Them: The Object Form of They

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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Quick Answer

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.

Example: I called them yesterday.

THEM in Action — See the Pattern

  • 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.

When to Use THEM

Use them after verbs that take an object, such as see, help or invite, and after prepositions such as with, to or for. Make it clear which people or things you mean.

Them often refers to a group, but it is also the object form of singular they. You can use it for someone whose gender is unknown or unimportant, or for a person who uses they/them pronouns. Singular them is not a mistake.

Compare the forms: They called me uses they as subject; I called them uses them as object; I found their keys uses their before a noun. Position alone is not enough: Are they here? is a question with they as subject.

The Rule in One Line: Them can refer to several people or things, or to one person. Compare they as subject, them as object and their before a noun.

Real-Life Examples With THEM

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

  • Can you help them with the bags? — Them names the people to help.
  • The cats are hungry. I fed them. — Several animals.
  • Those cups are clean. Put them away. — Several things.
  • A customer needs advice. Please speak to them. — One person.
  • My friends are here. Come and meet them. — Object of meet.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With THEM

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

Use them as an object

✗ I saw they at the cafe.
✓ I saw them at the cafe.

Saw needs the object form them here.

Distinguish them from their

✗ Give their the keys.
✓ Give them the keys.

Them names the people; their introduces a noun, as in their keys.

Use they as the subject

✗ Them live in London.
✓ They live in London.

The full statement needs the subject form they.

Remember: Them can refer to several people or things, or to one person. Compare they as subject, them as object and their before a noun.

Test Yourself: THEM

Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

1. I saw _______ at the supermarket yesterday.

2. Can you help _______ with the project?

3. Someone needs directions. Please help _______.

4. Come and sit with _______.

5. The cups are clean. Put _______ on the shelf.

Compare them after a verb with they as a subject: they called me, but I called them.

Practise the pattern

You have practised twelve forms in this series: I, me, you, he, him, she, her, it, we, us, they and them. English has other types of pronoun too. A sentence can also use a noun instead: The bus arrived.

Use the examples above to practise this pattern. When you are ready, choose your next topic below.

Related explanations: A1 Grammar hub.

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Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.

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