A word that comes in place of a noun is called a ______.

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

A pronoun is a fundamental part of speech in English grammar.
Its primary function is to substitute for a noun or noun phrase, which is known as the pronoun's antecedent.
This substitution prevents repetitive and cumbersome sentences. For example, instead of saying 'Maria is a nurse. Maria works the night shift,' you can say 'Maria is a nurse. She works the night shift.'.
Common pronouns include personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those), and interrogative pronouns (who, what, which).

Option A: A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. It is the word that is replaced by a pronoun, not the word that does the replacing.
Option B: A verb is a word that describes an action, occurrence, or state of being. It does not replace a noun.
Option C: An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. It provides more information about the noun but does not replace it.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Parts of Speech (Pronoun) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, clear and precise communication is a critical skill in nursing. Using correct grammar, including pronouns, ensures that patient notes, handovers, and instructions are unambiguous and easily understood by colleagues and patients.
Miscommunication due to poor grammar can lead to errors in patient care. For example, confusing 'he' and 'she' in a report about a male and female patient in the same room could have serious consequences.
What if? If a nurse wrote in a patient's chart, 'Patient is anxious. Patient needs reassurance. Gave patient medication,' it is grammatically correct but clunky. Using pronouns makes it clearer and more professional: 'The patient is anxious. He needs reassurance. I gave him his medication.'.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing your knowledge of basic English grammar.
Read the definition provided in the stem: 'A word that comes in place of a noun...'
Mentally review the definitions of the four options provided.
A 'Noun' is a person, place, or thing.
A 'Verb' is an action word.
An 'Adjective' describes a noun.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q1H-DG12R5EqdYLCKFsB8I

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 1 p. 269-271

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 2 p. 37-39

Practise the full CGHS SSC - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.