Personal pronouns are words like I, you, he, she, and they that are used in place of nouns to indicate people or things in a sentence. They reflect grammatical roles such as subject or object and vary by person (first, second, third) and number (singular or plural). In this article, you’ll learn the definition, types, usage rules, and a complete list of personal pronouns with clear examples.
What Are Personal Pronouns?
Personal pronouns are words that replace specific nouns in a sentence and refer to people, things, or entities based on person (first, second, third), number (singular or plural), gender (he, she, it), and grammatical case (subjective or objective). Subjective pronouns function as the subject of a sentence (e.g., I, he), while objective pronouns act as the object of a verb or preposition (e.g., me, him).
Examples:
- They visited us yesterday. We thanked them.
- Emma is my friend. → She is my friend.
- Tom and I are here. We just arrived.
Types of Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns appear in two forms: subjective and objective. Subjective pronouns act as the subject of a sentence, while objective pronouns receive the action.
Subjective Personal Pronouns
Subjective personal pronouns function as the subject of a sentence. They perform the action of the verb. The English subjective pronouns are: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. These pronouns typically appear before the main verb and identify who or what is performing the action.
Examples:
- I enjoy learning English.
- She lives in New York.
- They play soccer on weekends.
Objective Personal Pronouns
Objective personal pronouns are used when the pronoun functions as the object of a verb or preposition. They receive the action rather than performing it. The objective forms are: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
Examples:
- He called me yesterday.
- The teacher spoke to her.
- She invited them to the party.
Subject vs. Object Pronouns
Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun does the action (e.g., She runs). Object pronouns are used when the pronoun receives the action or follows a preposition (e.g., He saw her). Using the correct form is important for grammatical accuracy.
Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
Object pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them
Examples:
- I saw her. / She saw me.
- They helped us. / We helped them.
- He spoke to Sarah. / Sarah spoke to him.
- We met John and Lisa. / John and Lisa met us.
Using “They” as a Singular Pronoun
“They” is traditionally a third-person plural pronoun but is also used as a singular personal pronoun when referring to a person whose gender is unknown, unspecified, or nonbinary. Despite being singular, it takes plural verb agreement and is widely accepted in modern English.
Examples:
- Someone left their phone. I hope they come back for it.
- If a student has a question, they should raise their hand.
- This is Alex. They are my friend.
Personal Pronouns List
The chart below shows personal pronouns in English, organized by person (first, second, third), number (singular or plural), and grammatical case (subjective or objective).
| Person | Number | Subjective | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Singular | I | me |
| Second | Singular | you | you |
| Third | Singular | he | him |
| Third | Singular | she | her |
| Third | Singular | it | it |
| First | Plural | we | us |
| Second | Plural | you | you |
| Third | Plural | they | them |
Personal Pronouns FAQs
What are personal pronouns in English?
Personal pronouns are words like I, you, he, she, it, we, and they that replace nouns in a sentence. They refer to people or things and help avoid repetition. For example: “Sarah is tired. She needs rest.”
What is the difference between subject and object pronouns?
Subject pronouns (I, he, they) perform the action, while object pronouns (me, him, them) receive the action. For example: “She called me.” “She” is the subject and “me” is the object.
Is “you” singular or plural?
“You” can be both singular and plural. It depends on the context. English does not change the form of “you” based on number, though in informal speech, people might say “you all” or “you guys” to show it’s plural.
Can “they” be used as a singular pronoun?
Yes. “They” is often used as a singular pronoun when the gender of a person is unknown or nonbinary. For example: “Someone left their phone on the table. They might come back for it.”
What is the objective form of “I”?
The objective form of “I” is “me.” Use “I” when it’s the subject and “me” when it’s the object. For example: “I called her,” and “She called me.”
Why is it wrong to say “Me and my friend went”?
“Me” is an object pronoun, not a subject. The correct form is “My friend and I went.” Always use subject pronouns when they are part of the subject of a sentence.
What is the function of “it” as a pronoun?
“It” is used for objects, ideas, animals (when gender is unknown), or as a dummy subject in sentences like “It is raining.” It does not change form between subject and object cases.
