They: A Subject Pronoun for People, Animals and Things

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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Quick Answer

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.

Example: The children are here. They are ready.

THEY in Action — See the Pattern

  • 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.

When to Use THEY

Use they when the reader or listener can identify who or what you mean. It often refers to more than one person, animal or thing: The dogs are hungry. They want food.

Singular they is also standard English. Use it when a person’s gender is unknown or unimportant, or when they is that person’s pronoun. It still takes forms such as they are and they have, even for one person.

For present-simple statements, use they work, they live and they have, without the he/she/it -s ending. Be has its own form: they are. In questions, use patterns such as Do they work here? and Are they ready?

Compare they as subject, them as object, their before a noun, and they’re meaning they are: They brought their books. I helped them. They’re ready.

The Rule in One Line: They can refer to a group or to one person. The forms are they are, they have and they work.

Real-Life Examples With THEY

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

  • My neighbours are friendly. They live in the next building.
  • The boxes are heavy. They need strong shelves.
  • The horses are tired. They need water.
  • A visitor is at the desk. They have a question.
  • My cousins are learning English. They don’t speak Italian.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With THEY

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

Use they as the subject

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

Them is the object form, as in I know them.

Distinguish they from their

✗ Their are my friends.
✓ They are my friends.

Their goes before a noun, such as their friends.

Use work with they

✗ They works here.
✓ They work here.

Use work with they, whether they refers to one person or more than one.

Remember: They can refer to a group or to one person. The forms are they are, they have and they work.

Test Yourself: THEY

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Question 1 of 5

1. _______ live in the same neighbourhood.

2. _______ are my classmates.

3. _______ have three children.

4. A visitor is waiting. _______ have a question.

5. I found my keys. _______ are in my bag.

Practise the pattern

Write about two neighbours using they, then about someone whose name you do not know. Check the verb form in both sentences.

Next, compare they with them as an object. Both can refer to a group or to one person.

Next lesson: Them: The Object Form of They

Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.

Further reference: British Council: present simple.

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