Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns replace the subject of a sentence — the person or thing doing the action. Mastering them is essential for speaking and writing natural English.
What is a subject pronoun?
A subject pronoun is a word that replaces a noun as the subject of a sentence — the one performing the action. Instead of repeating a person's name, we use a pronoun to keep things natural and concise.
Sarah is a teacher. Sarah loves Sarah's job. → She is a teacher. She loves her job.
Tom and I went to the market. Tom and I bought fruit. → We went to the market. We bought fruit.
The seven subject pronouns
| Pronoun | Person / number | Refers to | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1st person singular | The speaker | I am from Brazil. |
| you | 2nd person singular/plural | The listener(s) | You speak very well. |
| he | 3rd person singular | A male person or animal | He works in London. |
| she | 3rd person singular | A female person or animal | She loves music. |
| it | 3rd person singular | A thing, animal, or idea | It is raining outside. |
| we | 1st person plural | The speaker + others | We are ready. |
| they | 3rd person plural | Other people or things | They live next door. |
Subject pronouns vs. object pronouns
It is important not to confuse subject pronouns with object pronouns. Subject pronouns come before the verb; object pronouns come after the verb or a preposition.
| Subject pronoun | Object pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | I called him. He called me. |
| he | him | He saw her. She saw him. |
| she | her | She helped us. We thanked her. |
| we | us | We invited them. They invited us. |
| they | them | They called you. You called them. |
Common uses
- Replacing a noun that was just mentioned: Maria arrived late. She apologised immediately.
- As the subject of every sentence and clause: It is cold today. We should stay inside.
- With linking verbs: Formally, we say It is I, but in everyday speech It's me is standard and widely accepted.
- "They" as a singular pronoun: They is increasingly used for a person whose gender is not known or who uses it as their preferred pronoun: Ask the manager — they will help you.
How to choose the right pronoun
Ask: Who or what is performing the action? That person or thing determines the pronoun. If you can replace the blank with a name, it needs a subject pronoun.
___ and I went to the cinema. → "Tom and I" — so use He and I, not Him and I.
___ is the new manager. → Refers to a woman → She is the new manager.
___ is very hot today. → Refers to the weather (a thing) → It is very hot today.
Tip: "I" is always capitalised in English — even in the middle of a sentence. And remember: never say "Me and John went..." — always "John and I went..." when it is the subject.
Subject pronouns with verb "to be"
Subject pronouns are closely tied to the verb to be, especially for beginners. Notice how the form of be changes with each pronoun:
| Pronoun | Present (to be) | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | I'm |
| you | are | you're |
| he / she / it | is | he's / she's / it's |
| we | are | we're |
| they | are | they're |