← A1

I, you, he, she, it, we and they

You will be able to Replace names and nouns with subject pronouns.

Explanation

Subject pronouns identify the person or thing performing the action in a sentence.

Examples

Detailed course

Understand the grammar point

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Detailed explanation

This lesson focuses on i, you, he, she, it, we and they. The structure helps learners share basic information, and it should always be interpreted as part of a complete message rather than as an isolated formula. Before selecting a form, identify the subject, time reference, clause relationship, and the information that receives emphasis.

Formation is central. Use I for the speaker, you for the person addressed, he or she for one person, it for one thing, we for the speaker with others, and they for plural people or things. Build the sentence in stages: identify the grammatical subject, choose the auxiliary or main verb form, and complete the clause in normal English word order. In negatives and questions, check whether the structure supplies its own auxiliary or requires another one.

The pattern can help users describe a simple situation, form clear statements and questions, and notice subject and verb agreement. These purposes may overlap, so context decides which interpretation is natural. Time expressions, determiners, linking words, and punctuation often provide evidence for the correct choice.

A useful contrast prevents overgeneralisation. Subject pronouns normally come before the verb; object pronouns such as me, him, and them have a different role. Ask how the nearest alternative would change time, certainty, focus, politeness, or register. A grammatically possible sentence may still communicate the wrong relationship if that contrast is ignored.

The guided examples are complete messages. Notice how the target structure agrees with its subject and how the surrounding vocabulary makes the intended meaning clear. When producing a new example, preserve the relationship between form and meaning while changing the people, place, and lexical details.

A reliable self-check is to paraphrase the sentence in simpler language. If the paraphrase changes the time relationship, degree of certainty, or focus, review the original form. Compare the sentence with the common mistakes and explain why the corrected version is preferable.

How to form it

Use I for the speaker, you for the person addressed, he or she for one person, it for one thing, we for the speaker with others, and they for plural people or things.

Use the structure to share basic information.

Use the structure to describe a simple situation.

Use the structure to form clear statements and questions.

Use the structure to notice subject and verb agreement.

Subject pronouns normally come before the verb; object pronouns such as me, him, and them have a different role.

Guided examples

I study English after breakfast every day.

I refers to the speaker, so the sentence uses the base verb study without -s.

You sit next to me in the library.

You addresses the listener directly and also takes the base verb sit.

He carries the blue sports bag.

He replaces a single male name, so the verb carries takes the -s ending.

She reads the class instructions aloud.

She replaces a single female name and also needs the -s on the verb: reads.

It is open on the teacher’s desk.

It replaces a single thing, here an object, not a person.

They work together on the final activity.

They replaces more than one person, so the verb work stays in its base form.

Common mistakes

Not: Me study English after breakfast every day.

Use: I study English after breakfast every day.

Me is an object pronoun; the subject of the sentence must be I.

Not: You sits next to me in the library.

Use: You sit next to me in the library.

You never takes an -s on the verb, even though it can refer to one person.

Not: He carry the blue sports bag.

Use: He carries the blue sports bag.

He is a singular third-person pronoun, so the verb needs -s: carries.

Not: Her reads the class instructions aloud.

Use: She reads the class instructions aloud.

Her is an object form; the subject pronoun she is needed before the verb.

Before you practise

  • Identify the communicative purpose.
  • Check the subject and required verb or auxiliary.
  • Confirm the time reference and clause order.
  • Compare the sentence with the nearest alternative.
  • Read the complete sentence and verify the meaning.

Reading text

Names on the Project Wall

About 143 words

Rami, Noor, Lina, and the art teacher are in the project wall near the classroom door. They need to prepare name cards for a science poster. Some names are too long for the small labels. Rami is careful, and he checks the spelling. Someone points to a large poster. Noor is smiling because she likes the blue card. The first answer is short, so everyone can follow it. The poster is large, and it is easy to see. One detail is still unclear. Rami and Lina work together, and they finish first. They check the materials slowly. Soon the result is clear: the work is finished. The morning feels easier because the small task is finished. Rami, Noor, Lina, and the art teacher look at a large poster again before they move on. One helper writes the next step on a small card.

Reading comprehension

  1. Who is involved in the reading?

    Show answer

    Rami, Noor, Lina, and the art teacher

  2. Where does the reading take place?

    Show answer

    the project wall near the classroom door

  3. What task are the people trying to complete?

    Show answer

    prepare name cards for a science poster

  4. What problem makes the task less simple?

    Show answer

    some names are too long for the small labels

Grammar in the text

  1. Rami is careful, and he checks the spelling.

    He replaces Rami in the second half of the sentence so the name is not repeated.

  2. Noor is smiling because she likes the blue card.

    She replaces Noor, matching a single female subject.

  3. The poster is large, and it is easy to see.

    It replaces the poster, a single thing rather than a person.

  4. Rami and Lina work together, and they finish first.

    They replaces Rami and Lina together, since the subject is now plural.

Key point

Use this pattern when the meaning needs it in the reading: I/you/he/she/it/we/they + verb. In short, subject pronouns replace names so sentences do not repeat them. Example: "Rami is careful, and he checks the spelling."

Practice

  1. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "Rami ____ careful, and he checks the spelling."

    Show answer

    Rami is careful, and he checks the spelling.

  2. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "Noor ____ smiling because she likes the blue card."

    Show answer

    Noor is smiling because she likes the blue card.

  3. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "The poster ____ large, and it is easy to see."

    Show answer

    The poster is large, and it is easy to see.

  4. Complete the sentence from the same situation: "Rami and ____ work together, and they finish first."

    Show answer

    Rami and Lina work together, and they finish first.

Listening practice

Watch a TEDx talk

“10 ways to have a better conversation” — Celeste Headlee (TED). Listen for clear, natural English and pick up new vocabulary while you review this grammar point.

Check your understanding

Which of these is one of Celeste Headlee's rules for a better conversation?

Check your understanding

What does Headlee say is the single most important skill for having a good conversation?

Practice

Choose the correct answer. Sara and Leo are here. ___ are my friends.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. My father is a doctor. ___ works at a hospital.

Practice

Choose the correct answer. The books are new. ___ are on the table.

Written practice

Produce the answer yourself. Capitalisation and final punctuation do not affect validation, but the grammar and word order must be correct.

Grammar transformation

Written practice

Rewrite the sentence, replacing the underlined noun with a subject pronoun.

A̲n̲n̲a̲ is my sister.