Personal Pronouns

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. Instead of saying a name again and again, you use a pronoun.

What You'll Learn

• Words that replace names when someone does something (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)
• Words that replace names when something is done to someone (me, him, her, us, them)

When to Use

1. Instead of a name: "Ali is tall. He is tall."
2. When someone does something: "She reads a book."
3. When something is done to someone: "Mum hugged me."

How to Form

Some pronouns are used when a person does something. These are called subject pronouns. Other pronouns are used when something is done to a person. These are called object pronouns.

Key Rules

1. Subject pronouns come before the action word: "He likes cats." He tells us who does the action.
2. Object pronouns come after the action word: "The teacher called her." Her tells us who the action is done to.
3. Pick the right pronoun for the person: Use "he" and "him" for a boy or man. Use "she" and "her" for a girl or woman. Use "it" for a thing or animal.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Use subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) when:

The pronoun comes before the action word

• "She is happy."
• "They like to play."

Use object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) when:

The pronoun comes after the action word

• "Dad called him."
• "Give it to them."

Tip: Ask yourself: "Who is doing it?" Use a subject pronoun. "Who is it done to?" Use an object pronoun.

Practice Tips

1. Swap the name: Read a sentence with a name. Try replacing the name with a pronoun. "Mei Ling is kind." becomes "She is kind."
2. Before or after: Look at where the pronoun is. Before the action word? Use I, he, she, we, they. After the action word? Use me, him, her, us, them.

Quick Reference