He, She, They — Talking About Others
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
We use small words for people. These words make talking easy.
You do not need to say names many times. Use small words.
You need he, she, and they. Use he for a man.
Use she for a woman. Use they for many people.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
A man | He | A man is working. | He is working. |
The boy | He | The boy is happy. | He is happy. |
My father | He | My father reads. | He reads. |
A woman | She | A woman is smiling. | She is smiling. |
The girl | She | The girl is tall. | She is tall. |
My mother | She | My mother sings. | She sings. |
The students | They | The students study. | They study. |
John and Mary | They | John and Mary live here. | They live here. |
My parents | They | My parents cook. | They cook. |
Someone | They | Someone called. | They called. |
When To Use It
He has a meeting at 3 PM would be understood, as the previous topic makes the he unambiguous. The context acts as the referent's introduction.they covers any collection of people, regardless of their individual genders.Common Mistakes
Real Conversations
Observing how he, she, and they are used in everyday, authentic English conversations provides the best insight into their natural application. These examples reflect modern communication styles, from casual texts to more formal workplace interactions.
In Casual Texting or Messaging:
- Friend 1: Is Maya coming to the party?
- Friend 2: Yes! She just confirmed. She said she’ll be a bit late. (Here, she refers to Maya, maintaining continuity efficiently.)
- Colleague A: Where’s Ben? I need his report.
- Colleague B: He went to lunch. He should be back in an hour. (He clearly refers to Ben, making the interaction smooth.)
- Student 1: Did you see the new students?
- Student 2: Yes, they look a bit lost. Maybe we should help them? (They refers to the new students, and them is the objective pronoun, indicating the new students are receiving the action of help. This previews future learning on objective pronouns.)
In Workplace or Academic Discussions (Slightly More Formal):
- Manager: Our client, Mr. Davis, just called. He wants to discuss the proposal. (The Mr. Davis referent allows he to continue the conversation seamlessly.)
- Professor: Dr. Lee presented a new theory yesterday. She believes it could change our understanding of the topic. (She follows Dr. Lee, maintaining a professional and clear reference.)
- Team Lead: The developers finished the new feature. They did an excellent job. They also fixed a few bugs. (They refers to the group the developers, making the statement concise.)
In General Social Interactions:
- You: I saw a new movie. The main actor was amazing.
- Friend: Oh, really? Who was he? (He refers to the male main actor, implied by general knowledge of actors unless specified otherwise.)
- You: My neighbor has a cat. She is very playful. (The noun My neighbor sets up the referent for she.)
- You: Someone left their umbrella at the cafe. I hope they come back for it. (They is correctly used here because the owner's gender is unknown.)
Notice how in all these examples, he, she, and they act as essential linguistic connectors. They allow conversations to progress naturally, preventing repetitive phrasing and maintaining clarity regarding who is being discussed. This consistent pattern is a fundamental aspect of sounding like a proficient English speaker. Using these pronouns correctly is not just about grammatical accuracy; it is about engaging in effective and natural communication.
Quick FAQ
he, she, and they?Their main function is to replace nouns referring to people, specifically when those people are the subject of a sentence (performing the action), to avoid repetition and make language flow smoothly.
he or she?Use he for one male person (a boy or a man). Use she for one female person (a girl or a woman). You must know or be able to infer the person's gender.
they used?They has two main uses: firstly, for two or more people (plural). Secondly, for a single person whose gender is unknown, unspecified, or irrelevant (the singular they). This second use is increasingly common and often preferred for inclusivity.
they refer to a single person?Yes, absolutely. This usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted, especially when the person's gender is not known, when you want to keep it general, or when an individual prefers they/them pronouns. English has used singular they for centuries.
Repeating names or nouns too often makes speech sound unnatural, clunky, and less fluent. Pronouns provide a more efficient and natural way to maintain reference to a person after their initial introduction. This is a core feature of natural English communication.
it? Can I use it for a person?Generally, no. It is used for objects, animals, or ideas. Using it for a person is almost always incorrect and can be considered impolite. Always use he, she, or they for people.
For this A0 level, we focus on he, she, they as subject pronouns. When a person receives an action, different pronouns like him, her, or them are used. These are called object pronouns and will be covered in a later, more advanced lesson. For now, focus on their role as subjects.
Mistakes are a natural part of learning. Most English speakers will understand your meaning and might gently correct you, or simply infer the correct reference. The important thing is to keep practicing and learning from your errors.
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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + is/are
|
She is a doctor.
|
|
Negative
|
Pronoun + is/are + not
|
He is not hungry.
|
|
Question
|
Is/Are + Pronoun?
|
Are they ready?
|
|
Short Answer (+)
|
Yes, pronoun + is/are
|
Yes, they are.
|
|
Short Answer (-)
|
No, pronoun + isn't/aren't
|
No, she isn't.
|
|
With Verbs
|
He/She + Verb(s)
|
He works here.
|
|
With Verbs
|
They + Verb
|
They work here.
|
Formality Spectrum
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)
Who are we talking about?
Male
- He One man
Female
- She One woman
Group
- They 2+ people
Singular vs Plural
Choosing the Right Pronoun
How many people?
Is it a man?
Pronoun Categories
Male
- • He
- • Him
- • His
Female
- • She
- • Her
- • Hers
Group
- • They
- • Them
- • Their
Examples by Level
He is a boy.
She is a girl.
They are happy.
Is he a teacher?
He isn't at work today.
She has two brothers.
They live in a big house.
Where do they go?
He decided to quit his job.
She often travels for business.
They are looking for a new apartment.
If someone calls, tell them I'm busy.
He was seen leaving the building.
She managed to finish the project on time.
They have been working together for years.
Each student must bring their own laptop.
He, of all people, should have known better.
She found herself in a difficult position.
They might have been delayed by the storm.
The author argues that they are often misunderstood.
He is but a shadow of his former self.
She, the indomitable spirit of the revolution, spoke.
They would have us believe that the crisis is over.
Whether he or she succeeds is irrelevant.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'Him' as a subject because it sounds stronger.
They sound similar in fast speech.
Mixing up the subject and possessive form.
Common Mistakes
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.
Sentence Patterns
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.
The 'They' Safety Net
Avoid 'It' for People
Contractions are Key
Pets are Family
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.
Pronunciation
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.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
He is for a Hero, She is for a Sister, They are for a Team.
Visual Association
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
Challenge
Look at 5 people around you or in photos. Say 'He is...', 'She is...', or 'They are...' for each one.
Cultural Notes
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).
Conversation Starters
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?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ is a doctor.
They ___ my friends.
Find and fix the mistake:
She are a teacher.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Ella es mi madre.
Answer starts with: She...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Someone left ___ umbrella.
Where ___ she from?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
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.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate: 'Ellos están jugando fútbol.'
Put the words in order:
Match the pronouns with what they refer to:
My friends and I are going to the cinema. ___ want to see the new movie.
Someone left their umbrella. She must be very upset.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate: 'Él tiene un coche rojo.'
Order these words:
Match the subjects with their appropriate pronouns:
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
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