English
Practical guidelines for teaching English sentence cohesion using pronoun reference and lexical ties effectively.
This article delivers practical, classroom‑friendly strategies to cultivate strong sentence cohesion in English learners, focusing on pronoun reference, lexical ties, and thoughtful sequencing to improve clarity, fluency, and accuracy.
Published by
Scott Morgan
July 19, 2025 - 3 min Read
Cohesion in English hinges on the way sentences link ideas for the reader or listener. Effective lesson design starts with identifying common cohesion problems such as ambiguous pronoun references, repetitive noun phrases, and abrupt topic shifts. Teachers can model how a single referent or a carefully chosen lexical tie creates continuity from one sentence to the next. Students benefit from analyzing short samples that illustrate how pronouns must agree with their referents in number and gender, and how repeating key nouns or using synonyms helps prevent confusion. A structured approach builds confidence: begin with simple connectors, then introduce pronouns, then expand to more complex sequences that rely on both pronouns and lexical chains.
To cultivate reliable cohesion, teachers should provide explicit guidelines on pronoun choice. Start with subject pronouns to mark who or what performs an action, then move to object pronouns and possessives to show relationships. Demonstrations that contrast unclear reference with precise reference help learners feel the difference. Students can practice by rewriting passages so that every pronoun clearly points to a single antecedent. Encourage students to track potential ambiguities in longer sentences and to replace ambiguous pronouns with noun phrases when necessary. Additionally, incorporating a variety of lexical ties—such as synonyms, related nouns, and collocations—helps sustain meaning without excessive repetition, which strengthens overall readability and listening comprehension.
Effective instruction blends pronouns with lexical connections for clarity.
In practice, a well‑coordinated text uses pronouns to steer attention. A narrative paragraph, for example, should introduce a character or object early and then refer back to that anchor with appropriate pronouns. When introducing a new participant, pause to ensure the antecedent is clear before applying a pronoun. This habit prevents misreadings and keeps the reader grounded in the situation. Learners should be guided to vary pronouns carefully to avoid overuse, which can make prose feel robotic. Teachers can design activities where students trace pronoun chains, highlight antecedents, and discuss how different choices alter nuance and emphasis.
Lexical ties reinforce cohesion by linking ideas through meaning rather than surface repetition. Students learn to select synonyms, related terms, and collocations that preserve topic continuity. For example, after mentioning "the experiment," a learner may refer back with "the procedure" or "the procedure's outcome," depending on the surrounding context. Modeling these choices helps students see how lexical repetition differs from deliberate variation. Tasks such as completing paragraphs with cohesive ties encourage deliberate, purposeful word choice. When learners observe successful passages, they internalize patterns they can reuse across speaking and writing.
Scaffold pronouns and lexical ties with concrete, practice‑oriented prompts.
A core strategy for teaching cohesion is to chart pronoun‑antecedent relationships inside short, controlled texts. Start with concrete subjects and gradually introduce more complex references. Students should practice substituting pronouns while preserving referents and ensuring number agreement. When a passage introduces several potential antecedents, instructors guide learners to choose the most salient reference and to avoid pronouns that could point to multiple items. This practice sharpens accuracy and reduces misinterpretation. Pair work and peer feedback sessions further reinforce correct usage, as students hear how others manage referents and gain confidence in their own choices.
To extend excellence, embedding lexical ties within supported writing activities helps students see cohesion as a natural outcome. Assign tasks that require repeated yet varied terms linked by meaning. For example, after presenting a central idea about climate, students can weave in related terms like weather patterns, greenhouse effects, and mitigation strategies. This approach encourages semantic networks rather than flat repetition. Teachers should provide explicit rubrics that reward both precision in pronoun reference and the smart use of lexical ties. Feedback should focus on how word choices shape coherence, not merely on grammatical correctness, enabling learners to produce texts that flow smoothly.
Use structured sequencing to build cohesion with pronouns and words.
A practical classroom activity invites learners to rewrite paragraphs with cohesive pivots. Provide a paragraph that uses several pronouns without clear antecedents, then ask students to revise it so each pronoun points to a single, explicit antecedent. Next, challenge them to replace some repeated nouns with synonyms or closely related terms to maintain topic continuity. This exercise trains both recognition and production, strengthening awareness of potential ambiguities. As students revise, discuss how the revised version affects tone, emphasis, and readability. The activity can be extended by swapping roles: one student writes a version, another reviews for cohesion, and then they compare their choices.
Another effective exercise centers on sequencing ideas logically. Give learners a set of sentences that describe a process, but present them out of order. Students must reorder the sentences and adjust pronouns to ensure a clear thread of reference throughout. Following the reconstruction, they identify where lexical ties enhance coherence, such as recurring terms that establish a unifying theme. Teachers can prompt students to annotate their texts with color‑coded pronoun chains and vocabulary links. This visible approach demystifies cohesion and gives learners concrete strategies to apply in speaking and writing.
Integrate assessment focused on pronouns and lexical cohesion.
Reading comprehension tasks also provide fertile ground for cohesion practice. Select passages with clear pronoun networks and varied lexical ties, then ask students to map pronouns to their antecedents using arrows or notes. Afterward, discuss how the author used synonyms to maintain continuity without repetition. This process helps learners transfer the habit to their own writing. Encouraging students to summarize each paragraph in one sentence can reveal gaps in cohesion and prompt targeted revisions. Over time, frequent exposure to cohesive patterns strengthens internalization, making fluent production more automatic.
In speaking, cohesion emerges from natural links between ideas. Teachers can model sample conversations with deliberate pronoun use and lexical choice, then guide students to imitate the pattern in structured dialogues. Focus on keeping the reference unambiguous when switching topics, and encourage learners to pause briefly to confirm pronoun clarity before continuing. Recording and listening exercises enable self‑correction, as learners hear where improvisation disrupts coherence. Pair activities that require connecting statements with appropriate ties gradually build confidence in both spontaneous speech and prepared talk.
Assessing cohesion requires criteria that reflect both accuracy and fluency. Rubrics can include pronoun reference correctness, avoidance of ambiguity, and the effectiveness of lexical ties in maintaining topic unity. Teachers should track progress with regular, low‑stakes writing tasks designed to reveal improvements in coherence. Feedback should point to specific pronoun antecedents or lexical choices rather than vague judgments. Encouraging students to rewrite flawed sections with clearer references helps cement correct habits. Regular practice across reading, writing, and speaking reinforces cohesive strategies as dependable tools for clear communication.
Finally, cultivate a culture of mindful editing. Encourage learners to revise their sentences with a focus on cohesion before finalizing any text. A disciplined editing routine might include checking pronoun referents, ensuring agreement, and evaluating whether lexical ties contribute to a strong, unified message. Remind students that good cohesion is a result of deliberate planning as much as it is of technical accuracy. When learners see cohesion as a skill they can master, they approach language with greater confidence, producing sentences and paragraphs that feel connected, precise, and engaging for any audience.
