We use personal pronouns in place of noun phrases. We often use them to refer back to people and things that we have already identified (underlined):
Petercomplained tothe chefabout the meal.Shewasn’t very helpful sohespoke to the manager.(she=the chef,he=Peter)
A:Where’sthe knife? I can’t findit.
B:It’s in the drawer. (it=the knife)
Personal pronouns show person and number.He, she, himandhershow gender. They have different subject and object forms (exceptyou,itandonewhich have only one form):
subject | object | number | gender | person |
I | me | singular | first | |
you | you | singular or plural | second | |
he | him | singular | masculine | third |
she | her | singular | feminine | third |
it | it | singular | third | |
we | us | plural | first | |
they | them | plural | third | |
one | one | generic | third |
Subject and object pronouns
Personal subject pronouns act as the subject of a clause. We use them before a verb to show who is doing the verb. We do not usually leave out the pronoun:
Sheloves playing basketball.
Not: …loves playing basketball.
Theydon’t finish the lesson until four o’clock.
It’s getting late.
We use personal object pronouns in all other positions, such as after the verb or after a preposition:
Paula’s coming to visitusin September.(us= object)
Thanks again for everything you did forme.(for me= prepositional phrase)
We also use personal object pronouns as complements of the verbbe:
That’shim. That’s the man I was talking about.(him= complement ofbe)
We can use some object pronouns (me, him, her, usandthem) as short answers, particularly in informal speaking:
A:Who ate all the biscuits?
B:Me. (or more formally:I did.)
I,me
We useIandmeto refer to the speaker or writer.Iis the subject form andmeis the object form:
Ican’t come on Friday.I’m working.
Iam writing to apply for the position of …
Helen askedmeto get some milk.
It’sme. Can you open the door?Ihaven’t got my key.(It is I. is not often used. It is very formal.)
We sometimes hearmeused as a subject in informal speaking after another subject +and:
My friends andmewent on holiday to a little town on the south coast.(orMe and my friends went on holiday …;My friends and I went …is considered to be more correct.)
We sometimes useusto refer tomein informal speaking:
Passusan orange, will you?
You
We useyouto refer to the listener or reader. It is both the subject and the object form.Youcan refer to one person or more than one person. It is usually clear from the context whetheryouis singular or plural:
Paul, doyouneed any help?(refers to one person,Paul)
[coach to team]
The match starts at 10.30. I needyouto be here at 10.(refers to a group of people)
We sometimes useyou allto address everyone in a group:
What wouldyou alllike to eat?
In informal contexts, we also useyouto refer to people in general, not someone specific:
Youget a pension ifyou’re a man over the age of 65 or a woman over 60.
He,him;she,her
He, him, sheandherare singular third person pronouns.Heandhimare the masculine forms.Sheandherare the feminine forms:
A:Have you seen Johnny Roberts recently?
B:Yes I sawhimin town last week.He’s looking really well.
Shedidn’t like the way he spoke toher.
Traditionally,heandhimwere used to refer to both genders in formal writing:
If anyone has any evidence to oppose this view, lethiminform the police immediately.
Nowadays, we often see gender neutral forms (e.g.he or she, he/she, s/he, (s)he, theyandhim or her, him/her, them) when we do not know if the person referred to is male or female:
The bank manager could help with your problem.He or shewill probably be able to give you a loan.(or…he/shewill probably be able to…or…theywill probably be able to…)
Go to a hairdresser. Askhim or herto come up with a style that suits you, your hair, your lifestyle.(or… askhim/herto come up with a style …or… askthemto come up with a style …)
When you get into the building, go to the person on the desk in the reception area.Theycan tell you where to go.(orHe or shecan tell you where to go.)
See also:
One
Sexist language
It
We useitto refer to things:
My computer isn’t working.It’s crashed again. Can you have a look atit?
We useitas an empty pronoun, also known as a ‘dummy’ subject, where there is no other subject to put in the subject position, particularly when referring to the weather or time:
It’s so lovely to see you.
It’s already ten o’clock.
It’s snowing.
We usually useitto refer to countries, vehicles and machines. In some traditional styles,shewas sometimes used, but this is now considered inappropriate by many people:
We spent three weeks in Malaysia.It’s a beautiful country.
Three hours after the ship sailed,itdeveloped engine trouble.(or, more traditionally:… she developed engine trouble.)
See also:
Subjects
It
Sexist language
Dummy subjects
We,us
We useweandusto refer to different groups of people, but always including the speaker.Weanduscan refer to the speaker + the listener, or the speaker + other people but not the listener, or people in general including the speaker:
Wecould go and see a film tonight. What do you think?(we= speaker + listener)
Gerald askedusifwe’d drive to London and get you.(us/we= speaker + others but not listeneryou)
Changing diet, rather than dieting, is a healthier alternative. There are changesweshould all make.(we= speaker + listener + all other people)
They,them
We usetheyandthemto refer to specific groups of people, things and animals:
The kids are getting on my nerves.They’re making so much noise. Can you tellthemto be quiet? I’m trying to work.
A:Have you seen my keys? I never remember where I’ve leftthem.
B:They’re by the front door.
We also usetheyandthemto refer to institutions or authorities, and groups of people in general:
I heardthey’re going to publish a new edition of ‘War and Peace’.
They’re opening the new motorway tomorrow.
See also:
Pronouns
One