Er, Sie, Sie — Über andere sprechen
he, she und they klingen deine Gespräche viel natürlicher, weil du Namen nicht ständig wiederholen musst.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'He', 'She', and 'They' to replace names so you don't sound like a robot.
- Use 'He' for one male person (e.g., He is Ben).
- Use 'She' for one female person (e.g., She is Anna).
- Use 'They' for two or more people (e.g., They are friends).
Overview
he, she und they. Diese Wörter sind die Bausteine für fast jedes Gespräch, in dem es um andere Menschen geht. Wir schauen uns an, wie du sie einsetzt, warum sie im Englischen logischer funktionieren als im Deutschen und wie du die typischen „Germanismen“ vermeidest, über die wir Muttersprachler am Anfang oft stolpern.he, she und they funktionieren, müssen wir uns kurz klarmachen, was sie eigentlich tun: Sie ersetzen ein Substantiv (ein Nomen). In der Sprachwissenschaft nennen wir sie „Subject Pronouns“ (Subjektpronomen), weil sie an der Stelle im Satz stehen, an der die Person steht, die etwas tut.it. Die Pronomen he und she sind fast ausschließlich für Menschen (und manchmal geliebte Haustiere) reserviert.he: Benutzt du für einen Mann oder Jungen (männlich).she: Benutzt du für eine Frau oder ein Mädchen (weiblich).they: Benutzt du für mehrere Personen (Plural) – oder, und das ist modern und wichtig, wenn das Geschlecht einer einzelnen Person unbekannt oder neutral ist.
The professor is over there. He is reading a book.He ersetzt the professor. Es ist die direkte Entsprechung zu unserem „er“. Die Logik bleibt gleich, aber die Anwendung ist im Englischen konsequenter auf Personen beschränkt.A man (Ein Mann) | He | A man is at the door. | He is at the door. |John | He | John works in Frankfurt. | He works in Frankfurt. |The waiter (Der Kellner) | He | The waiter is friendly. | He is friendly. |A woman (Eine Frau) | She | A woman is calling. | She is calling. |Sarah | She | Sarah likes coffee. | She likes coffee. |The manager (weiblich) | She | The manager is in a meeting. | She is in a meeting. |The students (Plural) | They | The students are learning. | They are learning. |Tim and Lisa | They | Tim and Lisa live in Berlin. | They live in Berlin. |The colleagues (Die Kollegen) | They | The colleagues drink tea. | They drink tea. |Someone (Jemand - unbekannt) | They | Someone forgot the keys. | They forgot the keys. |theythey zu sagen, auch wenn es sich nur um eine Person handelt.A customer left their umbrella. They will probably come back. (Ein Kunde hat seinen Regenschirm liegen lassen. Er/Sie wird wahrscheinlich zurückkommen.)he völlig aus.she gemeint ist.they. Das ist im Englischen viel einfacher als im Deutschen, wo wir bei Gruppen manchmal nach Geschlechtern trennen (die Kolleginnen / die Kollegen). Im Englischen sind alle zusammen einfach they.doctor, teacher, student oder boss geschlechtsneutral. Im Deutschen sagen wir „Lehrer“ oder „Lehrerin“. Wenn du im Englischen über the doctor sprichst, entscheidest du erst durch das Pronomen, ob es ein Mann oder eine Frau ist.they, wenn du jemanden neutral beschreiben willst. In der modernen Uni-Welt oder in internationalen Unternehmen in Städten wie München oder Hamburg wird das immer wichtiger. Wenn du eine E-Mail von jemandem namens „J.they eine sichere und höfliche Wahl.she und they- Deutsch: „Sie (Sarah) ist nett.“ (Einzahl)
- Deutsch: „Sie (Sarah und Tom) sind nett.“ (Mehrzahl)
Sarah is here. They is nice. Falsch!- Eine Frau =
she - Mehrere Leute =
they
Where is my watch? She is gone! Falsch!It is gone.He und she sind für Menschen. Wenn du she für deine Uhr benutzt, denken Engländer, du hättest eine sehr seltsame, fast schon romantische Beziehung zu deinem Zeitmesser.He is a good cook. (Du darfst das He niemals weglassen).He gets a letter. (Er bekommt einen Brief). Achte darauf, wenn du über andere Leute berichtest!He | He works | Nur für männliche Personen. |She | She works | Nur für weibliche Personen. Nicht mit Plural verwechseln! |It | It works | Für alle Gegenstände und Tiere (meistens). |They | They work | Kein -s am Ende! Entspricht dem deutschen „sie“ (Plural). |You | You work | Achtung! „Sie“ als Höflichkeitsform ist im Englischen immer you, niemals they. |They (Plural) vs. They (Singular neutral)The kids are outside. They are playing. | Mehrere Kinder (klarer Plural). |Someone left a coat. They must be cold. | Eine unbekannte Person (Singular, aber neutral). |they ist die Allzweckwaffe für „mehrere Leute“ oder „jemand, dessen Geschlecht ich nicht kenne/nennen will“.it für ein Baby benutzen?they oder fragen einfach.It für ein Baby zu benutzen, kann etwas distanziert oder sogar unhöflich wirken, fast so, als wäre das Baby ein Gegenstand. Wenn du aber in einem Biologiebuch über „das Neugeborene“ liest, wirst du oft it finden.It, he oder she?he sagen. Er gehört zur Familie.it. Als Faustregel: Hat das Tier einen Namen und eine Persönlichkeit? Dann he oder she.it.they, wenn sie nur eine Person meinen?they (Singular) das Verb anpassen?they nur eine Person meinst, behandelst du das Verb immer so, als wäre es Plural.They are (nicht they is), auch wenn es nur um eine Person geht. Das ist wie beim englischen you (du/ihr), das auch immer das Plural-Verb are bekommt.He is busy.She is nice.They are great.Subject Pronouns and 'To Be'
| Pronoun | Verb (Be) | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
|
He
|
is
|
He is not (isn't)
|
Is he?
|
|
She
|
is
|
She is not (isn't)
|
Is she?
|
|
They
|
are
|
They are not (aren't)
|
Are they?
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
He is
|
He's
|
He's tall.
|
|
She is
|
She's
|
She's smart.
|
|
They are
|
They're
|
They're here.
|
Meanings
These are words used to refer to people other than yourself (I) or the person you are talking to (You). They prevent the repetition of names.
Male Singular
Refers to one man or boy.
“He is a doctor.”
“He likes pizza.”
Female Singular
Refers to one woman or girl.
“She is a student.”
“She has a car.”
Plural
Refers to a group of two or more people.
“They are at home.”
“They speak English.”
Singular They
Refers to one person whose gender is unknown or non-binary.
“Someone left their bag. They will be back.”
“My friend is coming; they are nice.”
Reference Table
| Pronomen | Bezieht sich auf | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|
|
He
|
Eine männliche Person (Junge, Mann)
|
He is my brother.
|
|
She
|
Eine weibliche Person (Mädchen, Frau)
|
She loves reading.
|
|
They
|
Zwei oder mehr Personen
|
They are friends.
|
|
They
|
Eine Person (Geschlecht unbekannt)
|
Someone called. They left a message.
|
|
They
|
Eine Person (Geschlecht nicht festgelegt)
|
Ask your teacher. They will help.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Do you happen to know where he is? (Workplace/Street)
Where is he? (Workplace/Street)
Where's he at? (Workplace/Street)
Where's mans? (Workplace/Street)
Pronomen Power-Up: He, She, They
Singular Männlich
- He One boy/man
Singular Weiblich
- She One girl/woman
Plural / Unbekannt
- They Multiple people / Unknown gender
Wähle deinen Pronomen-Partner
Pronomen Entscheidungs-Check
Sprichst du über eine einzelne Person?
Ist die Person männlich?
Ist die Person weiblich?
Wer ist wer: Pronomen-Kategorien
Männliche Personen
- • He is my friend.
- • He plays guitar.
- • He works at the cafe.
Weibliche Personen
- • She likes coffee.
- • She is a student.
- • She talks a lot.
Gruppen & Unbekannt
- • They are busy.
- • They live next door.
- • Someone is here. They are waiting.
Beispiele nach Niveau
He is a boy.
He is a boy.
She is a girl.
She is a girl.
They are happy.
They are happy.
Is he a teacher?
Is he a teacher?
He isn't at work today.
He isn't at work today.
She has two brothers.
She has two brothers.
They live in a big house.
They live in a big house.
Where do they go?
Where do they go?
He decided to quit his job.
He decided to quit his job.
She often travels for business.
She often travels for business.
They are looking for a new apartment.
They are looking for a new apartment.
If someone calls, tell them I'm busy.
If someone calls, tell them I'm busy.
He was seen leaving the building.
He was seen leaving the building.
She managed to finish the project on time.
She managed to
They have been working together for years.
They have been working
Each student must bring their own laptop.
Each student must bring their own laptop.
He, of all people, should have known better.
He, of all people, should have known better.
She found herself in a difficult position.
She found herself
They might have been delayed by the storm.
They might have been
The author argues that they are often misunderstood.
The author argues that they are often misunderstood.
He is but a shadow of his former self.
He is but a shadow of his former self.
She, the indomitable spirit of the revolution, spoke.
She, the indomitable...
They would have us believe that the crisis is over.
They would have us believe
Whether he or she succeeds is irrelevant.
Whether he or she succeeds is irrelevant.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners use 'Him' as a subject because it sounds stronger.
They sound similar in fast speech.
Mixing up the subject and possessive form.
Häufige Fehler
She is my brother.
He is my brother.
They is happy.
They are happy.
He are a doctor.
He is a doctor.
Is she a man?
Is he a man?
The teacher, he is nice.
The teacher is nice.
I like they.
I like them.
She's hair is long.
Her hair is long.
Everyone brought his book.
Everyone brought their book.
They is coming (referring to one person).
They are coming.
The ship, he is beautiful.
The ship, she is beautiful.
Satzmuster
He is a ___.
She has ___.
They are ___.
Is ___ from ___?
Real World Usage
She looks so happy in this photo!
He was my previous supervisor.
They would like the pizza, please.
Are they the bus drivers?
Is he coming to the party?
They are investigating the incident.
She likes hiking and dogs.
Achte auf das Geschlecht
He is Mr. Jones.
Niemals 'It' für Menschen
She is a person.
Im Zweifel nimm 'They'
They are waiting for you.
Pronomen sind persönlich
What are your pronouns?
Übe mit deinen Haustieren
He is a good dog.
Smart Tips
Switch from 'They' to 'We'.
Use 'They' if you don't know the person yet.
Use contractions like 'He's' and 'They're'.
Use 'They' to summarize the whole group at the end.
Aussprache
The Silent H
In fast speech, the 'h' in 'he' and 'him' often disappears if it's not the first word.
The TH sound
The 'th' in 'they' is voiced. Your tongue should touch your top teeth.
She vs Sea
Make sure the 'sh' sound is long and soft, like telling someone to be quiet.
Emphasis on Pronoun
HE did it (not me).
Used to correct someone or show contrast.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
He is for a Hero, She is for a Sister, They are for a Team.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a man wearing a giant letter 'H' on his chest (He). Imagine a woman wearing a 'S' shaped scarf (She). Imagine a group of people pointing at each other in a circle (They).
Rhyme
He is a guy, She is a girl, They are the people all over the world.
Story
A man named Henry (He) met a woman named Sarah (She). Together, they went to a party. Now, they are dancing.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at 5 people around you or in photos. Say 'He is...', 'She is...', or 'They are...' for each one.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Using 'They' for a single person is now standard in most English-speaking countries to be inclusive of all genders.
Historically, sailors referred to ships as 'she'. While fading, you will still hear this in documentaries or at sea.
In some dialects, 'they' might be replaced by 'them' in non-standard speech, but this is grammatically incorrect in formal settings.
Derived from Old English 'he' (masculine), 'heo' (feminine), and 'hie' (plural).
Gesprächseinstiege
Who is your favorite celebrity? What do they do?
Look at that person over there. What are they wearing?
Tell me about your parents. Where do they live?
If a stranger lost their wallet, what would you do?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
My teacher is very kind. ___ always helps us.
Wähle den korrekten Satz:
Übersetze: 'Ella es mi hermana.' (Sie ist meine Schwester.)
Answer starts with: ["S...
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercises___ is a doctor.
They ___ my friends.
Find and fix the mistake:
She are a teacher.
happy / they / are / ?
Ella es mi madre.
1. A boy, 2. A girl, 3. Two people
Someone left ___ umbrella.
Where ___ she from?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy neighbor has a dog. ___ often takes it for walks.
My mom is happy. He is singing.
Wähle den richtigen Satz:
Übersetze: 'Sie spielen Fußball.' (Plural)
Bring die Wörter in Ordnung:
Verbinde die Pronomen mit ihrer Bedeutung:
My friends are going to the cinema. ___ want to see the new movie.
Someone left their umbrella. She must be very upset.
Welcher Satz ist am allgemeinsten richtig?
Übersetze: 'Er hat ein rotes Auto.'
Ordne diese Wörter:
Ordne die Namen den richtigen Pronomen zu:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes! This is called the 'singular they'. It is used when you don't know the person's gender or if they prefer neutral pronouns.
Always say `They are`. Even when referring to one person, the grammar of the word 'they' remains plural.
Don't worry! Most people will understand you from context, but it's good to correct yourself: 'Sorry, I mean she.'
Yes, if the animal is a pet and you know its gender. Otherwise, use `it`.
They make sentences shorter and less repetitive. Instead of saying 'John' five times, you say 'John' once and then 'he'.
Sometimes poets or sailors call ships, cars, or countries `she`, but in daily life, use `it`.
`They` is the subject (the one doing the action), and `them` is the object (the one receiving the action).
Put your tongue between your teeth and make a buzzing sound for the 'th', then add 'ay' like in 'day'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
él, ella, ellos, ellas
English 'they' is gender-neutral.
kare (彼), kanojo (彼女)
English pronouns are mandatory in most sentences.
er, sie, es, sie
English 'they' is distinct from 'she'.
tā (他/她/它)
English has different sounds for he and she.
huwa (هو), hiya (هي)
English uses 'they' for two or two million people.
il, elle, ils, elles
English uses 'they' for mixed-gender groups.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Verwandte Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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