Practice Makes Perfect

Personal Pronouns

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. The English per-

sonal pronouns are:

Singular Plural

First Person Iwe

Second Person you you

Third Person he, she, it they

Notice that youis both singular and plural. When speaking to one

person, say you. When speaking to two or more persons, say you:

Tim, youare a very good student.

Bruno and Rene, youhave to study more.

Just as nouns have gender, pronouns also do. I, we, and youcan be

used by males or females. Heis always masculine, sheis always femi-

nine, and itis always neuter. The plural of the third-person pro-

nouns is always they, whether masculine, feminine, or neuter. And

just like nouns, pronouns can be used as:

1. the subject of a sentence


2. a direct object


3. an indirect object

But when used as a direct object or indirect object, some of the

pronouns change:

Subject Direct Object Indirect Object

Imeme

you you you

he him him

she her her

it it it

we us us

you (plural) you you

they them them

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Unit 4

01 (001-016) Units 1-4 11/3/04 1:41 PM Page 12

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