Personal Pronouns

 

Definition

A personal pronoun is a word using as a substitute of a noun. It functions as a subject or an object in a sentence.

Personal pronouns
Subject pronoun		Object pronoun
singular	plural	singular	plural
I You She He It	We You They	Me You Her Him It	Us You Them

Subject pronouns

the subject pronoun is a personal pronoun which takes the place of a noun as the subject of a sentence; It performs the action of a verb.

Examples

• Sophia starts learning Spanish. She is very excited. 

The subject pronoun 'she' is a substitute of the proper noun 'Sophia' ( feminine noun-singular ).

• A student did all his exercises. Now, He is playing a video game with his friend. 

The subject pronoun 'he' takes the place of the noun 'student' (masculine noun-singular). .

• A thief has stolen expensive things from that house. It has got in by the broken window. 

The subject pronoun 'It' is a substitute of  the noun'thief' ( common-gender noun-singular).

•  The actor and the actress are selected for the best cinematographic role of 2020. They are awarded for their good performance in various movies.

The subject pronoun 'they' is a substitute of the two nouns 'actor' and 'actress'(masculine noun-feminine noun-plural).

• His family was happy. It looks for a new life in this beautiful city. 

The pronoun 'It' takes the place of the collective noun 'family' ( neuter noun-singular because it functions as a single unit).

• The family are doing different activities. They are working seriously. 

The subject pronoun 'they' is a substitute of the collective noun 'family' (neuter noun-plural because the members of the family work individually). 

Object pronouns

The object pronoun is a personal pronoun that takes the place of a noun as the object of a sentence. It receives the action of a verb.

Examples

• Mr. Allison loves her wife. He brought her a gift.

The object pronoun 'her' is a substitute of  the noun 'wife'(feminine noun-singular).

• An electrician provided us with an important lecture to solve electrical issues at home.

The object pronoun 'us' takes the place of 'a set of individuals'(common-gender noun-plural).

• The father works to satisfy his children. He really does a great work for them.

The object pronoun 'them' is a substitute of the common noun 'children'(common-gender noun-plural).

• Do you know something about him?

The object pronoun 'him' takes the place of 'a person'(masculine noun-singular)

• "I dreamt you winning your fight," she told her husband.

The object pronoun 'you' is a substitute of the noun 'husband'(masculine noun-singular).

note

It is necessary to choose the suitable personal pronouns which replace nouns, taking into account the criteria which identify those nouns that you are going to substitute such like: genders, singular and plural form etc.

First Person, Second Person, and Third Person

First Person

The first person means the one who is speaking.

First Person
Subject		Object
Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
I	we	me	us

Second Person

The second person is the one spoken to.

 

Second Person
Subject		Object
Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
You	You	You	You

Third Person

The third person refers to the one spoken about.

Third Person
Subject		Object
Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
He/She/It	They	Him/Her/It	Them

 

Exercises

1) Identify the personal pronouns and their antecedents ( the nouns that the personal pronouns substitute).

1. Jack has a part-time job. He works at a fast-food restaurant. (He= personal pronoun; Jack= antecedent)
2.  Most monkeys don’t like water, but they can swim well when they have  to.
3. The teacher graded the students’ papers last night. She returned them during class today.
4. Nancy took an apple with her to work. She ate it at lunchtime.
5. A dog makes a good pet if it is properly trained.
6. Yuri’s cat is named Maybelle Alice.  She is very independent. She never obeys Yuri. His dogs, on the other hand, obey him gladly. They like to please him.

2) Look at the pronoun given in parentheses. Fill in the blank in the sentence with its correct form.

1. (you) How are.............................. today?
2. (he) Caleb gave.............................. a gift.
3. (she).............................. lives on Main Street.
4. (it) I really don’t like.............................. . 
5. (I) She met.............................. in the city.
6. (Kris and I) Please give.............................. the magazines.
7. (you and I).............................. worked in the garden.
8. (they) Are.............................. your friends?
9. (we) The puppy followed.............................. home.
10. (they) My brother saw.............................. in New York.
11. (you) Mikhail wants to visit.............................. today.
12. (I) When can.............................. move into the apartment?
13. (it) Derrick bought.............................. in Mexico.
14. (you and I) The children are helping.............................. .
15. (she) I like.............................. a lot.

3) Rewrite each sentence, changing the italicized direct object to an object pronoun. Add to or for appropriately.

1. I sent my friends a letter.
2. She is giving us two cakes.
3. Trey sold her his car.
4.  I didn’t buy Ella the scarf.
5.  My brother will bring me my gloves.

4) Choose the words in italics that are grammatically correct.

1. My parents always read bedtime stories to my sister and I / me.
2. Just between you and I /me, I think Ms. Lucas is going to lose her job.
3. There’s Kevin. Let’s go talk to him. I need to tell you and he / him something.
4. Mrs. Minski needs to know the truth. I’m going to tell Mr. Chang and she / her the truth, and you can’t stop me.
5. Alex introduced Sally and I / me to his cousin from Mexico City.

Answer key

Exercise (1)

Pronouns	Antecedents
they-they she, them her-she, it  it she-she him they him	monkeys teacher, papers Nancy, apple dog cat Yuri dogs Yuri

Exercise (2)

you, him, she, it, me, us, we, they, us, them, you, I, it, us, her.

Exercise (3)

I sent it to my friends.

She is giving them to us.

Trey sold it to her.

I didn’t buy it for Ella.

My brother will bring them to me.

Exercise (4)

me, me, him, her, me.