Personal Pronouns: First, Second, and Third Person
Quick Answer
English has twelve personal pronouns. Seven are subject pronouns (the doer): I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Five are object pronouns (the receiver): me, him, her, us, them. (“You” and “it” are the same for both jobs — that is why there are only 5 different object pronouns, not 7.)
Click any one below to learn it on its own page.
What Is a Personal Pronoun?
A personal pronoun is a small word you use instead of a name. Without pronouns, you would have to repeat the name every time:
- Without pronouns: “Maria is happy. Maria is from Spain. Maria works in a school.”
- With pronouns: “Maria is happy. She is from Spain. She works in a school.”
The choice depends on two questions: Who is doing it? (subject) or Who is receiving it? (object).
Subject Pronouns: The Doers
A subject pronoun goes before the verb. It is the one doing the action.
| Pronoun | Person | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | the speaker | I work in a school. | Learn I |
| you | the listener | You are kind. | Learn YOU |
| he | one man / boy | He works in a hospital. | Learn HE |
| she | one woman / girl | She is my sister. | Learn SHE |
| it | thing / animal / weather / time | It is raining. | Learn IT |
| we | speaker + others | We are friends. | Learn WE |
| they | two or more others | They live next door. | Learn THEY |
Object Pronouns: The Receivers
An object pronoun goes after the verb (or after a preposition). It is the one receiving the action.
| Pronoun | Replaces subject | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| me | I | She called me. | Learn ME |
| you | you (same form) | I called you. | Learn YOU |
| him | he | I saw him. | Learn HIM |
| her | she | I saw her. | Learn HER |
| it | it (same form) | I love it. | Learn IT |
| us | we | She invited us. | Learn US |
| them | they | I saw them. | Learn THEM |
The Rule in One Line: Subject pronouns go before the verb (the doer). Object pronouns go after the verb (the receiver).
Learn Them One by One
Take one pronoun at a time. Each step gives you the rule, three examples and the mistake learners make most often. Learn one step a day, then come back for the next one.
Step 1: I
Use I as the subject when you talk about yourself: I work here. I am tired. Always write the pronoun with a capital letter.
Examples:
- I live in London. — I am talking about myself.
- Yesterday I watched a film. — I stays capital in the middle of a sentence.
- Am I late? — I is still the subject in a question.
Common mistake
Use a capital I
✗ i live in London.
✓ I live in London.
The personal pronoun I is capitalised wherever it appears.
Step 2: You
Use you for the person or people you are speaking or writing to. It has the same subject and object form: You are kind. I can help you. The pronoun it also keeps the same form.
Examples:
- You work hard. — You is the subject.
- I called you last night. — You is the object.
- This is for you. — You follows a preposition.
Common mistake
Use you as the subject
✗ Your are kind.
✓ You are kind.
Your needs a noun, such as your neighbour.
Step 3: He
He is a subject pronoun, usually for one man or boy: He works here. He is tired. Use it when it is clear who you mean.
Examples:
- Tom is my neighbour. He lives nearby. — He refers to Tom.
- He drinks tea every morning. — He is the subject of drinks.
- Is he your brother? — He remains the subject in a question.
Common mistake
Choose the subject form
✗ Him works in a hospital.
✓ He works in a hospital.
Him is an object form, as in I know him.
Step 4: She
She is a subject pronoun, usually for one woman or girl: She works here. She is tired. Use it when the reader or listener knows who you mean.
Examples:
- Sara is my neighbour. She lives nearby. — She refers to Sara.
- She speaks three languages. — She is the subject of speaks.
- Is she your sister? — She remains the subject in a question.
Common mistake
Use the subject form
✗ Her works in a school.
✓ She works in a school.
Her works cannot form this intended sentence. She is the subject of works.
Step 5: It
It can refer to a singular thing or animal. It is also used as the subject in expressions about weather and time: It is cold. It is six o’clock. The subject and object forms are the same.
Examples:
- My phone is new. It works well. — It refers to the phone.
- I bought it yesterday. — It is an object referring to the phone.
- It is raining. — It supplies the subject in a weather expression.
Common mistake
Use possessive its before fur
✗ The cat is licking it’s fur.
✓ The cat is licking its fur.
Its links the fur to the cat. It is fur does not fit here.
Step 6: We
Use we as the subject for a group that includes you, the speaker or writer: We live here. We are tired. The group may include the listener, but it does not have to.
Examples:
- We are friends. — The group includes the speaker.
- We live near the park. — We is the subject.
- Are we late? — We remains the subject in a question.
Common mistake
Use we as the subject
✗ Us live in London.
✓ We live in London.
Us is the object form. Use we as the subject of live.
Step 7: They
They is a subject pronoun for people, animals or things: My neighbours are friendly. They live next door. It can also refer to one person: Someone is waiting. They need help.
Examples:
- The children are here. They are ready. — Several people.
- My keys are missing. They were on the table. — Several things.
- Someone left a bag. They may come back for it. — One person whose identity is not known.
Common mistake
Use they as the subject
✗ Them live in London.
✓ They live in London.
Them is the object form, as in I know them.
Step 8: Me
Me is the object form of I. Use it after verbs such as call and help, and after prepositions such as with and for: Please call me. Come with me.
Examples:
- She called me. — Me is the object of called.
- Give me the keys. — Me names the person getting the keys.
- Sit next to me. — Use the object form after next to.
Common mistake
Use me after called
✗ She called I yesterday.
✓ She called me yesterday.
I is the subject form; called needs an object here.
Step 9: Him
Him is the object form of he, usually referring to one man or boy. Practise call him, help him, with him and next to him.
Examples:
- I called him yesterday. — Him is the object of called.
- Give him the keys. — He will receive the keys.
- Sit next to him. — Use him after next to.
Common mistake
Use him as an object
✗ I called he yesterday.
✓ I called him yesterday.
He is the subject form, but called needs an object here.
Step 10: Her
Her is the object form of she: I called her. Sit with her. The same spelling also appears before a noun to show possession: her bag. The form used without the noun is hers.
Examples:
- I called her yesterday. — Her is an object pronoun.
- Give her the keys. — Her names the person getting them.
- Sit next to her. — Use the object form after next to.
Common mistake
Use her as an object
✗ I called she yesterday.
✓ I called her yesterday.
She is the subject form. Use her after called here.
Step 11: Us
Us is the object form of we and refers to a group that includes the speaker: They invited us. Sit with us.
Examples:
- They called us last night. — Us is the object of called.
- Tell us the news. — The speaker and others will hear it.
- Come with us. — Use us after with.
Common mistake
Use us as an object
✗ She invited we to dinner.
✓ She invited us to dinner.
Invited needs the object form us here.
Step 12: Them
Them is the object form of they. It can refer to people, animals or things: I found the keys. I put them in my bag. It can also refer to one person: Someone called. Please help them.
Examples:
- I called them yesterday. — Them is the object of called.
- The children are here. Give them the books. — Several people.
- A visitor is waiting. Sit next to them. — One person.
Common mistake
Use them as an object
✗ I saw they at the cafe.
✓ I saw them at the cafe.
Saw needs the object form them here.
Test Yourself: Personal Pronouns
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. _______ live in London.
2. She gave _______ a present.
3. I saw _______ at the cafe.
Pronouns are one kind of word. Review the eight parts of speech to see how they work with nouns, verbs and other words in a sentence.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You now have a map of every personal pronoun in English: seven subjects and five different objects.
The first lesson is the simplest one — I, the subject pronoun for yourself.
Next lesson: When to Use “A” or “An”: Mastering English Articles
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.