Subject Pronouns

Overview

A subject pronoun is a word used in place of a noun when that noun is the subject of a sentence. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that does the action or is described by the verb. Instead of repeating a noun over and over, a subject pronoun takes its place and makes the sentence shorter and more natural.

The seven subject pronouns in English are I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. Every learner needs to know these words from the very beginning because they appear in almost every sentence in the language.

The Seven Subject Pronouns

These pronouns replace the subject noun in a sentence. The verb that follows must agree with the pronoun.

Using Each Subject Pronoun

I

I is used when the speaker refers to themselves. It is the only subject pronoun that is always written with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.

You

You is used for the person or people being spoken to. English uses you for both singular and plural. Whether speaking to one person or a group, the pronoun stays the same.

He

He is used for one male person, typically a man or boy.

She

She is used for one female person, typically a woman or girl.

It

It is used for things, animals, and places. It is also used to talk about the weather, the time, and the date. In these cases, it does not refer to a real object. It simply holds the subject position in the sentence.

We

We is used when the speaker includes themselves together with one or more other people.

They

They is used for two or more people, animals, or things.

Subject Pronouns in Sentences

A subject pronoun always comes before the verb in a normal sentence.

In questions with be, the verb moves before the subject pronoun.

Avoiding Repetition with Subject Pronouns

Once a noun has been introduced, the pronoun takes its place in the sentences that follow.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to Write I with a Capital Letter

The pronoun I is always written with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.

Using It for a Person

It is used for things, animals, and impersonal uses such as weather and time. It is not used for people.

Using He or She for a Thing

Things do not use he or she in English. Some languages use gendered nouns for objects, but English does not. An object uses it.

Omitting the Subject Pronoun

English sentences must have a subject. It is not possible to drop the subject pronoun the way some languages allow.

Using They for One Person

They is the plural pronoun. At A1 level, use he or she for a single person whose gender is known.

Confusing We and They

We includes the speaker. They does not.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Subject Pronoun

Choose the correct pronoun to replace the underlined noun.

1. ___ is my favourite subject. (Mathematics) a. He b. She c. It d. They
2. ___ lives in Tokyo. (My uncle) a. He b. She c. It d. They
3. ___ are very expensive. (These shoes) a. He b. She c. It d. They
4. ___ is raining outside. a. He b. She c. It d. They
5. ___ study at the same university. (Anna and I) a. I b. We c. They d. She
6. ___ is a very good cook. (My grandmother) a. He b. She c. It d. They
7. ___ are on the kitchen table. (The keys) a. He b. She c. It d. They
8. ___ work at the same office. (Tom and his brother) a. We b. She c. It d. They

Exercise 2: Replace the Subject with a Pronoun

Rewrite each sentence. Replace the underlined subject with the correct subject pronoun.

1. My sister is twenty years old.
2. The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
3. Tom and I are ready to leave.
4. The children are playing in the park.
5. My phone is on the desk.
6. Mr. Davis is a good teacher.

Exercise 3: Complete the Sentence

Fill in each blank with the correct subject pronoun.

1. My parents are at home. _______ are watching television.
2. I have a dog. _______ is very friendly.
3. Sarah and I are going to the market. _______ need to buy some food.
4. My brother plays the guitar. _______ is very good at it.
5. _______ is Monday today.
6. Look at those students. _______ are working very hard.
7. I have a new bag. _______ is blue and very big.
8. _______ am hungry. Can we eat something?

Exercise 4: Correct the Mistake

Each sentence has one mistake with a subject pronoun. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. My father is a pilot. It flies to different countries every week.
2. She and i are in the same English class.
3. My dog is outside. He is barking at a bird.
4. Is very hot today. Please open the window.
5. Those students are clever. We got the best marks in the class.

Exercise 5: Write the Sentences Again

Rewrite each group of sentences to avoid repetition. Use subject pronouns where possible.

1. David is my classmate. David is from Canada. David speaks French very well.
2. My parents are at work. My parents come home at seven. My parents are always tired on Fridays.
3. The book is on the shelf. The book is very old. The book has a red cover.

Summary

The pronoun I is always capitalised. It is used for things, animals, and impersonal constructions. Every English sentence needs a subject, so subject pronouns cannot be dropped.