You already know basic pronouns. Today you'll master advanced techniques that let you write with precision, clarity, and sophistication — managing complex references, constructing formal sentences, and writing like an academic.
What do you notice?
Read these three sentences. Which one sounds most academic? Why?
"There are many reasons why climate change matters."
"Many reasons exist for why climate change matters."
"One must consider climate change seriously."
How you'll learn: You'll discover the structure of dummy subjects and generic pronouns through examples, then practise using them in realistic academic and formal writing. You'll end with a chance to write your own sentences and explain your choices.
Lesson time
3:00
There as Dummy Subject
What is a dummy subject?
In standard English, every verb needs a subject: "I think," "cats jump," "the report explains." But sometimes we want to start a sentence differently — we want to put the real information first, not the subject.
We use there + be as a placeholder. The real subject comes after.
Pattern:
There + be + [something/someone] + extra info
↑
Dummy subject (formal, shifts focus)
Simple vs Advanced Constructions
Intermediate
There is a problem.
There are students here.
Advanced (C1)
There appears to have been a mistake.
There remain several issues.
Advanced Constructions
At C1, dummy subjects appear with complex verb forms:
Perfect + Infinitive
"There appears to have been a delay in processing."
Something happened in the past; now it seems that way. Formal, academic.
Passive Voice
"There are believed to be over 400 species yet undiscovered."
Expert opinion suggests this. Shifts certainty — less direct than "experts believe."
Simple Verb (Formal Register)
"There remain fundamental questions about the mechanism."
More formal than "Some fundamental questions still exist." Academic writing, formal reports.
Continuous
"There are being investigations into the allegations."
Action happening now. Suggests ongoing process.
Why use there + be?
Formality: Shifts tone to academic, formal, or objective.
Focus: Puts the real subject (the news) in the strong position.
Emphasis: "There remain issues" feels more emphatic than "Some issues remain."
Hedging: "There appears to be" softens the claim — less direct than "It is."
Compare these pairs. What changes?
"Questions exist" vs. "There exist questions"
"A solution has been found" vs. "There has been found a solution"
"Problems may arise" vs. "There may arise problems"
Generic Pronouns & Reference
The Challenge
When you're speaking generally — about "people in general" or "what society thinks" — which pronoun do you use?
"You have to be careful online." (Do I? Do they?)
"One must be careful online." (Very formal. British academic.)
"They say it's going to rain." (Who is they?)
"We all know that poverty is serious." (Assumes agreement.)
All are correct. All carry different weight and formality. Your choice signals tone and distance.
You (Generic)
Pattern: "You + infinitive" = advice, warnings, or general truth
Generic You — Informal, Direct
"You can't expect change overnight."
Casual advice. Sounds conversational, slightly informal. Speaking or blog-style writing.
Generic You — Process/Instructions
"If you want to succeed, you must network consistently."
General advice. Works in coaching, mentoring, self-help writing.
When to use: Conversational writing, self-help, blogs, coaching. Sounds like speaking to a friend.
When to use: Academic writing, formal essays, scholarly journals, policy documents. Sounds like an expert.
Warning: Overuse sounds stiff and distant. Native speakers use it carefully in formal contexts only.
They (Generic/Plural Singular)
Pattern: "They + singular verb" = what people say, social consensus, vague authority
They — What People Say
"They say it's going to rain."
Vague. Could mean meteorologists, friends, the internet. Conversational.
They — Social Consensus
"They claim that social media makes us lonelier."
Unspecified "experts." Useful when you're reporting claims without committing to them.
They — Neutral Reference
"If a person wants to improve, they must practice daily."
Avoids "he or she." Modern, inclusive, grammatically clean.
When to use: When referring to people generally, reporting unspecified authority, or including all genders. Very common in modern writing.
Quick Reference: Which Generic Pronoun?
You: Conversational, direct advice, relatable ("you can do this")
One: Formal, scholarly, distant ("one must consider")
They: Vague authority, neutral gender, social claims ("they say")
We: Shared group (use carefully — assumes agreement)
Managing Pronoun Reference Chains
The Problem with Chains
When you use multiple pronouns in one piece of writing, readers must track who "it," "they," "this," and "that" refer to. At C1, clarity is precision.
Unclear Reference (Too Many Pronouns)
"The government announced a new policy, but it was unpopular. They claimed it would help, though few believed it. This was unfortunate."
What does "it" refer to? The policy? The announcement? What is "this"? Confusing for readers.
Strategies for Clear Reference
Strategy 1: Repeat the Noun
Clear (Repeat Noun)
"The government announced a new policy. The policy was unpopular. The government claimed the policy would help, though few citizens believed the policy would succeed."
Repetition is better than unclear pronouns. At C1, clarity beats variation.
When to use: When reference would be ambiguous. Academic writing, formal reports, anything where clarity matters more than elegant variation.
Strategy 2: Use Demonstrative Pronouns (This/That)
Clear (Demonstrative + Noun)
"The government announced a new policy. This policy was unpopular, and that decision reflected deeper social divisions."
"This policy" is clearer than "it." "That decision" refers to a concept, not a specific thing. Very precise.
When to use: When you want to point clearly at something. Academic writing, complex arguments.
Strategy 3: Use Verb Reference (Do, Make, Cause)
Action Reference
"Scientists proposed a new method. Their colleagues replicated what they had proposed, and the results confirmed what the replication had revealed."
Uses verbs to avoid vague pronouns. "What they had proposed" = the specific method. Precise.
When to use: When referring to actions or processes. Academic, technical, formal writing.
Strategy 4: Use One/Ones (Nominal)
Nominal One
"Several policies were proposed. The first one was rejected; the second one seemed promising."
"One" = the policy. "Ones" = the policies. Formal but clear.
When to use: When distinguishing items within a group. Formal writing, academic discussions.
Golden Rule: Pronoun Clarity
Each pronoun should have ONE clear antecedent (the noun it refers to). If the reader must search, clarify by repeating the noun or using a demonstrative.
Analyse & Apply
Activity 1: Spot the Technique
Below are three academic sentences. For each, identify:
Is there a dummy subject (there + be)?
Is a generic pronoun used (you, one, they, we)?
What is the effect?
Example 1
"There have emerged significant challenges in implementing the framework. One must acknowledge the trade-offs involved."
What you notice:
Dummy subject? Yes, "There have emerged"
Generic pronoun? Yes, "One"
Effect? Formal, academic, distant. Emphasises the emergence of challenges; then shifts to an obligation (one must acknowledge).
Example 2
"You can't ignore the evidence, yet some argue that the conclusions are premature."
Example 3
"There remain unanswered questions about the mechanism. They suggest the model may be incomplete."
Activity 2: Speak Your Analysis
Choose one sentence above and explain aloud (1-2 minutes):
Which grammar technique did the writer use? Why?
How would the sentence change if you rewrote it differently (e.g., with a normal subject, or a different pronoun)?
When would you use this technique in your own writing?
Activity 3: Rewrite & Create
"Many solutions exist, but implementing them remains difficult."
Model answer: "There exist many solutions, but implementing them remains difficult." Or: "There are many solutions, though implementation remains difficult."
Example: "One must consider both economic and environmental factors when designing policy."
Activity 4: Full Production (Extended Speaking)
Pick a complex issue (climate change, social media, education reform, etc.) and speak for 2-3 minutes. Try to use:
At least one dummy subject (there + be)
At least one generic pronoun (one, you, or they)
Clear pronoun reference (repeat nouns if needed)
Analyse Real Writing
Academic Writing Sample
Read this excerpt from an academic article. Underline every dummy subject and generic pronoun. What effect do they create?
"There has been considerable debate about the role of artificial intelligence in education. Some argue that it will revolutionise learning; others contend it poses significant risks. One must weigh both perspectives carefully. There remain practical questions about implementation, and they deserve serious attention. You can see this tension reflected in recent policy documents."
Analysis:
Dummy subjects: "There has been considerable debate" (shifts focus to debate, not the writer). "There remain practical questions" (emphasises the questions).
Generic pronouns: "One must weigh" (formal obligation, creates distance). "You can see" (draws reader in, informal, relatable).
Overall effect: Mixes formality (one, there) with accessibility (you). Academic but engaging.
Compare: Styles
Version A (Informal):
"Lots of problems pop up when you try to implement new technology. You've got to think about costs, training, resistance. People worry about job losses. Basically, you need a solid plan."
Version B (Formal):
"There emerge numerous challenges in implementing novel technology. One must account for costs, training requirements, and resistance. Concerns exist regarding employment displacement. One requires a robust implementation strategy."
Discuss:
Which uses dummy subjects and formal pronouns more?
When would you use each version?
What's lost and gained in each?
Your Turn: Analyse
Ask yourself:
Is there a dummy subject?
Are there generic pronouns?
Why did the writer choose these techniques?
What would change if you rewrote it without them?
Reflect & Plan Forward
What You've Learned
Dummy Subjects (There + Be)
Formal, shifts focus, creates distance
Works with complex verbs: "There appears to have been," "There remain"
Academic writing, formal reports, objective tone
Generic Pronouns
You: Conversational, relatable advice
One: Formal, scholarly, distance
They: Vague authority, neutral, what people say
Pronoun Reference
Clarity beats variation — repeat nouns if needed
Use demonstratives (this, that) to point clearly
Track antecedents — each pronoun needs one clear referent
Self-Check
Can you...
☐ Identify dummy subjects in academic writing?
☐ Explain the effect of "there are" vs. "There exist"?
☐ Choose between you, one, and they based on formality and purpose?
☐ Spot unclear pronoun references and fix them?
☐ Write a sentence with a dummy subject for academic effect?
☐ Use generic pronouns intentionally in your own writing?
Looking Forward
Reflect aloud (1-2 minutes):
Which technique (dummy subjects or generic pronouns) feels most natural to you?
Where will you use these structures in your writing?
What was most useful in this lesson? What was confusing?
Your Challenge
Take a piece of your own writing (email, essay, report). Find three places where you could add a dummy subject or a generic pronoun for greater formality or clarity. Rewrite those sentences and notice how your tone shifts.