Personal Pronouns

There are five main categories of pronouns: personal, relative, indefinite, interrogative, and demonstrative.

Like nouns, personal pronouns refer to people and things (and also places, if you think of a place as an "it"). In the following sentences, the personal pronouns are italicized.

He will help them.
Do you have my jacket?
They say we must not touch it.
It is the largest city in the nation.
I acknowledged them.
Have you seen my bibliography?
He claims that it will help us.
They suggest we use several different sources.

There are three forms of personal pronouns: person, number, and case.

Person

First person is the speaker: I, me, mine, we, us, ours

I shall vote today.
We live in a democracy.
That ballot is mine.

Second person is the person being spoken to: you, yours

Will you vote also?
All of you are important.
That ballot is yours.

Third person is the person being spoken about: he, she, it, him, her, his, hers

He and she will vote.
They shall vote also.
That ballot is hers.
Give it to them.

Examples

For each sentence below, write the personal pronoun and tell whether it is first person, second person, or third person.

  1. We studied reptiles.
  2. Pann pitches her the ball.
  3. Did you read the entire book?
  4. We ate spaghetti.
  5. Dale gave her a rose.
  6. Did you finish the assignment?
  7. They say roses represent love.
  8. I don't understand why roses are so expensive.
  9. Do you know where to plant rose bushes?
  10. In that costume, you definitely resemble Alexander Hamilton.
  11. They described Thomas Fitzsimons as an "aristocrat."
  12. Let me wear the Martha Washington outfit.

Solutions

  1. We is first person. It indicates the speaker.
  2. Her is third person, the person being spoken about.
  3. You is second person, the person being spoken to.
  4. We is first person. It indicates the speaker.
  5. Her is third person, the person being spoken about.
  6. They is third person, the person being spoken about.
  7. I is first person, the speaker.
  8. You is second person, the person being spoken to.
  9. You is second person, the person being spoken to.
  10. They is third person, the person being spoken about.
  11. Me is first person, the speaker.

Numbers

Some personal pronouns are singular:

I, me, mine, you, yours, he, him, his, she, her, hers, it

Others are plural:

we, us, ours, you, yours, they, them, theirs

Notice that you and yours appear in both lists. These words can be either singular or plural. In fact, we cannot always tell which is meant.

Examples

For 1—10, write each personal pronoun and tell whether it is singular or plural.

  1. They left.
  2. That's mine.
  3. Flora has hers.
  4. You are welcome.
  5. They saw the car.
  6. Tom lost his.
  7. You can go now.
  8. They set their watches.
  9. Mine was slow.
  10. Give them the time.

Solutions

  1. They is plural.
  2. Mine is singular.
  3. Hers is singular.
  4. You might be singular or plural. We can't tell.
  5. They is plural.
  6. His is singular.
  7. You might be singular or plural. We can't tell.
  8. They is plural.
  9. Mine is singular.
  10. Them is plural.

Case

Like nouns, personal pronouns appear in cases. Case shows the job that the pronoun is performing in the sentence.

Some pronouns are used as subjects:

  • He eats clams. They want some too. I don't. Does she save the shells?
  • She loved snowboarding. They snowboarded too. I have not snowboarded yet. Have you attempted to snowboard?
  • He joined the Federalists. They advocated a strong national government. I have not voted yet. Would you have supported the Federalists?

Others are used as objects:

  • Elle eats *them also. (direct object)
  • Bert gave *her the last one. (indirect object)
  • James is waiting for *us. (object of a preposition)
  • Jalana brought *them too. (direct object)
  • Olga loaned *her a wig. (indirect object)
  • Government affects all of *us. (object of a preposition)

Some personal pronouns show possession:

  • Is this yours?
  • Claude lost his.
  • I hid mine.
  • Theirs are sour.
  • Dad ate his.
  • Yours is on the counter.

Examples

Tell whether each italicized pronoun shows possession or whether it is used as a subject or an object. If it is an object, tell what kind (direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition).

  1. Meg sent her a postcard.
  2. Yesterday, she mowed the lawn.
  3. Bently believes him. 
  4. This is yours. 
  5. Dale asked him for a ride.
  6. Joy loaned him a snowboard.
  7. Today, they will go to the local mountains.
  8. Bryan raced her down the slope.
  9. Ernesto read her the story of the Boston Tea Party.
  10. Next summer, they might visit New England.
  11. Mr. Twaddell invited them to Philadelphia.

Solutions

  1. The pronoun her is an indirect object.
  2. The pronoun she is the subject of the sentence.
  3. The pronoun him is a direct object.
  4. The pronoun yours shows possession.
  5. The pronoun him is a direct object.
  6. The pronoun him is an indirect object.
  7. The pronoun they is the subject of the sentence.
  8. The pronoun her is a direct object.
  9. The pronoun her is an indirect object.
  10. The pronoun they is the subject of the sentence.
  11. The pronoun them is a direct object.