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Personal pronouns: basic information

Terminology and use​

The words I, me, you, he, him, she, her, it, we, us, they and them are usually called ‘personal pronouns’. (This is a misleading name: it, they and them refer to things as well as people.)

Personal pronouns are used when more exact noun phrases are not necessary.

  • I’m tired. (I replaces the name of any speaker.)
  • Jack’s ill. He’ll be away for a few days. (not … Jack’ll be away …)
  • Tell Emily I miss her. (not Tell Emily I miss Emily.)

Subject and object forms: I and me, he and him, etc​

Personal pronouns (except you and it) have one form when they are used as subjects, and a different form for other uses – for example, when they are the objects of verbs or prepositions.

SubjectObject
Ime
hehim
sheher
weus
theythem

Compare:

  • I like dogs.
    Dogs don’t like me.
  • We sent her some flowers.
    She sent us some flowers.

Other uses of object forms: It was her​

Me, him, her, us and them are used not only as objects, but also as complements after be, and in short answers, especially in an informal style.

  • ‘Who said that?’ ‘(It was) her.’
  • ‘Who’s there?’ ‘Me.’

In a more formal style, we use subject form + verb where possible.

  • ‘Who said that?’ ‘She did.’ (but not She.)

It is possible to use a subject form alone after be (e.g. It is I; It was he), but this is extremely formal, and is usually considered over-correct.

Object forms are also common in coordinated subjects in informal speech.

  • Jack and me are going skiing this weekend.

This is considered incorrect in more formal usage (see here).

note

For sentences like It’s me that needs help, (see here).

Personal pronouns cannot be left out​

We cannot normally leave out personal pronouns, even if the meaning is clear without them (for some exceptions (see here).

  • It’s raining. (not Is raining.)
  • She loved the picture because it reminded her of home. (not … because reminded her of home.)
  • They arrested Alex and put him in prison. (not … and put in prison.)
  • ‘Have some chocolate.’ ‘No, I don’t like it.’ (not … I don’t like.)

One subject is enough​

One subject is enough. We do not usually use a personal pronoun to repeat a subject that comes in the same clause.

  • My car is parked outside. (not My car it is parked outside.)
  • The budget forecast was reasonably accurate. (not The budget forecast it was reasonably accurate.)
  • The situation is terrible. (not It is terrible the situation.)

There are exceptions in very informal speech (see here).

  • He’s not a bad bloke, Jeff.
  • It’s a horrible place, London.
note

For it as a preparatory subject or object, (see here).

Personal and relative pronouns: one or the other, not both​

We do not use personal pronouns to repeat the meaning of relative pronouns (see here).

  • That’s the girl who lives in the next room. (not … who she lives …)
  • Here’s the money (that) you lent me. (not … (that) you lent me it.)

it referring to nothing, the situation, etc​

It not only refers to particular things. It can also refer to a whole fact, event or situation.

  • Our passports were stolen. It completely ruined our trip.
  • I did all I could, but it wasn’t enough.
  • It’s terrible – everybody’s got colds, and the central heating isn’t working.
  • Wasn’t it lovely there!
  • Nothing happened, did it?
  • Everything’s all right, isn’t it?

it as ‘empty’ subject: It’s ten o’clock.​

We use it as a meaningless subject with expressions that refer to time, weather, temperature or distances.

  • It’s ten o’clock. (not Is ten o’clock.)
  • It rained for three days.
  • It’s Monday again.
  • It’s thirty degrees.
  • It’s ten miles to the nearest garage.

it used to identify​

We use it for a person when we are identifying him or her.

  • ‘Who’s that over there?’ ‘It’s Jack Cook.’ (not He’s Jack Cook.)
  • ‘Is that our waiter?’ ‘No, it isn’t.’ (not No, he isn’t.)
  • (on the phone) Hello. It’s Luke Williams. (not … I’m Luke Williams.)
  • It’s your sister who plays the piano, isn’t it?

we women, you men​

We and plural you (but not other personal pronouns) can be put directly before nouns.

  • We women know things that you men will never understand. (but not I woman know …) or … they men will never understand.
note

For you used for people in general, (see here).

For the personal pronoun one, (see here).

For the use of he and she to refer to animals, ships, etc, (see here).

For he, him, his referring to both sexes (and attitudes to this), (see here).

For they, them, their with singular reference, (see here).

For the interrogative personal pronoun who(m), (see here).