A1 · Grammar
Subject pronouns
After this page you can replace names and nouns with I, you, he, she, it, we and they, use it for things and they for two or more people or things, and give every sentence a subject.
Rules
1.
I, you, he, she, it, we, they
- I am from Leeds.
- Anna is my manager. She is very kind.
- Tom and I are neighbours. We are on the same floor.
- Priya and Ahmed? They are in the kitchen.
The subject is the person or thing before the verb. A subject pronoun can take its place. I is always a capital letter.
Subject pronouns
- one: I · you · he · she · it
- two or more: we · you · they
With a pronoun you do not say the name again and again: Ben is a chef. He is from Bristol.
I is always a capital letter, also in the middle of a sentence.
Other people first, then I: Lucy and I are friends. (not: I and Lucy)
2.
he and she for people, it for things
- Mr Brown is our teacher. He is from Glasgow.
- My daughter is six. She is at school now.
- This is my new phone. It is very fast.
- The station? It is near the park.
Use he for a man or a boy. Use she for a woman or a girl. Use it for a thing, a place or an animal.
he, she or it?
- a man, a boy: he · my father, Tom, the waiter
- a woman, a girl: she · my mother, Olga, the doctor (a woman)
- a thing, a place, an animal: it · the table, London, the bus
In English, things have no gender. A table, a car or a city is always it.
Things → it: My car? It is red. (not: She is red.)
Jobs: the person decides: The nurse is my aunt. She …
3.
they for people and for things
- Sofia and Marek are students. They are in my class.
- My keys? They are on the table.
- These shoes are nice, but they are expensive.
They is the plural of he, she and it. Use they for two or more people and for two or more things.
Which pronoun?
- Anna and Tom → they
- Anna and I → we
- Anna and you → you
- the tickets, the apples → they
There is only one word for they. It is the same for men, women and things.
two or more things → they: The cups? They are in the cupboard.
I + another person → we · you + another person → you
4.
you: one person or more, friendly or polite
- Lucy, you are late again!
- Ben and Olga, are you ready?
- Mrs Evans, you are in room 4.
You is for one person and for two or more people. It is the same word for a friend, a child or your boss.
English has no special polite word for you. To be polite, use a name with Mr or Mrs, and words like please and thank you: Mr Evans, are you free now, please?
The verb with you is always are, also for one person: you are, not you is.
you = one person or many people
you are, for one person too (not: you is)
5.
Every sentence needs a subject
- Where is Tom? – He is at work.
- It is cold today.
- It is ten o'clock.
- Is the cinema far? – No, it is very near.
In English, a sentence always has a subject. The verb alone is not enough. For the weather, the time and distance, the subject is it.
it with no person or thing
- weather: It is sunny. It's windy.
- time: It is half past six.
- distance: It is 5 km to the beach.
In some languages the verb shows the person, so the subject is not necessary. In English the verb does not show it, so you always say the subject.
It is cold. (not: Is cold.)
Anna is a nurse. She is from Leeds. (not: Is from Leeds.)
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