
The complex theory -> That
|
Verweist auf eine spezifische frühere Idee/Sache
|
|
Demonstrative (Plural)
|
these, those
|
All the exam questions -> These
|
Verweist auf spezifische frühere Ideen/Sachen
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The error was significant; this necessitated a full review. (Workplace error)
There was a big mistake, so we had to check everything. (Workplace error)
We messed up. That meant we had to start over. (Workplace error)
Total fail. This meant we were back to square one. (Workplace error)
Anaphorische Referenz: Ideen verbinden
Schlüsselelemente
- Antecedent The noun/phrase referred to
- Anaphor The word referring back (usually pronoun)
Häufige Anaphern
- Personal Pronouns he, she, it, they, him, her, them
- Possessive Pronouns his, hers, its, theirs
- Demonstrative Pronouns this, that, these, those
Zweck
- Cohesion Links sentences/ideas smoothly
- Avoid Repetition Makes language natural
- Information Flow Keeps audience on track
Potenzielle Probleme
- Ambiguity Unclear antecedent
- Agreement Errors Mismatch in number/gender
Anaphora vs. Cataphora
Das richtige anaphorische Pronomen wählen
Gibt es ein Nomen/Konzept, auf das verwiesen werden soll?
Ist das Antezedens Singular oder Plural?
Ist das Antezedens männlich, weiblich oder unbelebt/allgemein?
Ist die Referenz klar und eindeutig?
Arten von anaphorischen Pronomen
Personalpronomen
- • he
- • she
- • it
- • they
- • him
- • her
- • them
Possessivformen
- • his
- • hers
- • its
- • theirs
- • my
- • your
- • our
Demonstrativpronomen
- • this
- • that
- • these
- • those
Wiederholung vermeiden
- • The students are ready. They...
- • The project is complex. It...
Beispiele nach Niveau
I have a brother. He is ten.
I have a brother. He is ten.
Where is my bag? I can't find it.
Where is my bag? I can't find it.
Sarah is here. She is my friend.
Sarah is here. She is my friend.
The apples are red. They are sweet.
The apples are red. They are sweet.
I bought a new phone and I love it.
I bought a new phone and I love it.
John and Mary are late. Tell them to hurry.
John and Mary are late. Tell them to hurry.
This is my house. That is my car over there.
This is my house. That is my car over there.
He lost his wallet. He found it under the sofa.
He lost his wallet. He found it under the sofa.
The movie, which we saw last night, was boring.
The movie, which we saw last night, was boring.
If you need a pen, I have one you can borrow.
If you need a pen, I have one you can borrow.
She failed the test. This surprised everyone.
She failed the test. This surprised everyone.
I've never been to Paris, but I'd like to go there.
I've never been to Paris, but I'd like to go there.
The committee reached a decision, but it wasn't easy.
The committee reached a decision, but it wasn't easy.
He asked me to sign the contract, and I did so immediately.
He asked me to sign the contract, and I did so immediately.
Many people believe the economy is improving; however, others dispute this.
Many people believe the economy is improving; however, others dispute this.
The employees were unhappy with the new policy, so they protested.
The employees were unhappy with the new policy, so they protested.
The government's refusal to negotiate was unexpected. This stance alienated many voters.
The government's refusal to negotiate was unexpected. This stance alienated many voters.
The former theory suggests a biological cause, while the latter posits a social one.
The former theory suggests a biological cause, while the latter posits a social one.
The software crashed during the update, which led to a total loss of data.
The software crashed during the update, which led to a total loss of data.
Should the inflation rate rise further, and it is widely expected to do so, the bank will act.
Should the inflation rate rise further, and it is widely expected to do so, the bank will act.
The sheer audacity of the proposal was what struck me most; it was, in a word, breathtaking.
The sheer audacity of the proposal was what struck me most; it was, in a word, breathtaking.
The architect designed the building to be sustainable, an objective she achieved through solar glass.
The architect designed the building to be sustainable, an objective she achieved through solar glass.
To understand the poem, one must look at its historical context; doing this reveals hidden meanings.
To understand the poem, one must look at its historical context; doing this reveals hidden meanings.
The CEO's resignation, though sudden, was not entirely unforeseen; that it happened now is the only surprise.
The CEO's resignation, though sudden, was not entirely unforeseen; that it happened now is the only surprise.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use them interchangeably when referring to ideas.
Using 'it' to refer to a whole sentence.
Häufige Fehler
My mother is tall. He is nice.
My mother is tall. She is nice.
I have two dogs. I love it.
I have two dogs. I love them.
He was late. That was a problem.
He was late. This was a problem.
The manager told the clerk he was wrong.
The manager told the clerk, 'You are wrong,' or 'The manager admitted he was wrong.'
Satzmuster
[Noun Phrase] is [Adjective]; [Pronoun] is also [Adjective].
[Clause], which [Verb Phrase].
Real World Usage
This phenomenon suggests a deeper underlying cause.
Saw the news. That's crazy!
I managed the marketing team and helped them reach their goals.
The suspect fled the scene; he is still at large.
The Party of the First Part shall fulfill its obligations.
Once there was a king. He was very old.
Klarheit ist dein Kompass
Vorsicht vor Mehrdeutigkeitsfallen
The most common error is when a pronoun could refer to more than one noun.
Prüfe die Übereinstimmung
Senden drückst, check kurz, ob deine Pronomen in Zahl (Singular/Plural) und Geschlecht mit ihren Antezedentien übereinstimmen. Das ist ein schneller Fix, der einen riesigen Unterschied macht. Before you hit send, quickly check that your pronouns agree with their antecedents in number (singular/plural) and gender.
Im lockeren Chat ist Kontext König
In informal settings like texting or gaming, you might occasionally see pronouns with implied or slightly less explicit antecedents.
Lies laut vor, um Fehler zu finden
If a sentence feels clunky or confusing when you read it aloud, there might be an anaphoric issue.
Smart Tips
Always add a noun after 'This' to clarify your point.
Avoid using 'he' or 'she' repeatedly; use their names or titles to distinguish them.
Use 'do so' or 'did so' to avoid repeating long verb phrases.
Be consistent: if you start with 'it', don't switch to 'they' in the same paragraph.
Aussprache
Weak forms of pronouns
In natural speech, anaphoric pronouns like 'him', 'her', and 'them' are often unstressed and reduced.
Stress for Contrast
I didn't see HIM, I saw HER.
Stress is used when the pronoun is being contrasted with another potential referent.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
ANA points BACK (Anaphora), CATA points AHEAD (Cataphora).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a text as a chain. Each pronoun is a hook that reaches back to grab the previous link (the noun) to keep the chain from breaking.
Rhyme
If you've said the noun before, use a pronoun to say more.
Story
John walked into a room. He (John) saw a cake. It (the cake) looked delicious. This (the whole situation) made him happy.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write a 5-sentence paragraph about your favorite book without using the book's title more than once.
Kulturelle Hinweise
In academic writing, 'this' is preferred over 'it' when referring to complex ideas to provide more 'weight' to the reference.
The use of 'they' as a singular anaphoric referent for a person of unknown or non-binary gender is now standard.
Legal documents often avoid anaphora entirely to prevent any possible ambiguity, repeating full names or titles instead.
From Ancient Greek 'anaphora' (ἀναφορά), meaning 'a carrying back'.
Gesprächseinstiege
Have you seen any good movies lately? What did you like about them?
If a colleague makes a mistake, how do you tell them?
The economy is changing rapidly. How is this affecting your industry?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The new software is complex, but _____ makes our work much faster.
Choose the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
My sister told her friend that she was busy.
Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe company released its annual report today. ___ shows a 10% increase in profits.
Find and fix the mistake:
When the car hit the wall, it was damaged.
If you need to cancel your subscription, please ___ before the 1st of the month.
I have a friend. She lives in Tokyo.
Identify the demonstrative anaphora: 'He failed. This was sad.'
A: Did you see the memo? B: Yes, I read ___ this morning.
'Because he was hungry, John ate an apple.'
1. The girls, 2. The book, 3. The man
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe coffee machine broke down, so _____ had to brew tea instead.
The manager and the assistant discussed the report, and he decided to postpone the meeting.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'El libro es muy interesante; lo leí en un día.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the antecedents with the correct pronouns:
My phone battery is low; I need to charge _____.
Each team member presented their ideas.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Mis colegas trabajan mucho; ellos merecen un ascenso.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the nouns with their possessive forms:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Anaphora points back to a noun already mentioned (`John left. He was tired.`), while cataphora points forward to a noun mentioned later (`Because he was tired, John left.`).
Yes, 'singular they' is used when the gender is unknown or irrelevant (`Someone left their phone.`).
Use `this` when referring to a whole sentence or a complex idea. Use `it` when referring to a specific noun.
A vague pronoun is one where the reader can't tell what it refers to. For example, `They say it will rain.` Who is 'they'?
Yes, `the former` and `the latter` are mostly used in formal writing and academic contexts.
If there are two nouns, repeat the specific noun instead of using a pronoun, or restructure the sentence.
Yes, in relative clauses like `He arrived late, which annoyed me,` the word `which` refers to the entire fact that he arrived late.
Most do, but some (like Japanese) prefer to omit the pronoun entirely if the context is clear.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pronombres de objeto y sujeto
English must say 'It is...', Spanish can just say 'Es...'
Zero Anaphora
English pronouns are mandatory; Japanese ones are often avoided.
Pronomen mit Kasus
German pronouns carry more grammatical information (case).
Pronoms compléments
Word order of the pronoun referent.
Damir (Pronouns)
Anaphoric referents are often suffixes in Arabic.
代词 (Dàicí)
Lack of gender distinction in spoken anaphora.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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