Personal Pronoun YOU — Subject and Object in One Word
Quick Answer
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.
Example: You work hard.
YOU in Action — See the Pattern
- You work hard. — You is the subject.
- I called you last night. — You is the object.
- This is for you. — You follows a preposition.
When to Use YOU
You can mean one person or several people. The situation tells the listener which meaning you intend: Amira, you can start addresses one person; Everyone, you can start addresses a group.
The present forms include you are, you have and you work, whether you mean one person or several. In a question, a helping verb can come first: Do you work here? Are you ready?
Keep three forms separate: you names the listener; your comes before a noun, as in your bag; you’re is short for you are. You does not replace your in every sentence.
The Rule in One Line: You can be a subject or an object and can refer to one listener or several. Your and you’re have different jobs.
Real-Life Examples With YOU
Read the sentence and notice the job of the highlighted pronoun.
- You are a great friend. — One person, as subject.
- I miss you. — You is the object of miss.
- This present is for you. — After for.
- You all did very well today. — More than one listener.
- Did you see your friend? — You is the subject; your goes with friend.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With YOU
Compare each incorrect full sentence (✗) with its correction (✓).
Use you as the subject
✗ Your are kind.
✓ You are kind.
Your needs a noun, such as your neighbour.
Use the object form you
✗ I called you’re yesterday.
✓ I called you yesterday.
You’re means you are, which does not fit after called.
Keep you are separate from you’re
✗ You’re are ready.
✓ You are ready.
You can also write You’re ready. Do not add a second are.
Remember: You can be a subject or an object and can refer to one listener or several. Your and you’re have different jobs.
Test Yourself: YOU
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. _______ are very kind.
2. I called _______ last night.
3. This present is for _______.
4. Everyone, _______ can open your books now.
5. Did _______ see the message?
Practise the pattern
Write a sentence to one friend and another to a group, using you in both. Add a sentence with your and a noun.
Next, practise he as a subject and compare it with the object form him.
Next lesson: Personal Pronoun HE — How to Talk About a Man or Boy
Further reference: British Council: personal pronouns.
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.