English/Parts of Speech/Pronouns/Personal Pronouns

The personal pronouns are pronouns used to substitute nouns. They includ I, you, we, they, he, she and it.

  • I is used to indicate oneself, e.g. I am a boy. I am not a girl.
  • You is used to indicate the listener(s) or reader(s) of the sentence, e.g. You must be crazy. You will be punished.
  • We is used to indicate a the speaker and other people, or the speaker and the listener(s), e.g. We will go to Berlin this summer. We are going to kill you.
  • They is used to indicate a group of people other than the speaker and the listener(s), e.g. They will destroy the earth. They are going to bully the kids.
  • He is used to indicate a male person other than the speaker and the listener(s), e.g. He is going to the market. He will be hung on a branch.
  • She is used to indicate a female person other than the speaker and the listener(s), e.g. She is going to the restaurant. She will be burnt at the stake.
  • It is used to indicate a non-human object or a baby, e.g. The ant took the corn, then it went away. The clock was broken down; it's so badly manufactured. The baby is singing because it is happy.
  • The impersonal you indicates anyone in general, e.g. You get tired when you work for ten days without stopping.
  • The it as a meaningless subject is used to describe a condition, atmosphere, weather, etc, e.g. It is raining. It is very hot.
  • The royal we is used by a monarch as a substitute to I, e.g. We are not amused. We are a grandmother.