Personal Pronoun SHE — How to Talk About a Woman or Girl

ByKhamis Maiouf
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Quick Answer

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.

Example: Sara is my neighbour. She lives nearby.

SHE in Action — See the Pattern

  • 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.

When to Use SHE

Use she as the subject and her as an object: She called me. I called her. The subject can describe a person’s state as well as an action: She is happy.

In positive present-simple statements, most verbs with she take -s or -es: she works, she watches. Learn the special forms she is and she has. After does, doesn’t or can, use the base form: Does she work here? She doesn’t work today. She can work tomorrow.

Keep her and hers separate. Her can be an object (I know her) or go before a noun (her bag). Hers is a possessive pronoun used without that noun (The bag is hers). Her and hers do not have the same job.

The Rule in One Line: Compare she works, I know her, her bag and the bag is hers. Each form has its own place in the sentence.

Real-Life Examples With SHE

Read the sentence and notice the job of the highlighted pronoun.

  • She works in a school. — Positive present simple.
  • She is my best friend. — Use is with she.
  • Every morning she drinks tea. — Drinks has the -s ending.
  • She doesn’t like horror films. — Use like after doesn’t.
  • Does she have three children? — Use have after does.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With SHE

Compare each incorrect full sentence (✗) with its correction (✓).

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.

Separate she from her

✗ She bag is on the chair.
✓ Her bag is on the chair.

Before the noun bag, use the possessive form her.

Use the correct present-simple form

✗ She work in a school.
✓ She works in a school.

Add -s in this positive statement, but use work after does or can.

Remember: Compare she works, I know her, her bag and the bag is hers. Each form has its own place in the sentence.

Test Yourself: SHE

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Question 1 of 5

1. Sara is a nurse. _______ works in a hospital.

2. I am talking about my mother. _______ is here.

3. Sara enjoys walking. Every morning _______ goes for a walk.

4. She _______ in a school every Monday.

5. She doesn’t _______ on Sundays.

Practise the pattern

Write a statement with she and a question with does she. Add one sentence about her bag or her book.

The next lesson looks more closely at her as an object and its difference from possessive her and hers.

Next lesson: Her: The Object Form of She

Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.

Further reference: British Council: present simple.

Further reference: Cambridge: possessive forms.

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