Subject pronouns are words that take the place of the subject of a sentence—the person, place, thing, or idea performing the action (verb). They answer the question “Who?” or “What?” is doing something.
For example:
- Instead of saying, “John is running,” you can say, “He is running.”
- Instead of saying, “The cat sleeps on the couch,” you can say, “It sleeps on the couch.”
Subject pronouns simplify sentences by replacing specific names or nouns.
List of Subject Pronouns
Here’s a list of common subject pronouns in English:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| I | We |
| You | You |
| He | They |
| She | |
| It |
Let’s break them down further:
| Subject Prononus | Use | Examples |
| I | Used when referring to yourself as the subject | I love reading books |
| You | Refers to one person or multiple people being addressed directly | You are amazing! Are you all ready for lunch? |
| He | Used for singular third-person subjects | He plays basketball every weekend |
| She | Used for singular third-person subjects | She baked cookies for the party |
| It | Used for singular third-person subjects | It is raining outside. |
| We | Refers to a group that includes the speaker. | We are going to the park later. |
| They | Refers to a group of people, animals, or things not including the speaker. | They finished their homework early. |
How Subject Pronouns Work in Sentences
Subject pronouns always come before the verb because they are the ones performing the action. Here’s a breakdown of their role in different types of sentences:
1. Declarative Sentences
These state facts or opinions. The subject pronoun comes first, followed by the verb.
- She enjoys hiking in the mountains.
- We went shopping yesterday.
2. Questions
In questions, subject pronouns often appear after the auxiliary verb or helping verb.
- Did you finish your project?
- Is he coming to the meeting?
3. Commands (Imperative Sentences)
While commands don’t explicitly include subject pronouns, the implied subject is usually “you.”
- Close the door. (Implied: You close the door.)
- Please sit down. (Implied: You please sit down.)
Common Mistakes with Subject Pronouns
Even native speakers sometimes misuse subject pronouns. Let’s look at some frequent errors and how to fix them:
1. Mixing Up Subject and Object Pronouns
Subject pronouns should only be used as the doer of the action, not as the receiver.
- Incorrect: Me went to the store.
- Correct: I went to the store.
Object pronouns like “me,” “him,” “her,” and “them” are used when someone is receiving the action.
- Example: She gave it to him.
2. Using Singular Pronouns for Groups
When referring to a collective group, use plural subject pronouns.
- Incorrect: The team has decided his strategy.
- Correct: The team has decided their strategy.
(Note: Collective nouns like “team” can take singular or plural verbs depending on context, but the pronoun must match.)
3. Confusing “Who” vs. “Whom”
“Who” is a subject pronoun, while “whom” is an object pronoun. A simple trick is to rephrase the sentence using “he/she” (subject) or “him/her” (object).
- Example: Who is calling? → He is calling.
- Example: To whom should I address this letter? → I should address this letter to her.
