In this quick article, we answer the question, is the word “it” a noun?
We also review what nouns are and investigate the circumstances in which the word “it” may be construed as a noun. Before answering the question “is the word ‘it’ a noun?”, it is worth taking a look at the difference between nouns and pronouns.
What is a noun?
A noun is a naming word that is used to name a person, place, thing or abstract idea. There are abstract nouns and concrete nouns.
You can watch a video about nouns. Alternatively, if you would prefer a free PDF presentation, you can download one by clicking on the image below.
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Words such as “he,” “she,” “us,” “we” and “they” are all pronouns.
Let’s have a look at an example:
The boys at the football club think they are so clever.
In this sentence, the word “boys” act as the noun and “they” is the pronoun, because it has been used in place of repeating the words “the boys.”
Is the word “it” a noun or a pronoun?
Look at the following sentence:
I am scared of the dog, it is always growling at me.
Do you think the word “it” is a noun or a pronoun? Has it been used to name something or has it been used in place of the name of something?
It is a pronoun, a word that replaces a noun. It has been used to replace the reference to the dog.
For more guidance on nouns, take a look at this guide to converting a singular noun to a plural noun.
Can the word “it” be a noun?
It is possible for the word it to be a noun if it is used as the proper name for something. For example, there is a novel called “It” that was written by Stephen King. In this context, the word “It” acts as a proper name for the book. Likewise, if you call someone the name “It” you are using a proper noun. In both cases the word “it” should have a capital letter because you are using a proper noun.
How can I differentiate between nouns and pronouns?
Pronouns never, ever, ever get an apostrophe to indicate possession. Think about it: You don’t say “mi’ne” or “hi’s” or “her’s”–and you don’t say “your’s” or “it’s” to indicate possession.
And that should answer the question “is the word ‘it’ a noun?”
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They say you can put a comma before the word “and” if it connects 2 independent clauses.
(independent clauses contain a noun and a verb), but what if the 2nd clause in a sentence only contained a pronoun and a verb? Could you still consider that an independent clause?(and therefore put the comma before the word “and”) example… “It’s about finding what works for you, and when it works for you.” is that correct? or is “you” the noun in both clauses, making this correct for THAT reason?
(the real problem is i don’t know how to dissect a sentence in the first place..)