What it is: Small words like it, they or this point to something said earlier. You say who or what.
The instruction on the paper: To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. → Say who or what the words point to. Copy it from the text.
Example: Text M — Lost and found
Last week, Sara left her backpack on the bus. Inside were her laptop and her keys. She called the bus company, but they had no news. Two days later, a driver found the bag under a seat and took it to the station. Sara was so grateful that she baked the driver a cake.
To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. (Here the underlined word is in bold.) took it to the station
The answer
Your turn
- Answer it yourself first, then check.
- To whom or to what…?
- who, or which thing?
- refer to
- point back to
- the underlined words
- the words with a line under them
- Answer using words as they appear in the text.
- copy the noun from the text
- (line 32)
- where the words are
Remember: Look back before the word. Put your answer in its place: it must still make sense.
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Track the reference
1
Find the word
Note its line.
2
Look back
Check the sentence before it.
3
Swap it in
Replace the word: does it make sense?
4
Copy the noun
Never write it or they.
Find → Look back → Swap → Copy
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Text N — The school band: Our school band started three years ago with just four players. Now it has twenty members and plays at every school event. The music teacher, Mr Okafor, writes most of the songs himself. Students say he never gets angry, even when they play the wrong notes. Next month the band will perform in the town hall.
To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text. 1. Now it has twenty members 2. Students say he never gets angry
The answer
Your turn
- Answer it yourself first, then check.
Do
- Look back, not forward.
- Match one or many: it or they.
- Copy the noun exactly.
Don't
- Write the pronoun again.
- Grab the nearest noun.
- Answer in your own words.