Singular and plural subjective pronouns are pronouns that act as the subject of a sentence, replacing a noun or noun phrase. Subjective pronouns indicate whether they refer to one person/thing (singular) or more than one person/thing (plural).
Subjective pronouns are used when the pronoun is performing the action of the verb or is the subject of a linking verb. The reference from Excelsior OWL lists the specific singular and plural subjective pronouns.
Identifying Singular and Plural Subjective Pronouns
The distinction between singular and plural for subjective pronouns is based on the number of individuals or items being referred to.
- Singular Subjective Pronouns: These refer to a single person, place, thing, or idea.
- Plural Subjective Pronouns: These refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
List of Subjective Pronouns
According to the Excelsior OWL reference, the singular and plural subjective pronouns are as follows:
| Category | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Subjective | I, you, he, she, it | we, you, they |
Let's break these down:
-
Singular:
- I: Refers to the speaker or writer. (e.g., I went to the store.)
- You: Refers to the person or people being addressed (can be singular or plural, but listed as singular here). (e.g., You are correct.)
- He: Refers to a male person. (e.g., He plays soccer.)
- She: Refers to a female person. (e.g., She is kind.)
- It: Refers to a thing, animal, or idea. (e.g., It is raining.)
-
Plural:
- We: Refers to the speaker/writer and one or more other people. (e.g., We are going home.)
- You: Refers to the person or people being addressed (listed again as plural). (e.g., You all did a great job.)
- They: Refers to two or more people, animals, or things. (e.g., They live next door.)
Understanding subjective pronouns helps ensure correct pronoun usage in sentences, especially regarding subject-verb agreement.
