Grammar
Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they
Ravi starts the meeting. He starts the meeting. The name and the pronoun point to the same person, but the pronoun saves you from repeating the name.
Choose I, you, he, she, it, we, or they for the person, people, or thing doing the action in a sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
They are meeting us after lunch. /ðeɪ ə ˈmiːtɪŋ ʌs ˈɑːftə lʌntʃ/
The short answer
Use I, you, he, she, it, we, or they before a verb for the person or thing doing the action. Choose the form that matches one person, a group, or a thing.
The train is late, so it arrives after nine.
Why it works: It replaces the singular thing the train. The train does the action arrives.
5 more examples
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I check the schedule before work.
I is the speaker, and the speaker does the checking.
Not this:
The supervisorchecks the schedule before work. What changes: A named person can be the subject. He, she, or they can replace the name when the reference is clear. -
You choose the table near the window.
You is the person the speaker addresses, and that person makes the choice.
Not this:
You allchoose the table near the window. What changes: You has the same form for one person and for more than one person. The surrounding words can show the number. -
Marta says she can join us later.
She replaces Marta and is the subject of can join.
Not this:Omar says
hecan join us later. What changes: He replaces Omar in this context. Choose the pronoun that fits the person you mean. -
The lamp needs a new bulb because it flickers.
It replaces the singular thing the lamp and is the subject of flickers.
Not this:The lamps need new bulbs because
theyflicker. What changes: They replaces the plural noun lamps, so the verb changes to flicker. -
We are planning the community meal.
We includes the speaker and at least one other person. The group is making the plan.
Not this:
Theyare planning the community meal. What changes: They refers to a group that does not include the speaker.
Read the full guide
First, find the verb. Next, ask who or what does that action. In They carry the chairs, they does the carrying. In The chairs are heavy, the chairs are the subject, even though there is no action verb.
Find the subject before the verb
The subject is the person, people, or thing the sentence is about. In a sentence with an action, it often does the action. Find the verb first, then ask who or what does it.
They deliver the groceries every Friday.
They is the subject because the group does the delivering.
Which word is the subject in It looks expensive?
It is the subject. It describes the thing that looks expensive.
Use I and we when you are included
Use I when you speak about your own action. Use we when you speak about an action done by you and other people. We always includes the speaker.
I need to charge my phone.
I names one speaker. My is different because it shows possession before a noun.
We share the car on weekdays.
We means the speaker and other people together.
Use you for the listener or listeners
English uses you for one person and for more than one person. A name, a word such as both, or the situation can make the meaning clear.
You have a seat near the door.
Here, you means one visitor. The visitor receives the instruction and is the person who will have the seat.
How can you show that you means two people?
Add a clear word: You both have a seat near the door.
Match a person with he, she, or they
He, she, and they can replace a person's name. Use the pronoun that the person uses when you know it. Use singular they when a person's gender is unknown, not relevant, or when they use they.
Alex is waiting because they missed the earlier bus.
They refers to one person, Alex. The verb is missed, which has the same past form with every subject pronoun.
She sends the invoice on Monday.
She is the singular subject. In the present simple, sends has an s because the subject is she.
Use it for one thing and they for more than one
Use it to replace one thing, idea, or animal when the sex is not relevant. Use they for more than one thing or person. Check the noun and the verb together.
The package is here, but it is damaged.
It replaces one package, so the verb is is.
The packages are here, but they are damaged.
They replaces more than one package, so the verb is are.
Keep the pronoun reference clear
A pronoun should clearly point to the noun it replaces. Repeat the name or noun if two possible subjects appear in the same sentence. Clear reference helps a listener follow who does each action.
Nina called Priya after Nina finished work.
Repeating Nina makes it clear that Nina, not Priya, finished work.
What could you say if she might refer to two different people?
Repeat the name: Priya called Nina after Priya finished work.
Before you go
Remember this
Use a subject pronoun for the person, people, or thing that is the subject of the sentence. Find the verb, identify its doer or subject, and match I, you, he, she, it, we, or they to that noun.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they"
What are the subject pronouns in English?
The main English subject pronouns are I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. They can replace the person, people, or thing that is the subject of a sentence, such as the lamp in The lamp flickers.
I check the schedule before work.
How do I know which subject pronoun to use?
Find the person, people, or thing that does the action, then match the pronoun to it. Use I for the speaker, we for a group including the speaker, and they for a group that does not include the speaker.
The supervisor checks the schedule before work.
Can you refer to more than one person?
Yes. English uses you for one person and for more than one person. The context can show the number. You might mean one visitor, while You both makes it clear that two people are included.
You choose the table near the window.
When can I use singular they?
Use singular they for one person when the gender is unknown or not relevant, or when that person uses they as their pronoun. For example, a caller can leave their name. Singular they uses the same verb forms as plural they.
You all choose the table near the window.
Why should a pronoun have a clear reference?
A clear pronoun helps the listener identify the person or thing you mean. If two names appear in a sentence, repeat a name when a pronoun could refer to either person. This avoids confusion about who did the action.
Marta says she can join us later.