Here's why:
* Pronouns refer back to nouns: Pronouns (like "he," "she," "it," "they," etc.) stand in for nouns (like "John," "Mary," "dog," "students").
* Antecedents provide context: The noun that a pronoun refers to is called the antecedent. The antecedent must always come *before* the pronoun in the sentence to provide context.
Example:
* Incorrect: "He went to the store, John." (The pronoun "he" comes before the antecedent "John").
* Correct: "John went to the store." (The antecedent "John" comes before the pronoun "he").
Key takeaway: Pronouns can only be used after their antecedents have been established in the sentence.