Personal Pronoun HE — How to Talk About a Man or Boy
Quick Answer
Use he when one man or boy is the subject — the one doing the action. “He” replaces a name like Tom, Adam, or my brother.
Example: He works in a hospital. (He is the one doing the work.)
HE in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how it works:
- He lives in London. (He = a man, the subject.)
- He drinks tea every morning. (He does the drinking.)
- He is my brother. (He is the subject of the sentence.)
When to Use HE
He is the subject pronoun for one man or boy. Use it instead of a man’s name when you have already mentioned him. Remember: with “he,” verbs in present simple add an -s (he works, he likes, he has).
- Replacing a man’s name: “Tom is here. He is happy.”
- Talking about a male family member: “He is my father.”
- Doing an action: “He walks to school.”
- Stating a fact about a man: “He is from Brazil.”
Easy way to remember: He = one man, doing the action. Subject. With “he,” remember the +s on the verb.
The Rule in One Line: Use he for one man or boy as the subject.
Real-Life Examples With HE
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- He works in a bank. (Talking about a man, he is the subject.)
- He is my best friend. (He is the subject.)
- Every morning he goes for a run. (He does the running.)
- He doesn’t like spicy food. (He is the subject of the negative.)
- He has two children. (He is the one who has.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With HE
Two common slips: using “him” as the subject (“Him work” sounds wrong, and is) and forgetting the +s on the verb (“He work” should be “He works”). Both are quick to fix once you spot them.
Using him as the subject
✗ Him works in a hospital.
✓ He works in a hospital.
Using his as the subject
✗ His lives in London.
✓ He lives in London.
Forgetting +s with “he”
✗ He work in a hospital.
✓ He works in a hospital.
How to remember: He = one man, subject, +s on the verb. “He works,” never “he work.”
Common “he” sentences: he is, he has, he lives, he works, he likes, he goes.
Test Yourself: HE
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ works in a school.
2. _______ is my brother.
3. Every day _______ drinks coffee.
4. _______ has two cats.
5. _______ doesn’t like cold weather.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned he — the subject pronoun for every man and boy you will ever talk about. Combined with the +s rule on the verb, your sentences will sound natural every time.
But “he” only works when the man is doing the action. The moment something happens to him — you call him, you see him, you give him a present — “he” stops working. There is a partner word that takes over.
Next lesson: Personal Pronoun HIM — How to Talk About a Man as the Receiver
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
